The 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees were announced on September 8, 2026. Thirty players were nominated for the men’s Ballon d’Or and 30 for the women’s Ballon d’Or.
The winners will be announced on October 26, 2026, at the London Palladium Theatre in London. The ceremony is the 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or and the first to be held in London.
2026 Ballon d’Or Nominees
UEFA announced the 2026 Ballon d’Or nominee lists on September 8, 2026, with 30 players named for both the men’s and women’s awards.
The complete nominee lists are below, with each player’s country and club shown as published in the official announcement.
Men’s Ballon d’Or Nominees 2026
| Player | Country | Club |
| Jude Bellingham | England | Real Madrid |
| Pau CubarsĂ | Spain | Barcelona |
| Marc Cucurella | Spain | Chelsea/Real Madrid |
| Ousmane Dembélé | France | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Luis DĂaz | Colombia | Bayern MĂĽnchen |
| Bruno Fernandes | Portugal | Manchester United |
| Gabriel | Brazil | Arsenal |
| Erling Haaland | Norway | Manchester City |
| Achraf Hakimi | Morocco | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Harry Kane | England | Bayern MĂĽnchen |
| Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | Georgia | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Lamine Yamal | Spain | Barcelona |
| Sadio Mané | Senegal | Al-Nassr |
| Marquinhos | Brazil | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Lautaro MartĂnez | Argentina | Inter |
| Kylian Mbappé | France | Real Madrid |
| Nuno Mendes | Portugal | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | Inter Miami |
| JoĂŁo Neves | Portugal | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Michael Olise | France | Bayern MĂĽnchen |
| 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 MĂĽnchen |
| VinĂcius JĂşnior | Brazil | Real Madrid |
| Vitinha | Portugal | Paris Saint-Germain |
The list includes defending men’s winner Ousmane Dembélé, as well as previous Ballon d’Or winners Lionel Messi and Rodri.
Women’s Ballon d’Or Nominees 2026
| Player | Country | Club |
| Selma Bacha | France | OL Lyonnes |
| Barbra Banda | Zambia | Orlando Pride |
| Esmee Brugts | Netherlands | Barcelona |
| Klara BĂĽhl | Germany | Bayern MĂĽnchen |
| 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 MĂĽnchen |
| Yui Hasegawa | Japan | Manchester City |
| Rose Lavelle | United States | Gotham FC |
| Mapi LeĂłn | 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 |
| ClĂ udia 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 MĂĽnchen |
| Caroline Weir | Scotland | Real Madrid/OL Lyonnes |
| Tessa Wullaert | Belgium | Inter/Como |
Aitana BonmatĂ, the 2025 women’s Ballon d’Or winner, is not among the 2026 nominees.
When Were the 2026 Ballon d’Or Nominees Announced?
The 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees were announced on September 8, 2026.
The announcement included the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or nominees, along with the nominees for the other awards presented at the ceremony.
How Many Players Were Nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or?
There are 30 nominees for the men’s Ballon d’Or and 30 nominees for the women’s Ballon d’Or, making 60 players across the two main awards.
Other Ballon d’Or categories have their own nominee lists.
Which Clubs Have the Most 2026 Ballon d’Or Nominees?
Several clubs have multiple players among the 60 nominees for the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or. The figures below count a nominee for each club listed in the official announcement, so players shown with two clubs are counted for both.
| Club | Notes |
|---|---|
| Paris Saint-Germain | Multiple men’s nominees (including dual listings) |
| Barcelona | Multiple men’s and women’s nominees (including dual listings) |
| Bayern München | Multiple men’s and women’s nominees |
| Manchester City | Multiple women’s nominees plus men’s representation |
| Arsenal | Representation in both men’s and women’s lists |
| Real Madrid | Multiple men’s nominees (including dual listings) |
| OL Lyonnes | Multiple women’s nominees |
Previous Ballon d’Or Winners Among the 2026 Nominees
The men’s list includes several previous winners: Ousmane Dembélé, Lionel Messi, and Rodri. On the women’s side, Alexia Putellas is among the previous Women’s Ballon d’Or winners nominated.
When Is the 2026 Ballon d’Or Ceremony?
The ceremony takes place on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the London Palladium Theatre in London, England.
It is the first time the ceremony has been held in London. It is also the 70th edition of the award.
London was chosen as a tribute to Stanley Matthews, the Englishman who won the first Ballon d’Or in 1956.
For the ceremony date, venue and latest timing information, see our guide to when the Ballon d’Or is.
No official ceremony start time has been confirmed in the available announcement. Check UEFA and Ballon d’Or channels for the latest timing information closer to the event.
Who Won the Ballon d’Or in 2025?
Ousmane Dembélé won the 2025 men’s Ballon d’Or. Aitana Bonmatà won the 2025 women’s Ballon d’Or.
The 2026 winners will succeed them. For the full record, see our Ballon d’Or winners list.
What Other Ballon d’Or Awards Have Nominees in 2026?
The 2026 ceremony includes several awards beyond the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or.
- Men’s Young Talent of the Year
- Women’s Young Talent of the Year
- Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year
- Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year
- Men’s Coach of the Year
- Women’s Coach of the Year
- Men’s Club of the Year
- Women’s Club of the Year
- Men’s Striker of the Year
- Women’s Striker of the Year
- SĂłcrates Award
These categories are separate from the main men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or awards, although their winners will also be revealed during the October 26 ceremony.
What Happens After the Ballon d’Or Nominees Are Announced?
After the nominee lists are announced, the Ballon d’Or voting process determines the winners in the men’s and women’s categories. The winners are then revealed during the awards ceremony in London.
The 2026 ceremony is scheduled for October 26 at the London Palladium Theatre.
2026 Ballon d’Or Nominees: Key Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Nominees announced | September 8, 2026 |
| Men’s nominees | 30 |
| Women’s nominees | 30 |
| Ceremony | October 26, 2026 |
| Venue | London Palladium Theatre |
| City | London, England |
| 2025 men’s winner | Ousmane Dembélé |
| 2025 women’s winner | Aitana Bonmatà |
| Edition | 70th |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees?
Thirty players were nominated for the men’s Ballon d’Or and 30 for the women’s Ballon d’Or. The complete lists appear in the tables above.
When were the 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees announced?
September 8, 2026.
How many nominees are there for the 2026 Ballon d’Or?
30 men and 30 women.
When is the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony?
October 26, 2026.
Where is the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony?
The London Palladium Theatre in London, England.
Who won the Ballon d’Or in 2025?
Ousmane Dembélé won the men’s award and Aitana Bonmatà won the women’s award.
Is Lionel Messi nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or?
Yes. Lionel Messi is included among the 30 men’s nominees.
Is Cristiano Ronaldo nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or?
No. Cristiano Ronaldo is not on the official 2026 men’s nominee list.
Conclusion
The 2026 Ballon d’Or nominee lists feature 30 players for the men’s award and 30 for the women’s award. The winners will be announced in London on October 26, 2026.
See our complete Ballon d’Or winners list for the full history of the award.