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2026 White House Easter Egg Roll

 
 Lottery for the 2026 White House Easter Egg Roll (Opens Thursday, February 26, 2026)

History of the White House Easter Egg Roll
In the 1870s, Capitol Hill had become a popular spot for children to roll eggs - and themselves - down the hill on Easter Monday. As the event grew more popular, the toll on the grounds was noticeable. In 1876, Congress passed a law forbidding the Capitol grounds to be used as a children's playground. In 1878, President Rutherford B. Hayes issued an order that if any children should come to the White House to roll their Easter eggs, they would be allowed to do so. The tradition has continued on since, and has now grown into the largest event held at the White House every year. 


Geared toward children 13 years of age and under, the event features live entertainment, storytelling, arts and crafts, appearances by costumed characters, and the famous Easter Egg Roll and Hunt. A public online lottery is conducted each year to award tickets for the event. Signing up for the lottery and event tickets through the lottery are both free of charge.

 Important Dates for 2026 Event

  • Lottery Opens: Thursday, February 26, 2026 (12pm ET)
  • Lottery Closes: Wednesday, March 4, 2026 (12pm ET)
  • Lottery Results Announced: Tuesday, March 10, 2026
  • Event Date: Monday, April 6, 2026
Ticket Information
  • There is no charge for entering the lottery and tickets are free.
  • Only one application is allowed per household for a maximum of six tickets.
  • Requires at least 1 child (age 13 and under) and 1 adult to apply; a max of two adults can enter per application.
To enter, visit Recreation.Gov and create an account. The 2026 lottery page will have a list of time preferences to choose from.

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