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

The 70th Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place on Monday, October 26, at the London Palladium Theatre. The event marks the first time the prestigious annual football award has been held outside France. Organizers selected England as the venue to honor Stanley Matthews, the Englishman who claimed the inaugural prize in 1956. The ceremony begins at 8 p.m. local time, which corresponds to 11 p.m. in the United Arab Emirates. Hosts for the evening include Kate Scott and Thierry Henry. Harry Kane emerges as a leading candidate for the men's award, facing competition from several high-profile peers. His rivals include Spanish teenager Lamine Yamal, Bayern Munich teammate Michael Olise, and Kylian Mbappe. Paris Saint-Germain dominates the nominations with ten players on the 30-person shortlist. These nominees include Ousmane Dembele, Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, Willian Pacho, Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, and Ferran Torres. Other candidates on the list are Luis Diaz, Dayot Upamecano, Jude Bellingham, Marc Cucurella, Vinicius Junior, Pau Cubarsi, Rodri, and Gabriel Magalhaes. Lionel Messi remains in contention following a notable performance at the recent World Cup. However, analysts view him as an outsider because he currently plays club football in the United States for Inter Miami. Cristiano Ronaldo does not appear on this year's nominee list. The award covers performance from August 3, 2025, through July 19, 2026, a period that concludes after the summer World Cup final. This shift means the prize now reflects the previous season rather than the calendar year. France Football retains control over the voting process within the current joint partnership involving UEFA, France Football, and L'Equipe. An international jury of journalists decides the outcome. One journalist represents each country ranked in the top 100 for men and the top 50 for women according to the latest FIFA rankings. Each juror ranks ten players from the editorial shortlist in descending order of merit. The player accumulating the highest total points wins. In the event of a tie, the winner is determined by the number of first-place votes, followed by second-place votes, and so on. Historical eligibility rules explain why certain legends lack the trophy. When France Football launched the award in 1956, it was restricted to European players residing in Europe. This exclusion barred Pelé, who played primarily for Santos in Brazil, and Diego Maradona, whose Argentine nationality disqualified him even during his stints at Barcelona and Napoli. The organizers broadened eligibility in 1995 to include players of any nationality playing for European clubs. Liberian striker George Weah became the first beneficiary of this change, winning the award that year while associated with Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan. A further expansion in 2007 allowed players from anywhere in the world to qualify. By that point, both Pelé and Maradona had already retired. Neither Pelé nor Maradona received the competitive award during their active careers. Maradona was granted an honorary Ballon d'Or in 1995 to acknowledge his career achievements. Pelé received an honorary FIFA Ballon d'Or at the 2013 ceremony, which took place in January 2014. These honors do not count toward the official tally of winners. Messi holds the record for the most victories with eight titles, including his eighth win in 2023. Ronaldo follows with five wins. The 2025 award went to Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele. The award criteria focus on individual performance, decisive character, team achievement, class, and fair play. The event has evolved from a sole recognition of the best male player into a broader celebration akin to the Oscars in cinema. Current categories include awards for women, coaches, clubs, top scorers, goalkeepers, young players, and humanitarian efforts. The 2026 ceremony continues this tradition of expanding recognition beyond the primary individual prize. Stanley Matthews narrowly defeated Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stéfano in 1956. Di Stéfano subsequently won the award the following year. The move to London serves as a direct tribute to Matthews' legacy. The presence of Harry Kane, a key favorite, adds a layer of relevance to the location choice. The shortlist includes players from Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Barcelona alongside the dominant PSG contingent. The voting process relies strictly on the structured ranking system implemented by the editorial staff of France Football and L'Equipe. The final result will reflect the collective judgment of the international journalistic jury based on the specified seasonal timeframe.