How to Win Big This Holiday Season: Best Sweepstakes to Enter Right Now

Last updated: September 15, 2026

The holiday season is the best time of year to enter holiday sweepstakes. Brands give away more cash, trips and gift cards between November and January than at almost any other time. Here at Win Big Daily, we track new giveaways every day, and we see the same thing every year: prize values go up, entry options multiply, and scammers get busier too. This guide covers why the season is so generous, which yearly promotions to watch for, and 7 smart habits that help you enter more, stay safe and actually claim what you win.

Why the Holidays Are Prime Time for Sweepstakes

Brands spend big on giveaways during the holidays because shoppers are spending big too. The National Retail Federation expected 2025 holiday sales from November through December to top $1 trillion for the first time, with growth of 3.7% to 4.2%. Its later Retail Monitor data showed sales actually grew 4.1%. That much money on the table gives companies every reason to compete for your attention.

Individual shoppers spend a lot as well. According to the NRF’s 2025 holiday forecast, people planned to spend an average of $890.49 each on gifts, food, decorations and other seasonal items. That was the second highest amount in the survey’s 23-year history.

The audience is huge. Drive Research found that 91% of American consumers planned to shop for the holidays in 2025, and 88% planned to shop on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday or Cyber Monday. When nearly everyone is shopping, brands launch holiday sweepstakes to build email lists, grow social followings and keep their names top of mind.

For you, that means more chances to win. It also means more competition for each prize, so a little strategy goes a long way.

The Best Holiday Sweepstakes to Watch For in 2026

Many of the biggest holiday sweepstakes come back year after year. If you know the pattern, you can be ready on launch day instead of finding out a week before the deadline. Below are real promotions from the 2025 to 2026 season, plus several that are already listed for 2026.

One quick note before we dive in: some of these examples have already ended. We include them because they tend to return on a similar schedule. Always check the official rules page to confirm a 2026 version is live before you enter.

HGTV and Food.com “$5K for Holiday Giveaway”

This is a classic. The 2025 edition offered a $5,000 cash prize and ran from November 5, 2025 to January 7, 2026. You could enter once a day on each of two sites, HGTV.com and Food.com, which doubled your daily entries.

It was open to legal residents of the US and DC who were 21 or older, and no purchase was necessary. If the pattern holds, expect the 2026 version to appear in early November. Set a reminder now so you do not miss the first few weeks of daily entries.

Better Homes and Gardens “Home for the Holidays Sweepstakes”

BHG’s promotion offered a $25,000 check and had one of the longest entry windows around. The 2025 edition ran from September 1, 2025 through January 31, 2026.

That early start matters. Because it launched in September, people who waited until December missed months of possible entries. Since we are now in mid-September, this is a good time to check BHG’s sweepstakes page for a 2026 edition.

Hallmark Gold Crown “2026 Hallmark Christmas Experience Sweepstakes”

Hallmark fans, take note. The Hallmark Gold Crown site lists a 2026 Hallmark Christmas Experience Sweepstakes with a holiday getaway as the prize. Getaway prizes like this are popular because they turn the cozy feel of a holiday movie into a real trip.

Check the official rules for entry dates, eligibility and how the prize is valued, since trip prizes often come with specific travel windows.

Nashville Comedy Festival Holiday Sweepstakes

Not every great prize is a giant check. The Nashville Comedy Festival Holiday Sweepstakes offers two show tickets, a night at Virgin Hotels Nashville and a $300 dinner certificate. Smaller, regional holiday sweepstakes like this one usually get far fewer entries than national promotions, which can improve your odds.

Just make sure you can realistically use the prize. A night out in Nashville is a fantastic win if you live nearby, but travel costs are often on you.

Food Network Holiday Baking Championship “Great Getaway Giveaway”

Food Network ties many of its giveaways to its seasonal shows. The Holiday Baking Championship “Great Getaway Giveaway” is a good example. Keep an eye on the network’s Sweepstakes and Contests page, where it posts new promotions throughout the season.

Where to Find More

Beyond these big names, look for holiday sweepstakes from grocery chains, cookware brands, toy companies, streaming services and local TV and radio stations. Advent calendar giveaways, where a new prize unlocks each day in December, are also worth watching.

7 Smart Strategies to Win More Holiday Sweepstakes

Winning is still a game of chance, but your habits make a real difference. These are the strategies experienced sweepers use every season.

1. Start early. Big promotions like BHG’s can launch in September. Every day you wait is a lost entry on daily-entry giveaways.
2. Build a daily entry routine. Set aside 15 to 20 minutes at the same time each day. Keep a simple bookmark folder for daily-entry holiday sweepstakes so you can move through them quickly.
3. Read the official rules first. The rules tell you the age limit, who is eligible and how often you can enter. Entering more than allowed can get you disqualified.
4. Use a dedicated email address. A separate inbox keeps promotional emails out of your personal account and makes it easier to spot winner notifications.
5. Look for bonus entries. Some promotions offer extra entries for referrals or for entering on multiple sites, like HGTV and Food.com did.
6. Mix big and small prizes. National cash giveaways get huge numbers of entries. Local and niche contests often have much better odds.
7. Track what you enter. A basic spreadsheet with the sponsor, prize, end date and entry frequency helps you stay organized and spot real winner notices.

Consistency beats bursts of effort. Someone who enters 20 holiday sweepstakes every day for two months usually does better than someone who enters 200 in one weekend and then forgets about them.

How to Spot Fake Holiday Sweepstakes and Prize Scams

This is the part nobody likes to talk about, but it matters. Scammers love the holidays because people are busy, excited and more likely to click without thinking. Fake holiday sweepstakes are one of their favorite tools.

The numbers are serious. In the FTC’s 2024 Consumer Sentinel Data Book, released in March 2025, prizes, sweepstakes and lotteries were the 6th most reported fraud category. There were 97,350 reports, $351 million in reported losses and a median loss of about $1,000. Older adults were much more likely to report losing money.

Fraud overall is rising, too. In testimony to the Joint Economic Committee in March 2026, the FTC said it received 3 million fraud reports in 2025, with $15.9 billion in reported losses. That was a sharp jump from the year before.

The Golden Rule: Never Pay to Claim a Prize

The FTC puts it plainly: “No real sweepstakes company will demand money for a prize.” If anyone asks you to pay taxes, shipping, processing fees or anything else before you can collect, it is a scam. You can read more in the FTC’s guide to fake prize, sweepstakes and lottery scams.

Red Flags to Watch For

The Better Business Bureau’s 12 Scams of the Holidays list warns: “Don’t get tricked by holiday surveys or social media giveaways that aim to steal your personal info.” Here are the warning signs to know:

• You “won” something you never entered.
• You are asked to pay by gift card, wire transfer or a payment app.
• Someone asks for your bank account, Social Security number or passwords.
• The message pressures you to act fast or the prize will be lost.
• A social media account impersonates a brand but has few followers or a slightly misspelled name.
• There are no official rules, or the rules do not name a real sponsor.

If you think you have spotted a scam, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Reports help the FTC find patterns and take action.

What Real Winner Notifications Look Like

Legitimate sponsors usually contact winners through the email or phone number used to enter. They may ask you to sign an affidavit of eligibility and a publicity release. For larger prizes, they may request a W-9 so they can report the prize value for taxes. That is normal. What is not normal is being asked to send money.

When in doubt, do not reply to the message directly. Go to the brand’s official website on your own and find the sweepstakes rules or customer service contact to confirm.

Even Big Names Can Get It Wrong: The PCH Case

Scams are not the only concern. Sometimes real companies cross the line. Publishers Clearing House is now sending $18.5 million in refunds to 281,724 consumers under an FTC order.

The FTC said PCH misled people into thinking a purchase was needed to enter or would raise their chances of winning. The agency also cited deceptive email subject lines and surprise shipping fees. PCH filed for bankruptcy in April 2025.

The lesson is simple. Buying something should never improve your odds in a legitimate US sweepstakes. If a promotion suggests otherwise, be skeptical, no matter how well-known the name is.

Know the Rules: What Makes Holiday Sweepstakes Legal

Real US sweepstakes follow a few basic legal requirements. The most important is the phrase “No purchase necessary to enter or win.” A purchase cannot be required, and it cannot boost your odds.

The official rules should also clearly list:

• The sponsor’s name and address
• Start and end dates
• Eligibility, including age limits and states or countries
• How often you can enter
• Prize details and approximate retail value
• How and when winners are chosen and notified

Legitimate holiday sweepstakes publish these rules where you can easily find them. If you cannot locate them, skip that promotion.

A Note on “Sweepstakes Casinos”

You may have seen news about states banning sweepstakes. It is worth clearing up the confusion. Those laws target online “sweepstakes casinos,” which are casino-style gaming sites, not traditional brand giveaways.

California’s AB 831 banned these sites starting January 1, 2026, and extends liability to vendors that support them. Bans in Connecticut and Montana took effect October 1, 2025. New Jersey and New York have passed laws too, and New York’s law bars payment processors and affiliates from supporting these platforms.

None of this affects your ability to enter a free cash giveaway from a magazine or TV network. Traditional holiday sweepstakes with no purchase required remain legal and widely available.

Your Holiday Sweepstakes Game Plan for 2026

Ready to put it all together? Here is a simple month-by-month plan for the season ahead.

• September: Set up your dedicated email and tracking spreadsheet. Look for early launches like BHG’s.
• October: Build your bookmark folder of daily-entry promotions. Watch for Hallmark and Food Network announcements.
• November: Watch for the HGTV and Food.com cash giveaway. Black Friday and Cyber Monday bring a wave of brand promotions.
• December: Stick to your daily routine. Look for advent-style and 12 Days of Giveaways promotions.
• January: Many holiday sweepstakes end in early to late January. Keep entering until the final day, and check your inbox and spam folder for winner notices.

Stay patient. Most sweepers enter many promotions before they win anything. The people who win regularly are the ones who keep showing up day after day, season after season.

Frequently Asked Questions About Holiday Sweepstakes

Do I have to pay taxes on sweepstakes prizes?

In the US, prizes are generally treated as taxable income. Sponsors often issue a 1099 form for prizes worth $600 or more. You pay any tax to the IRS when you file, never to the sponsor or a stranger claiming to represent it. Talk to a tax professional if you win something large.

How often can I enter?

It depends on the official rules. Some promotions allow one entry per person, others allow daily entries, and some allow daily entries on multiple partner sites. Always follow the stated limit.

Are holiday sweepstakes on social media safe?

Many are, but social media is also where fake giveaways spread fastest. Confirm the account is the brand’s verified page, look for official rules and never share financial information to enter.

What are my real odds of winning?

Odds depend on how many people enter, which sponsors usually cannot predict in advance. Smaller local promotions and giveaways with shorter entry windows often have better odds than national cash prizes.

Start Entering With Confidence

The holiday season brings more prizes, bigger checks and more chances to win than almost any other time of year. With an early start, a steady daily routine and a sharp eye for scams, you can make the most of every entry.

Remember the basics: never pay to claim a prize, always read the official rules, and report anything suspicious to the FTC. Bookmark Win Big Daily and check back often. We will keep adding new holiday sweepstakes as they launch, so you can spend less time searching and more time entering. Good luck this season!

Browse hundreds of free sweepstakes at Win Big Daily.

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