Ballon d'Or 2026: Ceremony Time, Where to Watch, and Leading Nominees

The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony takes place on Monday, October 26, marking a historic milestone as the 70th edition of the award and the first time it is organized outside of Paris. The event is hosted at the London Palladium in the United Kingdom to honor Stanley Matthews, the English player who won the inaugural trophy in 1956. The broadcast begins at 3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. local time in London) and can be streamed for free on DAZN or followed through the official Ballon d'Or website.

This year's gala features categories recognizing the top players, goalkeepers, young talents, coaches, and clubs of the season for both men and women, alongside the Sócrates Award for humanitarian causes. The voting process is decided by an international panel of specialized journalists, consisting of one representative from each of the top 100 countries in the men's FIFA rankings and the top 50 in the women's rankings.

Among the 30 nominees for the men's award are prominent stars such as Lionel Messi, who is seeking a ninth Ballon d'Or following his performance for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, and Harry Kane of Bayern Munich. Other contenders on the shortlist include Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Rodri Hernández, and Lautaro Martínez. According to international betting markets, Harry Kane enters the ceremony as a strong favorite to claim his first trophy.

The women's shortlist features 30 elite players, including Alexia Putellas, Rose Lavelle, Scarlett Camberos, Lorena, and Manaka Matsukubo. Additional categories highlight upcoming talent, with Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí nominated for the men's young player honor, and Vicky López and Lily Yohannes representing the women's category.

In the Goalkeeper of the Year categories, Emiliano 'Dibu' Martínez is nominated for the men's Yashin Trophy alongside competitors like Thibaut Courtois and Yassine Bounou, while Cata Coll contends for the women's award. Coaching nominees include Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente, Unai Emery, Vincent Kompany, and Luis Enrique for the men's game, and Jonatan Giráldez, Andrée Jeglertz, Nils Nielsen, Pere Romeu, and Elena Sadiku for the women's.

Ahead of the ceremony, travel arrangements drew attention as Barcelona's delegation traveled to London, though young star Lamine Yamal opted to fly separately in a private jet with family and friends. Meanwhile, Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí reportedly chose to skip the trip to rest ahead of an upcoming league match against Alavés.