Ballon d’Or 2026: Time, Nominees, and How to Watch Live (Messi Among Candidates)

When and where is the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony?

The 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or takes place on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the London Palladium Theatre, tycsports.com reported. Organizing bodies France Football and UEFA selected the English capital to host the gala for the first time as a tribute to the award’s very first winner, English footballer Stanley Matthews, who claimed the inaugural prize in 1956.

According to elpais.com, the red carpet arrivals begin at 19:00 Spanish peninsular time, with the main ceremony scheduled to start at 21:00. The announcement and presentation of the most anticipated award of the night are slated for 22:55 Spanish time. Broadcasters and streaming platforms cover the event globally, with DAZN and the YouTube channel of Claro Sports carrying live coverage in Argentina.

Who are the nominees for the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or?

Lionel Messi arrives at the gala holding the record for the most Ballon d’Or victories in history with eight titles. The Argentine star faces competition from a packed 30-player shortlist compiled by France Football and UEFA. Alongside Messi, fellow Argentines Lautaro Martínez—recognized for his Serie A and Coppa Italia campaigns with Inter Milan and a World Cup runner-up finish with the national team—and other international standouts feature on the ballot.

On the women’s side, two-time winner Alexia Putellas highlights the nominees after winning every major honor in her last season with Barcelona and the Spanish national team.

How does the voting process work?

A specialized jury consisting of 100 journalists—one representing each of the top 100 men’s FIFA-ranked nations—determines the winner of the men’s award. Each journalist selects and ranks ten players from the official nominee list. The voting system awards 15 points to the first-choice selection, and 1 point for the tenth choice.

Voters evaluate candidates based on three explicit criteria in descending order of importance. First, they assess individual performance and a player’s decisive character during matches. Second, they examine collective achievements and trophies won with clubs and national teams. Third, voters consider the player’s overall class and record of fair play.

What other awards are presented during the London gala?

Beyond the primary men’s and women’s trophies, the ceremony recognizes excellence across multiple categories. The Yashin Trophy honors the best goalkeeper of the season. Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez competes for the men’s goalkeeper award against Yassine Bounou, Thibaut Courtois, Joan García, Gregor Kobel, Édouard Mendy, David Raya, Matvey Safonov, Unai Simón, and Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, tycsports.com reported. Ann-Katrin Berger, Cata Coll, Hannah Hampton, Lorena, and Ayaka Yamashita compete for the women’s goalkeeper honors.

Additional accolades include the best male and female young talent, the Men’s and Women’s Club of the Year, the Best Coach awards for both men’s and women’s football, top scorer awards, and the Sócrates Award. Nominees for Men’s Coach of the Year feature Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente, Unai Emery, Vincent Kompany, and Luis Enrique, while the Men’s Team of the Year shortlist includes Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Bodø/Glimt, Flamengo, and Paris Saint-Germain.