Football stars to gather in London on Monday as awards ceremony marks 70th anniversary
Football superstars Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane and Ousmane Dembélé are among the leading names attracting attention ahead of the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony scheduled for Monday, October 26, in London, England.
The ceremony, which will take place at the London Palladium, is expected to bring together some of the world’s leading footballers, coaches and other personalities to celebrate outstanding performances in the sport. The event will begin at 8 p.m. British time, equivalent to 9 p.m. in Nigeria.
According to the organisers, the 70th edition of the prestigious awards will be hosted by former France international Thierry Henry and sports presenter Kate Scott. The event will be held in London for the first time, marking a departure from the ceremony’s traditional French setting.
The choice of London also pays tribute to England’s Stanley Matthews, who won the inaugural men’s Ballon d’Or in 1956, the year the award was established by French football magazine France Football. UEFA has co-organised the ceremony with the publication’s owner, the L’Équipe Group, since 2024.
Dembélé, who won the men’s award in 2025 following his impressive performances for Paris Saint-Germain, will be seeking to retain the honour. However, he faces competition from an array of established stars and emerging talents, including Messi of Inter Miami, Mbappé of Real Madrid, Yamal of Barcelona, Kane of Bayern Munich and Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.
Erling Haaland of Manchester City is another prominent contender expected to attract attention as the football world awaits the announcement of this year’s winners.
The women’s Ballon d’Or will also be presented during the ceremony, alongside awards recognising outstanding young players, goalkeepers, coaches, clubs and strikers in both the men’s and women’s categories. The programme will also include the Sócrates Award, which recognises solidarity initiatives and social causes supported by prominent football figures.
For Nigerian football fans, the ceremony will be available to watch live and free on DAZN, according to the streaming platform’s announcement. Viewers can access the broadcast through the DAZN website at https://www.dazn.com/ or its application on supported smartphones, smart televisions and other compatible devices. Fans may need to register for a free account or sign in before watching.
The 2026 ceremony represents a significant milestone for the Ballon d’Or, which has grown into one of football’s most recognised individual honours since its introduction seven decades ago.
With several established stars and younger players competing for recognition, attention will focus on who succeeds Dembélé in the men’s category and who emerges as the leading player in the women’s competition.
The winners are expected to be announced during Monday’s ceremony, bringing the 70th-anniversary edition of the awards to a close.