The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place at the London Palladium Theatre on Monday, October 26, starting at 21:00 Italian time, with free streaming available on the DAZN app starting at 20:00, dazn.com reported.
The London Palladium Theatre Hosts the 70th Anniversary Ceremony
London plays host to the ceremony. The London Palladium Theatre provides the backdrop for the 2026 gala, marking seventy years of the prize.
Kate Scott and Thierry Henry anchor the proceedings. Ousmane Dembélé and Aitana Bonmatí won the previous edition. Their successors will emerge from two narrowed fields of ten nominees each.
Ten Men and Women Compete for Top Spots
While players ranked outside the top ten have already seen their final positions announced, the definitive order of the remaining candidates remains strictly confidential ahead of the live reveals. Jude Bellingham recently claimed the eleventh position in the men’s classification.
Ten contenders remain active in the men’s bracket:
- Erling Haaland
- Fabián Ruiz
- Harry Kane
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
- Kylian Mbappé
- Lamine Yamal
- Lionel Messi
- Michael Olise
- Ousmane Dembélé
- Rodri
The women’s competition features an equally fierce battle at the top. Ten finalists remain after positions thirty through eleven were cleared from the board.
The remaining women’s shortlist comprises:
- Temwa Chawinga
- Melchie Dumornay
- Caroline Graham Hansen
- Patri Guijarro
- Pernille Harder
- Ewa Pajor
- Claudia Pina
- Alexia Putellas
- Alessia Russo
- Khadija Shaw
Lamine Yamal and Vicky López Win Young Player Awards
Beyond the primary men’s and women’s trophies, the gala distributes honors for young talents, goalkeepers, coaches, clubs, and forwards. The Sócrates Award recognizes broader social commitment within the sport.
| Award Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Men’s Ballon d’Or | Pending announcement |
| Women’s Ballon d’Or | Pending announcement |
| Men’s Best Young Player | Lamine Yamal |
| Women’s Best Young Player | Vicky López |
| Men’s Best Goalkeeper | Pending announcement |
| Women’s Best Goalkeeper | Pending announcement |
| Men’s Team Coach of the Year | Pending announcement |
| Women’s Team Coach of the Year | Pere Romeu |
| Men’s Club of the Year | Pending announcement |
| Women’s Club of the Year | Pending announcement |
| Men’s Best Forward | Pending announcement |
| Women’s Best Forward | Pending announcement |
| Sócrates Award | Pending announcement |
Streaming Access and Live Coverage Timelines
Viewers can access the broadcast without a paid subscription. DAZN opens its free streaming portal at 20:00 Italian time, precisely sixty minutes before the main theatre event commences.
DAZN News runs an ongoing text commentary starting at 18:30 on this page. Pre-ceremony updates, position leaks, and winner declarations will populate the feed in real-time as envelopes open in London.
