The Ballon d'Or 2026 ceremony will take place in London for the first time, with Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane among the leading contenders. Here's everything to know about the favourites, ceremony timings, voting process and award history.Ousmane Dembele won the previous edition of the Ballon d'OrLondon,Oct 26, 2026 17:08 ISTThe Ballon d'Or winners will be announced on Monday, October 26, with Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane among the leading contenders for the men's award.
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 take place in London for the first time, marking the 70th anniversary of the awards presented by French magazine France Football. From the leading contenders to the voting process and the award's history, here is everything you need to know about the Ballon d'Or.When and where will the Ballon d'Or ceremony take place?The ceremony will be held at the London Palladium on Monday, October 26, at 8 pm GMT.
For viewers in India, it will begin at 1.30 am IST on Tuesday, October 27.It is the first time the ceremony has been held in London and the first time outside 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 favourites to win men's Ballon d'Or?Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane are among the leading contenders for the men's award, which was won by Ousmane Dembele last year.Yamal is chasing 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 strengthened his credentials 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 at the age of 19 but finished seventh in last year's Ballon d'Or voting.
The lack of major team trophies during the eligibility period could count against him.Kane has made a strong case through his goalscoring exploits and success with Bayern Munich. The England captain has broken records in Germany and helped his club win titles, putting himself among the contenders for the individual honour.Can Harry Kane's goalscoring form help him win?Kane became the fastest player to score 100 Bundesliga goals, reaching the milestone in just 98 appearances.
His prolific form has strengthened his reputation, although his performances at the start of the current season will not count towards this year's Ballon d'Or.The judging period ran from August 3, 2025, to July 19, 2026. Kane's achievements during that period will be considered, but including his latest goalscoring run would have further strengthened his case.Where can you livestream the Ballon d'Or 2026 ceremony?The Ballon d'Or 2026 ceremony is expected to be livestreamed on DAZN, according to search results.
However, official broadcast details for India have not yet been confirmed. Viewers in India should check for updates on the official Ballon d'Or and DAZN platforms ahead of the ceremony.Who are the contenders for the women's Ballon d'Or?Barcelona's Alexia Putellas is among the leading contenders to win the women's Ballon d'Or for a third time after helping the club win the Champions League and Spanish title before joining London City Lionesses.Three-time defending champion Aitana Bonmati is absent 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 leading contenders.How is the Ballon d'Or winner decided?The award is decided through votes cast by one journalist from each of FIFA's top 100-ranked nations.The criteria include individual performances, team achievements, a player's decisive and impressive character, and class and fair play.Each journalist ranks 10 players from the 30 nominees. The first choice receives 15 points, while the 10th receives one point.
The player with the highest total wins. In the event of a tie, the number of first-place votes is considered first, followed by second-place votes and subsequent rankings.What is the eligibility period for the 2026 Ballon d'Or?The judging period ran from August 3, 2025, to July 19, 2026.
Only performances within those dates count towards the award, meaning players' form at the start of the current season is excluded.The award therefore recognises performances across a defined 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, the most recent coming in 2023. Cristiano Ronaldo is second with five, having last won the award in 2017.Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten have each won the prize three times.
Messi and Ronaldo dominated the award for much of the past two decades, making the emergence of contenders such as Yamal, Mbappe and Kane a notable development.What other awards will be presented at the ceremony?Alongside the men's and women's Ballon d'Or, the ceremony will feature several other honours, 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 awards in both categories. The Gerd Muller Trophy will recognise the leading goalscorers in men's and women's football.The Socrates Award will also be presented to recognise humanitarian work, solidarity initiatives and contributions to social causes.Why is the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony significant?The ceremony marks the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d'Or, first presented by France Football in 1956.
It also comes at a time when a new generation of players is looking to make its mark after years of dominance by Messi and Ronaldo.With Yamal, Mbappe and Kane among the leading contenders for the men's prize and Bonmati absent from the women's shortlist, both awards are set for new chapters.The event will also make history by being held outside France for the first time since 2015, with London hosting the ceremony for the first time. The move to the British capital adds another milestone to one of football's biggest annual award ceremonies.- Ends