2026 Ballon d'Or Ceremony: Schedule, TV Channels, and Final Details

The 70th edition of the Ballon d'Or ceremony takes place on Monday, October 26, 2026, marking the first time the prestigious event is hosted at the London Palladium in England. Football fans around the world are eager to see who will succeed Ousmane Dembélé and Aitana Bonmatí as the best players of the 2025-2026 season.

The official ceremony is scheduled to begin at 9:00 PM local French time (8:00 PM in London). However, the day's programming starts much earlier. Beginning at 5:20 PM French time, the organization will progressively reveal the lower half of the men's and women's rankings, spanning from the 30th to the 11th position, to build anticipation ahead of the main event.

Following the initial ranking announcements, the red carpet arrivals for players, nominees, and special guests will begin at 7:30 PM. The main gala is set to open at 9:00 PM, hosted by former player Thierry Henry alongside journalist Kate Scott. Organizers expect to announce the ultimate winners of the evening's most prestigious categories by approximately 11:00 PM.

For viewers in France, the entire ceremony will be broadcast live and free of charge on the L’Équipe television network via digital terrestrial television channel 21. Fans can also stream the event online through the official L’Équipe website and mobile application, while the official Ballon d'Or website will provide continuous updates on results.

This year's men's category features a competitive race among top contenders, including Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona, Harry Kane of Bayern Munich, and Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid. The final standings are determined by a jury composed of journalists representing the top 100 nations according to the FIFA rankings, evaluating performances recorded between August 3, 2025, and July 19, 2026.

Delegations from major clubs have traveled to London for the event, including a prominent contingent from Real Madrid returning after a two-year absence from the ceremony, as well as an extensive group of representatives from FC Barcelona. Meanwhile, notable absences include players like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who is scheduled for knee surgery, and young Barcelona talent Pau Cubarsí, who stayed home due to physical fatigue and a fever.

Beyond the men's and women's Ballon d'Or trophies, the evening will hand out several other accolades recognizing excellence in the sport, such as the Kopa Trophy for the best young player, the Yachine Trophy, and awards for top-performing clubs and goalscorers.