The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for Monday October 26 with football’s biggest stars competing for one of the sport’s most prestigious individual honours.
The ceremony marking the award’s 70th anniversary is scheduled to take place at the London Palladium in London England.
Harry Kane Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé are among the players attracting attention ahead of the ceremony alongside other leading contenders.
Here is everything to know about the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
When is the Ballon d’Or 2026?
The ceremony is scheduled for Monday October 26 2026 with the main event expected to begin at 8 p.m. British time or 9 p.m. in Nigeria.
The event will feature several awards recognising achievements in men’s and women’s football including the main Ballon d’Or trophies goalkeeper honours young player awards and coaching awards.
Where will the Ballon d’Or 2026 ceremony take place?
The ceremony will be held at the London Palladium a well-known entertainment venue in the British capital.
London’s hosting of the 70th anniversary edition provides an opportunity to reflect on the award’s history. The inaugural Ballon d’Or was presented in 1956 to English footballer Stanley Matthews who won it while playing for Blackpool.
The ceremony’s move to London also marks a departure from the award’s traditional association with France.
Who are the leading contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or?
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid attacker Kylian Mbappé are among the prominent names in the men’s Ballon d’Or conversation.
Their individual performances and contributions to their respective teams have made them key talking points ahead of the ceremony. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is also among the players mentioned as a contender.
The final outcome will depend on the voting process and the performances assessed during the award’s designated evaluation period.
How is the Ballon d’Or winner selected?
The Ballon d’Or is decided through a vote by an international jury of football journalists.
For the men’s award journalists representing the top 100 countries in the FIFA men’s world rankings take part. The women’s award involves journalists representing the top 50 countries in the FIFA women’s world rankings.
Voters assess shortlisted players according to three main criteria:
Individual performances: Players’ consistency technical quality and overall influence during the evaluation period.
Collective achievements: Contributions to their clubs and national teams including performances in major competitions.
Fair play: Players’ conduct and sportsmanship.
Voters rank their preferred candidates with points allocated according to their positions on the ballot. The player with the highest overall points total wins the award.
Although winning major trophies can strengthen a player’s chances team success alone does not guarantee victory. Individual performance and the other assessment criteria also influence the final result.