Ballon d’Or 2026: Start time, how to watch, favourites and full nominees

The Ballon d’Or 2026 ceremony takes place in London tonight, the first time in the award’s 70-year history that it has been held outside France. Harry Kane is the bookmakers’ favourite to become the first Englishman to win it since Michael Owen in 2001.

The ceremony has moved to the London Palladium as a tribute to Sir Stanley Matthews, who won the first Ballon d’Or in 1956.

Ballon d’Or 2026 start time and how to watch

Details	Ballon d’Or 2026
Date	Monday 26 October 2026
Start time	8pm UK time
Venue	London Palladium, London
How to watch (UK)	DAZN (free account) and ballondor.com
Hosts	Kate Scott and Thierry Henry

DAZN is showing the ceremony live and free. Viewers just need to sign up for a free account with an email address. The official Ballon d’Or website is also streaming the event.

Who are the Ballon d’Or 2026 favourites?

Harry Kane has overtaken Lamine Yamal as the bookmakers’ favourite. The Bayern Munich and England striker scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern last season. If he wins, he will be the fifth Englishman to lift the trophy, after Matthews (1956), Sir Bobby Charlton (1966), Kevin Keegan (1978 and 1979) and Owen (2001).

His main rivals are Lamine Yamal, who won the World Cup with Spain, and Kylian Mbappe, who won the World Cup Golden Boot. Rodri, the 2024 winner, was named the best player at the World Cup, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia starred for Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain. PSG have 10 players on the 30-man shortlist.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele is the reigning men’s winner.

Women’s Ballon d’Or favourites

Alexia Putellas is the clear favourite to win the women’s award for a third time. Barcelona’s Ewa Pajor is among her closest challengers, and Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw is in contention after firing her side to a WSL and FA Cup double. England are represented by Alessia Russo and Alex Greenwood.

Arsenal’s Ballon d’Or nominations

Premier League champions Arsenal have a strong presence. Declan Rice, Gabriel and William Saliba are on the men’s shortlist, David Raya is up for Goalkeeper of the Year, Mikel Arteta is nominated for Coach of the Year, and the club is shortlisted for Club of the Year. Their attendance is one reason Arteta is expected to rotate for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup tie at Fleetwood.

Aston Villa’s Unai Emery is also nominated for Coach of the Year, alongside Arteta, Vincent Kompany, Luis Enrique and Spain’s Luis de la Fuente.

Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominees

Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea/Real Madrid), Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Luis Diaz (Bayern Munich), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Gabriel (Arsenal), Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Sadio Mane (Al Nassr), Marquinhos (PSG), Lautaro Martinez (Inter), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Joao Neves (PSG), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Willian Pacho (PSG), Julian Quinones (Al Qadsiah), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Rodri (Manchester City/Barcelona), Fabian Ruiz (PSG), William Saliba (Arsenal), Ferran Torres (PSG), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid), Vitinha (PSG).

How is the Ballon d’Or decided?

The winner is chosen by an international jury of journalists, one from each of the top 100 nations in the FIFA rankings for the men’s award and the top 50 for the women’s. Each juror ranks 10 players from the shortlist, with points awarded from 15 down to 1. Players are judged on their performances between 3 August 2025 and 19 July 2026, with individual performances weighted most heavily, followed by team success, then class and fair play.

We’ll have the winners and reaction as soon as they are announced.