The date for one of football's biggest individual awards is already confirmed. The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place on Monday, October 26, 2026, in London, England.
When is the 2026 Ballon d'Or Ceremony?
The 70th edition of the Ballon d'Or will take place in London on October 26, with the world's best players competing to succeed Ousmane Dembélé and Aitana Bonmatí as the men's and women's winners.
The event will mark the 70th edition of the Ballon d'Or, which has been presented by France Football since 1956. The ceremony will also represent a significant change of scenery, as the award will leave Paris and be presented in London for the first time in its history.
A historic edition in London
The choice of London is particularly symbolic. The 2026 ceremony will celebrate seven decades since the award was created, while also paying tribute to Stanley Matthews, the first-ever Ballon d'Or winner in 1956.
The award is presented by France Football, owned by the L'Équipe Group, and has been co-organized with UEFA since 2024. The partnership will continue for the 2026 edition.
The ceremony will determine the successors to Ousmane Dembélé and Aitana Bonmatí, who won the men's and women's Ballon d'Or respectively in 2025.
When will the winner be announced?
The winners will be revealed during the ceremony on October 26. The 2026 award will recognize performances from the 2025-26 season, including international football and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which was played during the summer. L'Équipe reports that the men's award will be decided by a jury of 100 journalists from the top 100 countries in the FIFA ranking, while the women's award will be voted on by 50 journalists from the top 50 nations.
With the date confirmed, attention now turns to the nominees and the final contenders for the most prestigious individual prize in football.
For the 70th edition, the Ballon d'Or will not only crown the best players of the previous season. It will also do so in a new setting, with London hosting one of the most anticipated nights on the football calendar.
