Ballon d’Or 2026: Date, Nominees, Live Stream, and How to Watch

London Palladium Prepares for the 70th Ballon d’Or Ceremony

The 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place at the London Palladium on Monday, October 26, 2026, marking the first time the annual football awards take place outside Paris in honor of inaugural winner Sir Stanley Matthews.

DAZN streams the ceremony live and free of charge in most global territories via a free email registration. Meanwhile, Harian Disway reported through transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano that Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé will travel to London for the gala after resolving past administrative issues with his club.

Bookmakers Position Harry Kane Ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal

In the women’s category, Alexia Putellas holds a 94.5% win probability on Polymarket following her summer transfer to the London City Lionesses from Barcelona. Ewa Pajor follows at 4.7%, while three-time consecutive winner Aitana Bonmatí is absent from the 2026 shortlist entirely.

Pandit Football Indonesia noted that the 2026 race features sharp contrasts between players with high individual goal tallies, such as Mbappé, and those valued for tournament success, such as Rodri. Rodri enters the night at 33/1 alongside Lionel Messi, while reigning winner Ousmane Dembélé sits at 80/1.

Real Madrid Attendance Status Remains Unconfirmed

Real Madrid has not confirmed whether club delegates will attend the London Palladium ceremony after boycotting the 2024 and 2025 galas. The club previously withheld its delegation over the voting system used by France Football when Rodri won the 2024 award over Vinícius Júnior. However, Madrid’s social media channels actively promoted their four male nominees—Jude Bellingham, Marc Cucurella, Kylian Mbappé, and Vinícius Júnior—earlier in September.

Tirto.id outlined the evening’s broadcast schedule, noting that the red carpet coverage begins at 01:00 WIB on Tuesday, October 27, followed by the main ceremony from 03:00 to 05:00 WIB on DAZN. The broadcast reaches audiences globally without a paid subscription requirement in regions lacking local broadcast partners.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 Ballon d’Or

Where is the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony being held?

The 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place at the London Palladium in London, England, on Monday, October 26, 2026, marking the first time the event leaves Paris.

Who is hosting the 2026 ceremony?

Kate Scott and former France international Thierry Henry are hosting the live broadcast from the London Palladium.

How can viewers watch the ceremony for free?

Viewers in most territories can watch the event live and free of charge by signing up for a free DAZN account using an email address, without requiring an active paid subscription.

Who won the Ballon d’Or Féminin in previous years?

Aitana Bonmatí won the Ballon d’Or Féminin for three consecutive years prior to 2026, but she does not feature on the shortlist for this edition.

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