This Monday, October 26, the 2026 Ballon d’Or gala takes place—an event where top stars dream of winning the award that crowns them the best footballer in the world. But there is much more to see at this highly anticipated gala.
Organised by ‘France Football’ since 1956, the sport’s most coveted individual prize celebrates its 70th edition. Reigning Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembélé, the Paris Saint-Germain forward, inherited the crown from Rodrigo Hernández, while a triumphant Spain national team once again command the spotlight following their World Cup glory.
Who will claim the golden orb? A star-studded cast headlines the race: Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, Vitinha, and Rodri are all firmly in the frame. After so many years of Messi and Ronaldo dominating, we may be now witnessing one of the most fiercely contested Ballon d’Or battles of modern times.
When is the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony?
The glittering gala takes place this Monday 26 October, starting at 20:00 BST (21:00 CET). Alongside a raft of prestigious honours, the Ballon d’Or will salute the defining player of the 2025-26 campaign. In line with the regulatory revamp introduced in 2022, the award now assesses performances over the course of the European club season rather than the traditional calendar year.
Where will the gala be held?
Departing from its customary venue at Paris’s Théâtre du Châtelet, ‘France Football’ has chosen to stage the 70th-anniversary extravaganza at the historic London Palladium in London, England. The switch pays tribute to Sir Stanley Matthews, who lifted the maiden trophy back in 1956.
Which awards are up for grabs?
Men’s & Women’s Ballon d’Or: Player of the Season
Kopa Trophy: Best Under-21 Player
Yashin Trophy: Best Goalkeeper
Johan Cruyff Trophy: Coach of the Season
Gerd Müller Trophy: Top Scorer of the Season
Club of the Year: Outstanding Club of the Season
Sócrates Award: Recognising social and humanitarian work in football
Men’s 2026 Ballon d’Or: 30-man shortlist
Here is the full 30-man shortlist for the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or, jointly presented by ‘France Football’ and UEFA:
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona)
Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)
Rodri (Manchester City/FC Barcelona)
Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
Vitinha (PSG)
Ousmane Dembélé (PSG)
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Achraf Hakimi (PSG)
Luis Díaz (Bayern Munich)
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG)
Nuno Mendes (PSG)
Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan)
Fabián Ruiz (PSG)
João Neves (PSG)
William Saliba (Arsenal)
Gabriel (Arsenal)
Marquinhos (PSG)
Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)
Willian Pacho (PSG)
Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona)
Ferran Torres (Barcelona/PSG)
Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr)
Julián Quiñones (Al-Qadsiah)
Marc Cucurella (Chelsea/Real Madrid)
Women’s 2026 Ballon d’Or: 30-player shortlist
Selma Bacha (Lyon)
Barbara Banda (Orlando Pride)
Klara Bühl (Bayern Munich)
Esmee Brugts (FC Barcelona)
Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal)
Scarlett Camberos (Club América)
Kerstin Casparij (Manchester City)
Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current)
Cata Coll (FC Barcelona)
Melchie Dumornay (Lyon)
Caroline Graham Hansen (FC Barcelona)
Alex Greenwood (Manchester City)
Patri Guijarro (FC Barcelona)
Pernille Harder (Bayern Munich)
Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City)
Rose Lavelle (NY/NJ Gotham)
Mapi León (FC Barcelona/London City)
Lorena (Kansas City)
Melvine Malard (Manchester United/Chelsea)
Manaka Matsukubo (North Carolina Courage/Chelsea)
Vivianne Miedema (Manchester City)
Ewa Pajor (FC Barcelona)
Claudia Pina (FC Barcelona)
Alexia Putellas (FC Barcelona/London City)
Wendie Renard (Lyon)
Alessia Russo (Arsenal)
Khadija Shaw (Manchester City)
Momoko Tanikawa (Bayern Munich)
Caroline Weir (Real Madrid/Lyon)
Tessa Wullaert (Inter Milan/Como 1907)
How does the Ballon d’Or voting system work?
The winners are determined by an international jury of specialised sports journalists, with each nation represented by a single vote. The men’s electorate comprises delegates from the top 100 nations in the FIFA rankings, whereas the women’s award draws on representatives from the top 50. Every panellist picks and ranks 10 players from the 30-strong shortlist compiled by ‘France Football’, using the following points structure:
1st – 15 points
2nd – 12 points
3rd – 10 points
4th – 8 points
5th – 7 points
6th – 5 points
7th – 4 points
8th – 3 points
9th – 2 points
10th – 1 point
Voters rate candidates based on three core criteria, prioritised in order: individual displays and decisive contributions; collective team success and trophies won across club and international levels; and player conduct and fair play. For this 2026 edition, the qualification window runs from the start of the season on 3 August 2025 to 19 July 2026, the date of the World Cup final.
