The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is on Monday, October 26, 2026 in London. It is the 70th edition of the award and the first ever held outside Paris. The 30 man shortlist was announced on September 8, with Harry Kane the favorite.
| Date | Monday, October 26, 2026 |
| City | London |
| Venue | To be confirmed by the organizers |
| Time | Evening UK time, expected around 8 p.m. local (3 p.m. ET), not yet confirmed |
| Shortlist announced | Tuesday, September 8, 2026 |
| Holder | Ousmane Dembele (2025) |
| Favorite | Harry Kane, roughly a 64 percent chance in the live market |
Why London
The award turns 70 this year, and the organizers moved the ceremony out of Paris for the first time to mark it. London is a nod to the very first winner, Stanley Matthews of Blackpool and England, who took the inaugural Ballon d’Or in 1956. It is fitting that the current favorite is also English.
How to Watch
The ceremony is streamed live on the official Ballon d’Or and L’Equipe channels every year, and broadcast rights are sold country by country. In the United States the 2025 ceremony was carried by Paramount+ through its Champions League deal, and a similar arrangement is likely again, though nothing has been confirmed for 2026. We will update this page once the broadcast partners are announced.
The Awards Being Presented
Beyond the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or, the night includes the Kopa Trophy for the best young player, the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper, the Gerd Muller Trophy for the top striker, coach of the year for men and women, and club of the year. The full nominee lists for every award are on our nominees page.
Who Is Favored
Harry Kane after 61 club goals in 51 games for Bayern Munich and a domestic treble, plus six goals at the World Cup as England finished third. Lamine Yamal is the main challenger as a World Cup winner with Spain, with Kylian Mbappe next. The live odds update every two minutes until the envelope is opened.
How the Vote Works
One journalist from each of the top 100 nations in the FIFA rankings ranks their top ten from the 30 man shortlist. First place earns 15 points, second 12, third 10, then 7, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1. If two players tie, the one with more first place votes wins. Voters are asked to weigh individual performance, team achievement, and conduct, in that order.
Related
Full 2026 nominees · Ballon d’Or odds · Every winner since 1956 · Champions League odds
The Bottom Line
Monday, October 26 in London, the first Ballon d’Or ceremony ever held outside Paris. Kane is the favorite, Yamal the threat, and the venue and broadcast details are still to be confirmed.