The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place in London tonight, with England captain Harry Kane among the leading contenders for the men’s award and Alexia Putellas the favourite for the women’s prize.
The event will be held at the London Palladium in the West End. The ceremony has traditionally taken place in France, apart from the period between 2010 and 2015 when Zurich hosted it.
UEFA said in May that bringing the event to England was a symbolic tribute to Stanley Matthews, the inaugural Ballon d’Or winner, who received the award at Blackpool Town Hall in 1956.
The ceremony will be hosted by former Arsenal and France forward Thierry Henry, who is presenting the event for the first time, alongside Kate Scott. Scott returns for her fourth year as host and is known for her work covering the Champions League for CBS Sports.
Henry, who received nine Ballon d’Or nominations during his playing career, said hosting the ceremony in London held particular significance because of his connection to the city and its football culture.
How the Ballon d’Or Winners Are Selected
The Ballon d’Or has been presented by French magazine France Football since 1956. The women’s award, Ballon d’Or Féminin, was introduced in 2018.
For both competitions, journalists from France Football and French newspaper L’Équipe determine a shortlist of 30 players. An international panel of journalists then ranks the nominees, with 100 voters selecting the men’s winner and 50 voting for the women’s award.
The final results are calculated by combining the journalists’ rankings.
Voters are instructed to consider individual performances and the players’ character, collective achievements and trophies won, as well as class and fair play.
Harry Kane Chases First English Men’s Winner Since 2001
Kane enters the ceremony as the bookmakers’ favourite after scoring 73 goals in 65 appearances across the previous season.
The England captain is seeking to become the first Englishman to win the men’s Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen claimed the award in 2001.
Kane’s scoring record has placed him among the leading contenders, with his tally surpassed only by Lionel Messi’s 79 goals during the season in which the Argentine won the award in 2012.
The Bayern Munich striker said he had tried to avoid speculation about the result ahead of the ceremony, although he acknowledged that the uncertainty had affected his family.
“I try not to think about it. Obviously it is hard not to. There are always rumours flying around and you try to stay away from it,” Kane said.
He added that his wife, Katie, and other family members would prefer to know the outcome in advance, describing the situation as stressful for them.
Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal Challenge Kane
France forward Kylian Mbappé is among Kane’s closest challengers in the bookmakers’ odds.
Mbappé made headlines at the World Cup by becoming the competition’s all-time leading goalscorer, taking his career total to 22 goals. However, his lack of domestic and international silverware during the year could affect his chances.
Mbappé acknowledged the discussion surrounding his prospects but said voters would make their own assessments.
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“I always think I’m the best player in the world, but everyone has their own opinion,” he said.
Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal is also among the leading candidates. The 19-year-old won the World Cup and LaLiga during the season and recorded 25 goals and 20 assists in 57 appearances.
Yamal has argued that the Ballon d’Or should recognise the best player rather than simply reward the highest goalscorer. He is also seeking to become the youngest winner in the award’s history.
“I think the Ballon d’Or should go to the best player in the world, full stop,” Yamal said, arguing that the award for the best player should be distinct from the recognition given to a competition’s top scorer.
Other candidates include Messi, Rodri, Erling Haaland and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Experts Back Kane for the Men’s Award
Several football writers and commentators have backed Kane to win the men’s Ballon d’Or.
Oliver Holt selected the England captain, pointing to his goalscoring record and performances for Bayern Munich and England. Holt also cited Yamal’s achievements with Spain but argued that his individual World Cup performances did not match Kane’s overall season.
Nathan Salt also backed Kane, highlighting his domestic success with Bayern Munich, the club’s Super Cup victory and its Champions League semi-final appearance. Salt said Kane’s 73-goal total was the decisive factor in his assessment.
Ian Herbert supported Kane’s candidacy, citing the striker’s 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich and his performances in the Champions League and World Cup.
Bobby Manzi also selected Kane, pointing to his scoring rate, World Cup performances and European Golden Shoe success.
Alexia Putellas Leads Women’s Ballon d’Or Race
Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas is the leading contender for the women’s Ballon d’Or, with Aitana Bonmatí absent from the shortlist after suffering a fractured fibula in November that kept her out of action until May.
Bonmatí helped Barcelona achieve a historic quadruple, but her injury prevented her from competing for the award this year.
Putellas, who left Barcelona to join London City Lionesses during the summer, recorded 24 goals and 13 assists during the season.
The former Barcelona captain has previously won the women’s Ballon d’Or twice and is seeking a third title.
Tara Anson-Walsh backed Putellas to win, citing her role in Barcelona’s 2025–26 campaign, which included victories in Liga F, the Copa de la Reina, the Spanish Super Cup and the Champions League.
Other candidates for the women’s award include Ewa Pajor, Khadija Shaw and Pernille Harder.
Additional Awards to Be Presented
The Ballon d’Or ceremony will include several other individual and team honours alongside the men’s and women’s player-of-the-year awards.
The additional prizes include the men’s and women’s Kopa Trophies for players under 21, the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper, the Gerd Müller Trophy for the best striker and the Johan Cruyff Trophy for the best coach.
Awards will also be presented for men’s and women’s Club of the Year.
The Socrates Award, introduced in 2022, recognises humanitarian work by footballers. Last year’s recipient was the Xana Foundation, established by Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique to support families with children facing serious illnesses. His daughter, Xana, died in August 2019 after battling bone cancer.
New BOAT Award Opens Fan Voting
This year’s ceremony will also feature the introduction of the BOAT award, short for Ballon d’Or of All Time.
Organisers have stressed that the new distinction is not an official Ballon d’Or award. It asks fans to vote for the greatest player among ten past winners who have each claimed the trophy at least twice.
The candidates listed include Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo Nazário, Marco van Basten, Michel Platini, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Kevin Keegan, Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff and Alfredo Di Stéfano.
Fans can cast their votes through the official Ballon d’Or website for a fee of €1. Those who pay to vote will also have the opportunity to enter a draw for tickets to next year’s ceremony.
How to Watch the Ceremony
Viewers in the United Kingdom will be able to watch the ceremony free of charge on DAZN.
The official Ballon d’Or website will also provide live updates throughout the event.
