The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place on Monday, October 26, starting at 17:00 Brasília time (20:00 local time) at the London Palladium Theatre in London. For the first time in its 70-year history, France Football is moving the gala away from Paris to honor Stanley Matthews, who won the inaugural trophy in 1956.
DAZN Streams the Event Live and Free
Viewers across more than 200 markets can watch the event through a global broadcast partnership. DAZN holds the rights to stream the ceremony live and free of charge in most territories following a simple platform registration, as detailed by the official Ballon d’Or broadcast guide.
The 17:00 start in Brazil accounts for the United Kingdom transitioning out of daylight saving time the day before the gala, aligning 20:00 GMT with the schedule published by the official site and international sports desks.
Jurors Evaluate Nominees from the 2026 World Cup Window
Voting criteria cover performances from August 3, 2025, through July 19, 2026, a window that encompasses the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Jurors evaluate candidates based on individual performance and decisiveness, collective achievements, and fair play. The France Football organization and UEFA released the lists of nominees for each category on September 8.
The men’s shortlist of 30 features several high-profile contenders. Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, Paris Saint-Germain’s Marquinhos, and Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhães represent Brazil among the nominees. Other finalists include Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, and Lionel Messi. In the women’s division, Alexia Putellas, Caroline Graham Hansen, Ewa Pajor, and Alessia Russo appear among the contenders. UK bookmaker betting odds and comparative tracking indicate that Harry Kane stands as the favorite, followed by Lamine Yamal.
Brazilian Representation Across Categories
Brazil holds nominations across four categories for the 2026 edition. Alongside the trio in the men’s main category, goalkeeper Lorena, formerly of Grêmio and currently with Kansas City, contends for both the Women’s Ballon d’Or and the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper.
In the club categories, Flamengo enters the running for Men’s Club of the Year as the sole South American representative on that shortlist. The voting process relies on a panel of specialized journalists representing different countries, alongside the top 100 players in the FIFA rankings, who assign points from 1 to 15 to establish the top ten.
London Palladium Hosts the 70th Anniversary Celebration
Leaving the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris marks a distinct break from recent tradition for the France Football gala, which has occupied the French capital since 2019. Moving the 70th anniversary celebration to the London Palladium pays direct homage to Matthews, who claimed the very first award in 1956 while playing for Blackpool.
Holders from the 2025 edition include Ousmane Dembélé in the men’s division and Aitana Bonmatí in the women’s division. The 2026 ceremony will crown new or returning victors as the global football calendar pivots to London for the autumn gala.
