2026 Ballon d'Or Ceremony Takes Place in London for the 70th Edition

The 70th edition of the Ballon d'Or ceremony is set to take place at the Palladium Theatre in London. Marking a historic change, the prestigious individual award managed by France Football leaves Paris for the first time, broadcasting live at 9:00 PM local Italian time on DAZN for fans worldwide.

Among the top contenders for the men's award are Harry Kane of Bayern Munich, Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid, and Lamine Yamal of Barcelona. Speculation surrounding the outcome intensified following recent stellar performances, including Mbappé's decisive performance in the recent "Clásico" against Barcelona, where a viral video captured his positive hints about the upcoming ceremony.

Harry Kane enters the evening as a major favorite following a prolific 2025/2026 campaign. The English striker netted 73 goals across 65 matches for both Bayern Munich and the English national team, securing domestic titles in Germany and a podium finish at the World Cup, alongside earning his second European Golden Shoe.

While the top ten finalists feature global icons such as Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and Rodri, Italian Serie A is represented solely by Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez. The Argentine forward secured the 22nd position in the overall voting standings, finishing ahead of notable talents like Nuno Mendes, Luis Diaz, and Bruno Fernandes.

The selection process is determined by an international jury of specialized journalists representing the top 100 nations in the FIFA men's ranking and the top 50 in the women's ranking. Voters evaluate players based on individual performance and leadership, collective trophies and team success, and fair play demonstrated on the pitch between August 2025 and July 2026.

Alongside the men's Ballon d'Or, the event honors the best women's player, the Kopa Trophy for the top under-21 player, the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper, the Gerd Muller Trophy for top striker, and the Socrates Trophy recognizing humanitarian efforts, alongside awards for the best coach and club of the season.