The Ballon d’Or 2026 ceremony takes place on Monday 26 October 2026 at 20:00 GMT (21:00 CET) at the London Palladium, the first time football’s most famous individual award has been presented in London. It is the 70th edition of the prize, and you can follow it live on the official ballondor.com stream or through your local broadcast partner.
Below you’ll find the start time in your country, how to watch, every men’s and women’s nominee, the other trophies on the night and a quick guide to who the favourites are after a season that ended with Spain winning the World Cup.
Times converted from the organisers’ official 20:00 GMT start. Update: Harry Kane won the Ballon d’Or 2026, and Alexia Putellas won the women’s award. See the full Ballon d’Or 2026 results and rankings.
In this guide
Ballon d’Or 2026 Date, Time and Venue
- Date: Monday 26 October 2026
- Start time: 20:00 GMT / 21:00 CET
- Venue: London Palladium, London, England
- Hosts: Thierry Henry and Kate Scott
- Edition: 70th (first awarded in 1956)
One detail catches people out: the UK clocks go back on Sunday 25 October, so the ceremony runs on GMT, not BST. If a listing shows “8pm BST”, the correct UK start is 8pm GMT.
Ballon d’Or 2026 Start Time in Your Country
| Location | Local start time |
|---|---|
| London (GMT) | 20:00, Mon 26 Oct |
| Paris, Madrid, Berlin (CET) | 21:00, Mon 26 Oct |
| Lagos (WAT) | 21:00, Mon 26 Oct |
| Johannesburg (SAST) | 22:00, Mon 26 Oct |
| Nairobi, Riyadh (UTC+3) | 23:00, Mon 26 Oct |
| Dubai (GST) | 00:00, Tue 27 Oct |
| Karachi, Lahore (PKT) | 01:00, Tue 27 Oct |
| Delhi, Mumbai (IST) | 01:30, Tue 27 Oct |
| New York (EDT) | 16:00, Mon 26 Oct |
| Los Angeles (PDT) | 13:00, Mon 26 Oct |
| Sydney (AEDT) | 07:00, Tue 27 Oct |
Fans in Pakistan and India face a late night: the main award is normally presented at the end of the show, so expect the winner to be announced well after 02:00 PKT / 02:30 IST.
How to Watch the Ballon d’Or 2026
- Official stream: the ceremony is streamed on ballondor.com.
- DAZN: ESPN reports that DAZN will show the ceremony free worldwide.
- Local TV partners: UEFA, which co-organises the awards, lists broadcast partners by region on its website. Check that list for your country.
Avoid unofficial “free stream” sites. They are often full of malware and pop-ups, and the official options above cost nothing.
Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 Nominees
Thirty players are on the men’s shortlist, with Ousmane Dembélé the reigning winner: Jude Bellingham, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, Ousmane Dembélé, Luis Díaz, Bruno Fernandes, Gabriel Magalhães, Erling Haaland, Achraf Hakimi, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lamine Yamal, Sadio Mané, Marquinhos, Lautaro Martínez, Kylian Mbappé, Nuno Mendes, Lionel Messi, João Neves, Michael Olise, Willian Pacho, Julián Quiñones, Declan Rice, Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, William Saliba, Ferran Torres, Dayot Upamecano, Vinícius Júnior and Vitinha.
Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 Nominees
The women’s shortlist also has 30 names: Selma Bacha, Barbra Banda, Esmee Brugts, Klara Bühl, Mariona Caldentey, Scarlett Camberos, Kerstin Casparij, Temwa Chawinga, Cata Coll, Melchie Dumornay, Caroline Graham Hansen, Alex Greenwood, Patri Guijarro, Pernille Harder, Yui Hasegawa, Rose Lavelle, Mapi León, Lorena, Melvine Malard, Manaka Matsukubo, Vivianne Miedema, Ewa Pajor, Clàudia Pina, Alexia Putellas, Wendie Renard, Alessia Russo, Khadija Shaw, Momoko Tanikawa, Caroline Weir and Tessa Wullaert.
Three-time winner Aitana Bonmatí, who took the 2025 award, is not among this year’s nominees, so there will be a new women’s champion.
Other Awards on the Night
| Award | What it recognises | Shortlist / note |
|---|---|---|
| Young Talent of the Year (Kopa Trophy) | Best player aged under 21 | Men: 10 nominees incl. Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí. Women: 5 nominees |
| Goalkeeper of the Year (Yashin Trophy) | Best goalkeeper | Men: 10 nominees incl. Thibaut Courtois, David Raya and Emiliano Martínez. Women: 5 |
| Striker of the Year (Gerd Müller Trophy) | Top goalscorer of the season | Harry Kane (73 goals for club and country in 2025-26, per ESPN) is the clear frontrunner |
| Coach of the Year (Cruyff Trophy) | Best coach | Men: Arteta, de la Fuente, Emery, Kompany, Luis Enrique |
| Club of the Year | Best club | Men: Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Bodø/Glimt, Flamengo, Paris Saint-Germain |
| Sócrates Award | Humanitarian work | Presented with Peace and Sport |
Who Are the Favourites?
This is the first Ballon d’Or since the 2026 World Cup in North America, and that tournament weighs heavily on voters. Spain beat Argentina in the final, so several Spanish players have strong cases. Here are the leading contenders, based on their 2025-26 seasons as reported by Sports Illustrated:
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England): 61 club goals, the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double, and six World Cup goals as England reached the semi-finals.
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain): 24 goals and 18 assists, a second straight La Liga title and a World Cup winner’s medal.
- Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid, France): 42 club goals and the World Cup Golden Boot with 10 goals, but no team trophy.
- Rodri (Spain): the World Cup Golden Ball winner, anchoring a Spain side that conceded just one goal in the tournament.
- PSG’s champions: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz and holder Ousmane Dembélé helped PSG retain the Champions League and Ligue 1.
Bookmakers in October had Kane and Yamal at the top of the market. Remember that voters weigh individual performance, team success, and class and fair play together, so a big tournament can swing it.
How the Ballon d’Or Vote Works
A panel of journalists votes on each award: one from each of the top 100 nations in the FIFA men’s ranking for the men’s prize, and the top 50 in the women’s ranking for the women’s prize. Each voter ranks their top 10 players, and points are awarded on a sliding scale. Voters judge three things:
- Individual performance and decisive impact
- Team performance and achievements
- Class and fair play
New to the game’s jargon? Our football positions guide explains every role from goalkeeper to false nine, and football rules explained covers offside, VAR and the 2026/27 law changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is the Ballon d’Or 2026?
It starts at 20:00 GMT on Monday 26 October 2026. That is 21:00 CET, 16:00 ET, 01:00 on Tuesday in Pakistan and 01:30 on Tuesday in India.
Where is the Ballon d’Or 2026 being held?
At the London Palladium in London, England. It is the first Ballon d’Or ceremony held in London.
Who won the Ballon d’Or in 2025?
Ousmane Dembélé won the men’s award and Aitana Bonmatí won the women’s award for the third year in a row.
Can I watch the Ballon d’Or for free?
Yes. The official stream on ballondor.com is free, and ESPN reports that DAZN is also showing it free worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- Ballon d’Or 2026: Monday 26 October, 20:00 GMT, London Palladium.
- Watch free on ballondor.com, DAZN or your local UEFA broadcast partner.
- Kane and Yamal lead the betting; Mbappé, Rodri and PSG’s stars are the main challengers.
- There will be a new women’s winner, as Aitana Bonmatí is not nominated.
Planning further ahead? Our sports calendar 2027 lists every major event next year, month by month.
