Ballon d'Or 2026 ceremony to be held at London Palladium

The 70th Ballon d'Or ceremony is scheduled to take place on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the London Palladium. In a historic move, the event will move from its traditional venue in Paris to London to honor Stanley Matthews, the first recipient of the trophy in 1956.

Organized by France Football in partnership with UEFA, the ceremony will present thirteen awards, including the men's and women's Ballon d'Or, the Kopa Trophy for best young player, the Yachine Trophy for best goalkeeper, and the Gerd Müller Trophy for top scorer, among others. The voting process involves journalists from the top-ranked FIFA nations.

Key contenders for the 2026 award include Lionel Messi, Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland. Messi remains a notable candidate following his performance in the World Cup, where he scored eight goals. The eligibility period for this edition covers the season from July 2025 through July 19, 2026.