The 2026 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony will take place on Monday, October 26, at the London Palladium Theatre in London, England, marking the first time the prestigious football awards will be held in the British capital.
The 2026 edition will also be a landmark occasion as the Ballon d’Or celebrates its 70th anniversary. Created by France Football in 1956, the award has become one of the most prestigious individual honours in world football.
Since 2024, the Ballon d’Or awards have been jointly organised by France Football, owned by the L’Équipe Group, and UEFA.
The decision to stage the ceremony in London is also a tribute to Stanley Matthews, who became the first-ever Ballon d’Or winner in 1956.
Messi, Yamal and Mbappé Headline Men’s Nominees
A total of 30 players have been nominated for the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or.
The shortlist includes eight-time winner Lionel Messi, Real Madrid stars Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior, Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane.
Arsenal have three players among the nominees, with Gabriel, Declan Rice and William Saliba earning recognition.
Other notable names on the shortlist include Jude Bellingham, Ousmane Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi, Luis Díaz, Bruno Fernandes, Sadio Mané, Lautaro Martínez and Vitinha.
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Arsenal Enjoy Strong Representation
Arsenal are also well represented across several other categories.
Manager Mikel Arteta has been nominated for the Men’s Coach of the Year award, while goalkeeper David Raya is in contention for Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year.
In the women’s categories, Arsenal stars Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo have both been nominated for the Women’s Ballon d’Or.
The Gunners are also among the five nominees for Men’s Club of the Year, alongside Bayern Munich, Bodø/Glimt, Flamengo and Paris Saint-Germain.
Women’s Ballon d’Or Shortlist
The Women’s Ballon d’Or shortlist also features 30 players, including Barcelona stars Alexia Putellas, Caroline Graham Hansen and Ewa Pajor.
England and Arsenal forward Alessia Russo, Manchester City duo Khadija Shaw and Vivianne Miedema, and Real Madrid midfielder Caroline Weir are among the other prominent nominees.
Beyond the main Ballon d’Or awards, the ceremony will honour outstanding young players, goalkeepers, coaches and clubs in both men’s and women’s football.
The Sócrates Award will once again recognise footballers who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to solidarity projects and social causes.
With the world’s biggest football stars expected to gather in London, the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony promises to be a landmark celebration of the sport and the 70-year history of one of its most coveted individual awards.
