2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony: When and where, all the nominees and how the awards are decided
Monday, October 19, 2026
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All you need to know ahead of the 2026 Ballon d'Or® awards ceremony, which takes place at the London Palladium Theatre from 20:00 GMT / 21:00 CET on Monday 26 October.
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The 2026 Ballon d'Or® awards ceremony will take place in London, England, for the first time as the most distinguished individual award in the world of football marks its 70th anniversary.
Check out the key ceremony information, including which awards will be presented, how they are decided and the full list of nominees.
What is the Ballon d'Or®?
The Ballon d'Or is the most prestigious and distinguished individual award in the world of football, created by France Football in 1956.
Where and when is the 2026 Ballon d'Or® ceremony?
The 2026 Ballon d'Or® awards ceremony is being staged in London, England, for the first time on Monday 26 October. The venue is the London Palladium Theatre and the ceremony will commence at 20:00 GMT / 21:00 CET.
Why is the 2026 Ballon d'Or® ceremony in London?
The choice of London as host city pays tribute to the award's inaugural winner, England's Stanley Matthews.
Which awards will be presented at the 2026 Ballon d'Or® ceremony?
• The Men's and Women's Ballon d'Or®
• The Men's and Women's Young Talent of the Year
• The Men's and Women's Goalkeeper of the Year
• The Men's and Women's Coach of the Year
• The Men's and Women's Club of the Year
• The Men's and Women's Striker of the Year
• Sócrates Award, presented by L'Équipe and Peace and Sport for solidarity initiatives and societal causes supported by a committed champion.
Who are the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or® awards?
Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid)
Pau Cubarsí (Spain, Barcelona)
Marc Cucurella (Spain, Chelsea/Real Madrid)
Ousmane Dembélé (France, Paris Saint-Germain)
Luis Díaz (Colombia, Bayern München)
Bruno Fernandes (Portugal, Manchester United)
Gabriel (Brazil, Arsenal)
Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City)
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain)
Harry Kane (England, Bayern München)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia, Paris Saint-Germain)
Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
Sadio Mané (Senegal, Al-Nassr)
Marquinhos (Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain)
Lautaro Martínez (Argentina, Inter)
Kylian Mbappé (France, Real Madrid)
Nuno Mendes (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain)
Lionel Messi (Argentina, Inter Miami)
João Neves (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain)
Michael Olise (France, Bayern München)
Willian Pacho (Ecuador, Paris Saint-Germain)
Julián Quiñones (Mexico, Al-Qadsiah)
Declan Rice (England, Arsenal)
Rodri (Spain, Manchester City/Barcelona)
Fabián Ruiz (Spain, Paris Saint-Germain)
William Saliba (France, Arsenal)
Ferran Torres (Spain, Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain)
Dayot Upamecano (France, Bayern München)
Vinícius Júnior (Brazil, Real Madrid)
Vitinha (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain)
- There are three former winners among the shortlisted men's players for the 2026 prize: record eight-time winner Lionel Messi, the holder Ousmane Dembélé and 2024 winner Rodri.
Selma Bacha (France, OL Lyonnes)
Barbra Banda (Zambia, Orlando Pride)
Klara Bühl (Germany, Bayern München)
Esmee Brugts (Netherlands, Barcelona)
Mariona Caldentey (Spain, Arsenal)
Scarlett Camberos (Mexico, Club América)
Kerstin Casparij (Netherlands, Manchester City)
Temwa Chawinga (Malawi, Kansas City Current)
Cata Coll (Spain, Barcelona)
Melchie Dumornay (Haiti, OL Lyonnes)
Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway, Barcelona)
Alex Greenwood (England, Manchester City)
Patri Guijarro (Spain, Barcelona)
Pernille Harder (Denmark, Bayern München)
Yui Hasegawa (Japan, Manchester City)
Rose Lavelle (United States, Gotham FC)
Mapi León (Spain, Barcelona/London City Lionesses)
Lorena (Brazil, Kansas City Current)
Melvine Malard (France, Manchester United/Chelsea)
Manaka Matsukubo (Japan, North Carolina Courage/Chelsea)
Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands, Manchester City)
Ewa Pajor (Poland, Barcelona)
Clàudia Pina (Spain, Barcelona)
Alexia Putellas (Spain, Barcelona/London City Lionesses)
Wendie Renard (France, OL Lyonnes)
Alessia Russo (England, Arsenal)
Khadija Shaw (Jamaica, Manchester City)
Momoko Tanikawa (Japan, Bayern München)
Caroline Weir (Scotland, Real Madrid/OL Lyonnes)
Tessa Wullaert (Belgium, Inter/Como)
- Alexia Putellas is the only former winner on the women's shortlist. Alexia won the 2021 and 2022 Women's Ballon d'Or® awards.
Kerim Alajbegović (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Salzburg/Juventus)
Ayyoub Bouaddi (Morocco, Lille/Manchester City)
Pau Cubarsí (Spain, Barcelona)
Yan Diomandé (Côte d'Ivoire, Leipzig/Real Madrid)
Lennart Karl (Germany, Bayern München)
Éli Junior Kroupi (France, Bournemouth)
Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
Johan Manzambi (Switzerland, Freiburg/Aston Villa)
Ibrahim Maza (Algeria, Leverkusen)
Warren Zaïre-Emery (France, Paris Saint-Germain)
Veerle Buurman (Netherlands, Chelsea)
Vicky López (Spain, Barcelona)
Felicia Schröder (Sweden, Häcken/Real Madrid)
Clara Serrajordi (Spain, Barcelona)
Lily Yohannes (United States, OL Lyonnes)
Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al-Hilal)
Thibaut Courtois (Belgium, Real Madrid)
Joan García (Spain, Barcelona)
Gregor Kobel (Switzerland, Dortmund)
Emiliano Martínez (Argentina, Aston Villa/Chelsea)
Édouard Mendy (Senegal, Al-Ahli)
David Raya (Spain, Arsenal)
Matvei Safonov (Russia, Paris Saint-Germain)
Unai Simón (Spain, Athletic Club)
Vozinha (Cape Verde, Chaves/Colo-Colo)
Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany, Gotham FC)
Cata Coll (Spain, Barcelona)
Hannah Hampton (England, Chelsea)
Lorena (Brazil, Kansas City Current)
Ayaka Yamashita (Japan, Manchester City)
Mikel Arteta (Spain, Arsenal)
Luis de la Fuente (Spain, Spain national team)
Unai Emery (Spain, Aston Villa)
Vincent Kompany (Belgium, Bayern München)
Luis Enrique (Spain, Paris Saint-Germain)
Jonatan Giráldez (Spain, OL Lyonnes)
Andrée Jeglertz (Sweden, Manchester City)
Nils Nielsen (Denmark, Japan national team)
Pere Romeu (Spain, Barcelona)
Elena Sadiku (Sweden, Celtic/Häcken)
Arsenal (England)
Bayern München (Germany)
Bodø/Glimt (Norway)
Flamengo (Brazil)
Paris Saint-Germain (France)
Barcelona (Spain)
Bayern München (Germany)
Club América (Mexico)
Manchester City (England)
OL Lyonnes (France)
How are the Men's and Women's Ballon d'Or® awards decided?
Details on how the Men's and Women's Ballon d'Or® are decided can be found here.
The reference period for the 2026 awards can be found here.
Do players get to keep their Ballon d'Or® trophies?
An original trophy is produced for each existing category every year and all laureates do keep their trophy. As such, and given that Diego Maradona and Pelé were both awarded honorary Ballon d'Or® trophies for their entire football careers (as they were not eligible for the Ballon d'Or® at that time), there are theoretically 71 official Men's Ballon d'Or® trophies and seven Women's Ballon d'Or® trophies in circulation worldwide. All laureates can also ask for additional official replicas of their trophies.
France Football also keeps two original Ballon d'Or® trophies in its offices for exhibition purposes.
When did UEFA become involved with the Ballon d'Or®?
On 3 November 2023, UEFA and Groupe Amaury, owner of media companies France Football and L'Équipe, announced a partnership to co-organise the Ballon d'Or® from 2024. Together, UEFA and Groupe Amaury aim to enhance the stature and global reach of the awards while fostering a sense of unity and collaboration within the football community.
As part of the agreement, Groupe Amaury remains the owner of the Ballon d'Or® brand and will continue to oversee the voting system, which will remain unchanged and independent. UEFA contributes its football expertise, markets the global commercial rights and organises the annual awards gala.
2025 Ballon d'Or® award winners
Men's Ballon d'Or: Ousmane Dembélé (France, Paris Saint-Germain)
Women's Ballon d'Or: Aitana Bonmatí (Spain, Barcelona)
Men's Kopa Trophy: Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
Women's Kopa Trophy: Vicky López (Spain, Barcelona)
Men's Yashin Trophy: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy, Paris Saint-Germain/Manchester City)
Women's Yashin Trophy: Hannah Hampton (England, Chelsea)
Men's Gerd Müller Trophy: Viktor Gyökeres (Sweden, Sporting CP/Arsenal)
Women's Gerd Müller Trophy: Ewa Pajor (Poland, Barcelona)
Men's Johan Cruyff Trophy: Luis Enrique (Spain, Paris Saint-Germain)
Women's Johan Cruyff Trophy: Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands, England national team)
Men's Club of the Year Trophy: Paris Saint-Germain (France)
Women's Club of the Year Trophy: Arsenal (England)
Sócrates Award: Fundación Xana (Spain)
A dedicated Ballon d'Or® section can be accessed here.