The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on Monday, October 26, 2026, in London, England.
The event will be held at the London Palladium Theatre and will decide the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or winners for the 2025–26 season. It is the 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Ballon d’Or 2026: Date and Venue
UEFA confirmed Monday, October 26, 2026, as the ceremony date and London as the host city. The London Palladium Theatre was later confirmed as the venue.
| Detail | 2026 Ballon d’Or |
|---|---|
| Date | Monday, October 26, 2026 |
| City | London, England |
| Venue | London Palladium Theatre |
| Ceremony | 70th edition |
| Season covered | 2025–26 |
| Men’s defending champion | Ousmane Dembélé |
| Women’s defending champion | Aitana Bonmatà |
What Time Does the Ballon d’Or 2026 Start?
The official ceremony date and venue have been confirmed, but readers should check the official Ballon d’Or channels for the final broadcast and start-time details.
Red-carpet arrivals, pre-show coverage, the ceremony itself and the winner announcements are separate parts of the event. Check the official Ballon d’Or and UEFA channels for the latest timing information.
Where Is the Ballon d’Or 2026 Being Held?
This is the first time the ceremony has taken place in London. The choice carries historical weight as a tribute to Stanley Matthews, the inaugural Ballon d’Or winner in 1956.
UEFA linked the London venue to the award’s 70th anniversary and Matthews’ status as the first recipient.
What Is the 2026 Ballon d’Or Ceremony?
The Ballon d’Or ceremony includes several individual and team awards, with the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or among the main honours.
UEFA’s September announcement lists the following categories:
- Men’s Ballon d’Or
- Women’s Ballon d’Or
- Young Talent of the Year awards
- Goalkeeper of the Year awards
- Coach of the Year awards
- Club of the Year awards
- Striker of the Year awards
- SĂłcrates Award
Which Season Does the 2026 Ballon d’Or Cover?
The 2026 Ballon d’Or recognises performances during the 2025–26 season. The 2026 FIFA World Cup, held in the summer of that year, falls inside the assessment period.
Who Won the Ballon d’Or in 2025?
Ousmane Dembélé won the Men’s Ballon d’Or in 2025, while Aitana Bonmatà won the Women’s Ballon d’Or. The 2026 ceremony will determine the successors to both 2025 winners.
Who Are the 2026 Ballon d’Or Nominees?
The 2026 nominees were announced on September 8, with 30 nominees for both the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or.
How Is the Ballon d’Or Winner Decided?
A jury of journalists votes for the winners.
For the men’s award, 100 journalists vote. They represent the top 100 countries in the FIFA men’s ranking.
For the women’s award, 50 journalists vote. They represent the top 50 countries in the FIFA women’s ranking.
The voting criteria focus on individual performance, team achievements and trophies, and a player’s class and fair play. Individual performance is listed first in the official criteria.
When Are the Ballon d’Or Winners Announced?
The 2026 Ballon d’Or winners will be announced during the ceremony in London on Monday, October 26.
Multiple awards are presented throughout the evening, so the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or announcements form part of the wider programme.
Why Is the 2026 Ballon d’Or in London?
2026 marks the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or, created by France Football in 1956. Stanley Matthews, who won the inaugural award while playing for Blackpool, was English.
London was selected as a tribute to him and to mark the anniversary. For more on the inaugural winner, see the first Ballon d’Or winner.
How Many Ballon d’Or Awards Have There Been?
The 2026 ceremony is officially the 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or.
The distinction matters because the 2020 men’s Ballon d’Or was cancelled, so the number of Ballon d’Or awards presented does not simply match the number of calendar years since the award began.
Is the Ballon d’Or Always Held in October?
The Ballon d’Or does not have a fixed annual ceremony date. The ceremony date has varied between editions, although recent ceremonies have generally taken place after the European season. For 2026, the ceremony is scheduled for Monday, October 26.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Ballon d’Or 2026?
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on Monday, October 26, 2026.
What time is the Ballon d’Or 2026?
The official ceremony start time should be checked with the latest Ballon d’Or and UEFA announcements.
Who won the Ballon d’Or in 2025?
Ousmane Dembélé won the men’s Ballon d’Or in 2025, while Aitana Bonmatà won the women’s Ballon d’Or.
What season does the 2026 Ballon d’Or cover?
The 2026 Ballon d’Or recognises performances from the 2025–26 season.
When were the 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees announced?
The 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees were announced on September 8, 2026.
Why is the 2026 Ballon d’Or being held in London?
The 2026 ceremony is being held in London as part of the award’s 70th anniversary celebrations and as a tribute to Stanley Matthews, the first Ballon d’Or winner.
Who was the first Ballon d’Or winner?
Stanley Matthews was the first Ballon d’Or winner, taking the inaugural award in 1956 while representing Blackpool.
What date is the Ballon d’Or 2026?
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the London Palladium Theatre in London.
Conclusion
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on Monday, October 26, at the London Palladium Theatre in London.
It is the 70th edition, covers the 2025–26 season, and will determine the successors to men’s winner Ousmane DembĂ©lĂ© and women’s winner Aitana BonmatĂ.
For the complete history of the award, including every winner from Stanley Matthews in 1956 to the present, see our Ballon d’Or winners list.
