The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony takes place in London on 26 October, the first time the British capital has hosted it. Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal head a 30-man shortlist dominated by Champions League winners PSG. Here's everything to know about the nominees, the voting and the categories.
Quick answer
The 2026 Ballon d'Or will be awarded on Monday, 26 October 2026, in London, the first time the ceremony has been held in the British capital. The move marks the 70th anniversary of the first Ballon d'Or, won by England's Stanley Matthews in 1956. France Football revealed the 30-man shortlist on 8 September. Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal are among the leading names, and Paris Saint-Germain has 10 nominees after winning a second straight Champions League.
Key facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|
| Date | 26 October 2026 |
| Venue | London, UK (first time) |
| Organiser | France Football (with UEFA) |
| Assessment period | 3 August 2025 – 19 July 2026 |
| Men's nominees | 30 |
| Women's nominees | 30 |
The men's shortlist: notable names
Paris Saint-Germain (10 nominees): Ousmane Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, João Neves, Fabián Ruiz, Vitinha and Ferran Torres.
Other nominees named by Al Jazeera include:
- Kylian Mbappé
- Lamine Yamal
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
- Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
- Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan, the only Serie A nominee)
- Rodri
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
Notably, no goalkeepers were nominated, and there were no players from Italy, the Netherlands or Germany.
The women's award
Al Jazeera named Alexia Putellas, Ewa Pajor and Melchie Dumornay among the favourites. Aitana Bonmatí, who won the award in 2023, 2024 and 2025, did not make the shortlist this time.
Who are the favourites?
- Ousmane Dembélé: the 2025 winner and a leader of PSG's second straight Champions League triumph.
- Kylian Mbappé: a prolific scorer for club and country in a World Cup season.
- Harry Kane: consistently among Europe's top scorers.
- Lamine Yamal: the teenage winger who has risen rapidly to global stardom.
Because the period included the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, international performances could weigh heavily with voters.
How the Ballon d'Or is decided
- Voters: one journalist from each of the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries for the men's award and the top 50 for the women's award.
- Voting: each journalist ranks players; points are awarded by position, and the player with the most points wins.
- Criteria, in order of importance:
- Individual performances and decisive impact
- Team performances and titles
- Class and fair play
Other awards on the night
- Kopa Trophy (best young player)
- Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper)
- Gerd Müller Trophy (top scorer)
- Johan Cruyff Trophy (best coach)
- Club of the Year (men's and women's)
A short history
- 1956: Stanley Matthews wins the first Ballon d'Or.
- 1995: Eligibility opens to non-European players at European clubs.
- 2018: The women's Ballon d'Or is introduced.
- Record holder: Lionel Messi, with eight wins.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Ballon d'Or 2026 ceremony?
Monday, 26 October 2026, in London.
Who won the Ballon d'Or 2025?
Ousmane Dembélé won the men's award, and Aitana Bonmatí won the women's award.
Why is the Ballon d'Or in London this year?
To mark the 70th anniversary of the award's first winner, England's Stanley Matthews.
Who has won the most Ballon d'Or awards?
Lionel Messi, with eight.
Conclusion
With a World Cup season, a dominant PSG team and a new venue in London, the 2026 Ballon d'Or is one of the most open in years. The winner will be revealed on 26 October.
Sources
- Al Jazeera, "Dembele, Mbappe, Kane and Yamal top Ballon d'Or shortlist" (8 September 2026): https://aljazeera.com/sports/2026/9/8/dembele-mbappe-kane-and-yamal-top-ballon-dor-shortlist
- beIN Sports, "Ballon d'Or 2026: Nominees Announcement Date Revealed": https://www.beinsports.com/en-us/soccer/articles/ballon-d-or-2026-nominees-announcement-date-revealed-2026-09-01?gd=QT
