Ballon d’Or 2026: When and where to watch, live stream details, contestants and more

The Ballon d’Or winners will be announced on Monday, October 26, with Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane among the main contenders for the men’s prize. The women’s prize is also up for grabs, with three-time defending champion Aitana Bonmati absent from the shortlist after breaking her leg in December.

The ceremony will be held in London for the first time to mark the 70th anniversary of the awards being presented by the French magazine France Football. Here’s everything you need to know about the Ballon d’Or, from the main candidates to the voting process and the history of the award.

When and where will the Ballon d’Or ceremony take place?

The ceremony will take place at the London Palladium on Monday 26 October at 20:00 GMT. It will start on Tuesday, October 27 at 1:30 AM IST for viewers in India.

It is the first time the ceremony has been held in London and the first time outside of France since 2015. The awards were first presented by France Football in 1956, while the women’s Ballon d’Or was introduced in 2018.

Who are the favorites to win the men’s Ballon d’Or?

Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane are among the frontrunners for the men’s award, which Ousmane Dembele won last year.

Yamal is aiming for his first senior Ballon d’Or after winning the best young player award for the past two years. His performances for Barcelona and Spain have cemented his reputation as one of football’s leading young talents.

Mbappe remains in contention after another outstanding individual season. The France captain won the 2018 World Cup aged 19 but finished seventh in last year’s Ballon d’Or voting. A lack of major team trophies during the eligibility period could work against him.

Kane made his mark with his goalscoring performances and success with Bayern Munich. The England captain broke records in Germany and helped his club win titles, putting him among the contenders for individual honours.

Can Harry Kane’s goalscoring form help him win?

Kane became the fastest player to score 100 goals in the Bundesliga, reaching the milestone in just 98 games. His prolific run of form has cemented his reputation, although his performances at the start of the current season do not count towards this year’s Ballon d’Or.

The assessment period ran from 3 August 2025 to 19 July 2026. Kane’s achievements during this period will be considered, but including his most recent goalscoring record would further strengthen his case.

Where can you live stream the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony?

According to search results, the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is expected to be streamed live on DAZN. However, the official broadcast details for India are yet to be confirmed. Viewers in India should check the official Ballon d’Or and DAZN platforms for updates ahead of the ceremony.

Who are the contenders for the Women’s Ballon d’Or?

Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas is among the frontrunners to win the Women’s Ballon d’Or for a third time after helping the club win the Champions League and the Spanish title before joining the London City Lionsses.

Three-time defending champion Aitana Bonmati is missing from the shortlist after breaking her leg in December, guaranteeing a new winner. Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw and Barcelona’s Claudia Pina are also among the frontrunners.

How is the Ballon d’Or winner decided?

The award is decided by a vote of one journalist from each of the top 100 FIFA countries.

Criteria include individual performances, team achievements, decisive and impressive player character and class and fair play.

Each journalist ranks 10 players out of 30 nominees. The first choice gets 15 points, while the 10th gets one point. The player with the highest total wins. In the event of a tie, first place votes are considered first, followed by second place votes and subsequent ranking.

What is the eligibility period for Ballon d’Or 2026?

The evaluation period ran from 3 August 2025 to 19 July 2026. Only performances on these dates count towards the award, meaning players’ form at the start of the current season is excluded.

So the award recognizes performances over a period, rather than simply rewarding the player in the best form on the day of the ceremony.

Who has won the most Ballon d’Or awards?

Lionel Messi holds the record with eight Ballon d’Or wins, most recently in 2023. Cristiano Ronaldo is second with five, last winning the award in 2017.

Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten have won the award three times each. Messi and Ronaldo have dominated the award for most of the past two decades, making the emergence of contenders such as Yamal, Mbappe and Kane a remarkable development.

What other awards will be presented at the ceremony?

In addition to the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or, the ceremony will feature several other awards, including the Kopa Trophy for the best young player, the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper, the Johan Cruyff Trophy for the best coach and the Club of the Year award in both categories. The Gerd Muller Trophy honors the top scorer in men’s and women’s football.

The Socrates Prize will also be awarded in recognition of humanitarian work, solidarity initiatives and contributions to social causes.

Why is the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony important?

The ceremony marks the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or, which was first presented by France Football in 1956. It also comes at a time when a new generation of players are trying to make their mark after years of Messi and Ronaldo dominance.

With Yamal, Mbappe and Kane among the frontrunners for the men’s award and Bonmati missing from the women’s shortlist, both awards are set for new chapters.

The event will also make history by being held outside of France for the first time since 2015, with the ceremony taking place in London for the first time. The move to the British capital adds another milestone to one of football’s biggest annual awards ceremonies.

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