Ballon d’Or 2026: Schedule, Nominees, and Broadcast Details

The 2026 Ballon d’Or Ceremony at the London Palladium

The 70th annual Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place on Monday, October 26, 2026, marking the first time the prestigious football awards will be hosted in London rather than Paris. As ara.cat reported, the event shifts to the British capital to honor the inaugural trophy winner, English forward Stanley Matthews, who received the honor in 1956 while playing for Blackpool. The gala unfolds at the historic London Palladium, bringing together the world’s leading football stars for a ceremony scheduled to begin at 21:00 local time (Catalan time).

Schedule and Broadcast Details for the Gala

Proceedings in London begin well before the main awards presentation. The red carpet arrivals open at 19:00 local time, offering a platform for nominees and guests as they enter the venue. Following the two-hour main ceremony hosted by Thierry Henry and journalist Kate Scott, the initial winner declarations are scheduled for 23:30 local time. For viewers tuning in from Spain, ara.cat noted that television coverage is available via the Movistar platform on Movistar Plus (dial 7), while regional broadcaster Esport3 provides dedicated programming across its 3Cat network, as detailed by 3cat.cat.

Barcelona Players Compete for Ballon d'Or

Barcelona claims a heavy presence across multiple categories following a campaign in which the club’s women’s side secured four titles. In the men’s Ballon d’Or category, Lamine Yamal, Rodri Hernández — who won the award in 2024 — and Pau Cubarsí stand among the nominees. They face international competition from Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Marc Cucurella. France Football also highlighted five primary contenders following the release of its shortlist: Lamine Yamal, who recorded 24 goals and 18 assists for the Barça alongside an international triumph at the World Cup with Spain; Kylian Mbappé, who netted 42 goals for the blancs and became the all-time leading scorer at the World Cup; Harry Kane, who scored 61 goals in a season with Bayern; Ousmane Dembélé, who lifted the Champions League and Lliga titles with PSG; and 39-year-old Lionel Messi, who scored eight goals for Argentina during their run to the World Cup final, 3cat.cat reported.

Trophies and Additional Nominees

The women’s categories feature six Barcelona players competing for the primary player award: Esmee Brugts, Cata Coll, Caroline Graham Hansen, Patri Guijarro, Ewa Pajor, and Claudia Pina, alongside Alexia Putellas and Mapi León, who now play for London City Lionesses but earned their nominations through their exploits with the Catalan club. Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí both contest the Kopa Trophy for the best player under 21, while Vicky López and Clara Serrajordi represent the club in the women’s Kopa running. Additional nominations for the club include Joan Garcia as best male goalkeeper, Cata Coll for best female goalkeeper, Pere Romeu as best coach, and Barcelona as best women’s club, alongside Ewa Pajor’s contention for the Gerd Müller Trophy.

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