2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony: date, time, favourites and how to watch

Football fans worldwide are eagerly awaiting the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony as they anticipate the announcement of who will win the prestigious award for the world’s best football player.

The 70th edition of the prestigious football awards will be graced by leading players, coaches and other figures in the game as organisers announce the winners of the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or and other individual and team awards. The ceremony will also take place outside Paris for the first time in the award’s history. The London Palladium will host this year’s edition of the gala in respect to Sir Stanley Matthews, the inaugural winner of the men’s Ballon d’Or in 1956.

Here is all you need to know about the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony

When is the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony?

The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the London Palladium in London.

The main ceremony will begin at 8 p.m. UK time, with the red-carpet arrivals and interviews expected to start earlier in the evening.

The event is expected to run until approximately 10 p.m. UK time, followed by a press conference featuring the winners.

What time does the Ballon d’Or ceremony start in Nigeria?

In Nigeria, the main ceremony is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. West Africa Time (WAT) on Monday, October 26.

The event’s schedule in selected locations is as follows:

Nigeria: 9 p.m. WAT
United Kingdom: 8 p.m. BST

The red-carpet coverage in London is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. UK time, giving fans an opportunity to follow the arrival of nominees and other guests before the main ceremony.

How to watch the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony live

Football fans can follow the ceremony via the official Ballon d’Or website and its designated broadcast partners. In Nigeria and other African countries, SuperSport, a sports channel on DStv, a sub-Saharan direct broadcast satellite television service owned by MultiChoice, will show the ceremony live.

The official Ballon d’Or website will also give live updates, ceremony information, statistics and results.

Who are the favourites for the 2026 Ballon d’Or?

France forward Kylian Mbappe, England captain Harry Kane and Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal are in pole position to clinch the men’s award.

Kane is seeking to become the first Englishman to win the men’s Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001, while Yamal is hoping to claim the prestigious individual honour after another notable campaign with Barcelona.

Other prominent nominees include defending champion Ousmane Dembélé of Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.

The men’s shortlist also features Lionel Messi, an eight-time winner of the award, alongside several other leading players from European and international football.

In the women’s category, Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas is among the nominees seeking to add to her previous Ballon d’Or Féminin victories. The award will recognise the standout performer in women’s football over the relevant assessment period.

What other awards will be presented?

In addition to the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or, the ceremony will recognise achievements across several categories.

These include the Kopa Trophy for young players, the Yashin Trophy for goalkeepers, the Johan Cruyff Trophy for coaches, the Gerd Müller Trophy for goalscorers and the Club of the Year awards.

The ceremony will also feature the Sócrates Award, which recognises football-related solidarity initiatives and contributions to social causes.

With the event marking the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or, this year’s ceremony is expected to attract considerable attention as the football world gathers in London to celebrate individual and collective achievements from the 2025–26 season.

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