France Football has clarified the assessment period for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, outlining the dates used to evaluate players competing for the prestigious individual award.
The winner will be announced at a ceremony scheduled for October 26 at the London Palladium in England. The event will mark the first time the Ballon d’Or ceremony is held in London.
Thirty players have been nominated for the men’s award, including Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé.
According to the award’s published assessment criteria, performances during the 2025–26 season are considered, including domestic league matches, continental club competitions and international tournaments.
The assessment period runs from August 3, 2025, to July 19, 2026, meaning performances outside those dates do not contribute to the 2026 award evaluation.
The clarification is significant for players whose performances improved after the assessment window closed, as their subsequent goals, assists and match-winning displays fall outside the period being considered for this edition.
The voting process determines the eventual winner from the shortlist, with the announcement set for October 26.
The 2026 ceremony will also mark the award’s 70th anniversary. First presented in 1956, the Ballon d’Or remains one of football’s most prominent individual honours, recognising outstanding performances over the designated assessment period.
