LONDON, October 26, 2026 â The Ballon d’Or 2026 ceremony takes place tonight at London’s Palladium theatre, with Kylian MbappĂŠ, Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and defending champion Ousmane DembĂŠlĂŠ among the nominees for football’s most prestigious individual men’s award.
đ MbappĂŠ will travel to London for Ballon dâOr today, green light after 2024 case with Real Madrid. Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal will also attend the ceremony. https://t.co/xn0RjXaj3K
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 26, 2026
The event marks the Ballon d’Or’s 70th anniversary and its first ceremony in London. The winners of the men’s and women’s awards will be announced alongside honours for outstanding young players, goalkeepers, coaches and clubs.
Harry Kane is projected on Polymarket US to win the 2026 Ballon dâOr. https://t.co/Ci671gVVX6
— Pop Base (@PopBase) October 26, 2026
Ballon d’Or 2026 Start Time in UK, USA, India and Australia
The ceremony begins at 8 p.m. GMT on Monday, October 26, at the London Palladium, with former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry and broadcaster Kate Scott hosting.
- United Kingdom: 8 p.m. GMT, October 26
- United States: 4 p.m. EDT / 1 p.m. PDT, October 26
- India: 1:30 a.m. IST, October 27
- Central Europe: 9 p.m. CET, October 26
- Australia (Sydney): 7 a.m. AEDT, October 27
Player rankings from 30th to 11th place are expected to begin appearing before the main ceremony, followed by red-carpet coverage and the presentation of major trophies.
Where to Watch Ballon d’Or 2026 Live and Free
DAZN will broadcast the ceremony across approximately 200 markets, with free viewing available in supported territories. Regional television agreements may affect availability.
Fans in India, the United States, Britain and Australia can check DAZN for local access. Other confirmed broadcasters include L’Ăquipe in France, TelefĂłnica in Spain and TV2 in Norway.
Viewers should consult UEFA’s official Ballon d’Or broadcast guide for country-specific coverage and streaming information.
Ballon d’Or 2026 Men’s Nominees: MbappĂŠ, Kane and Yamal Headline Race
The 30-player men’s shortlist includes some of Europe’s biggest names, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain represented.
Notable nominees include:
- Kylian MbappĂŠ â Real Madrid
- Harry Kane â Bayern Munich
- Lamine Yamal â Barcelona
- Ousmane DembĂŠlĂŠ â Paris Saint-Germain
- Erling Haaland â Manchester City
- VinĂcius JĂşnior â Real Madrid
- Jude Bellingham â Real Madrid
- Lionel Messi â Inter Miami
- Declan Rice â Arsenal
- Michael Olise â Bayern Munich
- Achraf Hakimi â Paris Saint-Germain
- Rodri â Manchester City/Barcelona
Kane is seeking to become the first English men’s winner since Michael Owen in 2001. MbappĂŠ is chasing his first Ballon d’Or, while Yamal is also nominated for the Young Talent of the Year award.
DembĂŠlĂŠ, the 2025 winner, is attempting to retain his title. His European performances remain part of the discussion following Paris Saint-Germain’s recent success, including the Champions League final against Arsenal.
Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 Nominees and Leading Contenders
The women’s shortlist includes two-time winner Alexia Putellas, Arsenal’s Alessia Russo, Barcelona’s Ewa Pajor and Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw.
Other nominees include Caroline Graham Hansen, Mariona Caldentey, Pernille Harder, Melchie Dumornay, Barbra Banda and Rose Lavelle.
Putellas is the only previous women’s winner among this year’s nominees. Defending champion Aitana BonmatĂ is absent from the shortlist.
Other Awards: Young Talent, Goalkeepers, Coaches and Clubs
The ceremony will also recognise the best young players, goalkeepers, coaches, clubs and strikers in men’s and women’s football.
Barcelona’s Yamal and Pau CubarsĂ are among the young talent nominees. The men’s coaching shortlist includes Mikel Arteta, Luis Enrique, Vincent Kompany, Unai Emery and Luis de la Fuente.
Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are among the men’s club nominees. Arsenal’s European campaign, including its Champions League knockout-stage journey, provides background to the club’s recognition.
MbappĂŠ Attendance Reports and London’s Historic Ceremony
Reports that Real Madrid cleared MbappĂŠ to attend have attracted attention following the club’s absence from the 2024 ceremony, when Rodri won the men’s award ahead of VinĂcius JĂşnior.
However, the reported clearance has not been independently confirmed through an official club announcement.
London’s selection honours Stanley Matthews, who became the first Ballon d’Or winner in 1956. The award is decided by international football journalists who assess individual performances, team achievements and fair play.
The final men’s and women’s rankings will be confirmed during tonight’s ceremony. Until then, predictions and reported favourites should not be mistaken for official results.
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