The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is almost here, with the world’s most prestigious individual football award up for grabs in London.
World Cup winner Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe are also expected to feature prominently in the running for this year’s Ballon d’Or, with the likes of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Rodri and Lionel Messi also potential options.
Paris Saint-Germain and France forward Ousmane Dembele is the current holder of the men’s Ballon d’Or award, taking over from Rodri last year. Barcelona and Spain superstar Aitana Bonmati, meanwhile, has won the last three editions of the Ballon d'Or Feminin in a row.
Here is all you need to know about the Ballon d’Or 2026...
When is the Ballon d’Or 2026 ceremony?
The 2026 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony takes place on Monday, October 26. Players are expected to arrive from around 6pm BST, with the ceremony itself getting under way at approximately 8pm. Those exact timings are subject to change.
Where is the Ballon d’Or 2026 ceremony?
This year’s event is being held in London for the very first time, at the London Palladium in Soho.
Why is the Ballon d’Or 2026 ceremony in London?
The Ballon d’Or ceremony usually takes place at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, but this year it is temporarily moving to England to pay tribute to the 70th anniversary of Sir Stanley Matthews’ victory in the inaugural Ballon d’Or race back in 1956.
Ballon d’Or 2026 tickets
Tickets for the ceremony in London were available through the UEFA website, but have now all sold out. As have the hospitality packages.
Top prize: The Ballon d’Or is the most prestigious individual award in all of football
AFP via Getty Images
Ballon d’Or 2026 nominees and shortlist
Jude Bellingham
Pau Cubarsi
Ousmane Dembele
Marc Cucurella
Luis Diaz
Bruno Fernandes
Gabriel Magalhaes
Erling Haaland
Achraf Hakimi
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Lamine Yamal
Sadio Mane
Marquinhos
Lautaro Martinez
Kylian Mbappe
Nuno Mendes
Lionel Messi
Joao Neves
Michael Olise
Willian Pacho
Julian Quinones
Declan Rice
Rodri
Fabian Ruiz
William Saliba
Ferran Torres
Dayot Upamecano
Vinicius Jr
Vitinha
Who is the favourite for the Ballon d’Or 2026 award?
Kane is the current bookmakers’ favourite to claim his first Ballon d’Or award in 2026, following a phenomenal season with Bayern Munich in which his remarkable 61 goals in 51 appearances across all competitions powered Vincent Kompany’s side to a memorable domestic treble and also earned him a second European Golden Shoe.
Kane would be the first English winner of the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001 and only the fourth overall, adding to a list that also includes Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Stanley Matthews and the late Kevin Keegan, who did it twice in back-to-back years in 1978 and 1979 while playing in Germany with Hamburg.
Ballon d’Or 2026 odds
Who is hosting the Ballon d’Or 2026 ceremony?
This year’s ceremony will be hosted by journalist and presenter Kate Scott and Arsenal icon Thierry Henry, who finished as runner-up to Juventus legend Pavel Nedved for the Ballon d’Or award in 2003.
Who won the Ballon d’Or last year?
The trophy is currently held by Dembele, with the PSG forward having beaten Barcelona’s Yamal - who was runner-up and also won Young Player of the Year in 2025.
Holder: PSG and France forward Ousmane Dembele won the Ballon d’Or award last year
AFP/Getty
Who has won the most Ballon d’Or awards?
Messi comfortably leads the all-time list of Ballon d’Or wins with eight - three more than great rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who has five. Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer all won three each during their illustrious careers.