It's football's big night: the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony takes place this Monday, October 26, 2026, at the London Palladium in London, and Paris Saint-Germain is arriving in force. Ten players from the club based in Paris's 16th arrondissement are among the 30 nominees announced by France Football on September 8, with Ousmane Dembélé as the reigning winner.
The event will be broadcast live and free of charge, both on television and via streaming. The winner, chosen by an international jury of journalists, will be announced later in the evening.
As Champions League winners for the second straight year, PSG again tops the list, claiming a third of the spots. Only Désiré Doué is missing, while Ferran Torres, the World Cup winner who arrived in the capital this summer, continues to bolster the Paris squad.
In France, La chaîne L'Équipe is broadcasting the ceremony live and free-to-air on digital terrestrial channel 21. No subscription is needed: just turn on your TV or watch via your set-top box. The channel is airing an extended special program starting in the afternoon, with some of the rankings revealed, followed by the red carpet from 7:30 p.m.
The trophy presentation begins at 9 p.m. Paris time (8 p.m. in London). The show lasts a little over two hours, with the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or awards presented right at the end of the evening, around 11 p.m. The ceremony is hosted by Thierry Henry and Kate Scott, according to Eurosport.
Not near your TV? The event is also being streamed for free on streaming via L'Équipe's website and mobile app, as Flashscore points out. To follow the event minute by minute, Eurosport is also offering live commentary on its website and app.
The evening is about more than the star trophy. Awards also go to the best young talent, goalkeeper, coach, club and forward of the year, for both men and women, as well as the Sócrates Award for social engagement, according to UEFA, which is co-organizing the event.
Here is the full list of players selected by France Football for the 70th edition, honoring the entire 2025-2026 season, World Cup included.
The answer lies in an almost perfect season. A second straight European title, dominance in Ligue 1 and a thoroughly team-oriented squad: the jury rewarded the group rather than an individual. From Achraf Hakimi to Vitinha, along with Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes, Fabián Ruiz, João Neves, Marquinhos and Ferran Torres, it is almost an entire starting lineup that has been nominated.
A season that had already brought fans a huge celebration on the Champ-de-Mars and at the Parc des Princes. And to make sure you don’t miss what’s next, check out the PSG’s upcoming fixtures and where to watch them.
The absence of Désiré Doué is sure to spark talk at the Parc des Princes. Luis Enrique, for his part, is among the five nominees for the Coach of the Year award, alongside Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente, Unai Emery and Vincent Kompany.
The World Cup obviously tipped the scales. World champion and captain of a defense that conceded just one goal throughout the tournament, Pau Cubarsi earned his spot, just as Marc Cucurella did. La Roja is, in fact, the best-represented national team after PSG, with Lamine Yamal and Rodri—Ballon d'Or 2024—also included.
Kylian Mbappé made the case for himself in early September, saying he had made history this summer. Erling Haaland, outstanding for Norway, Harry Kane, impressive with Bayern, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose name is coming up more and more, round out the four serious contenders. And then there is Lionel Messi, still shining in the United States, who could be in line for a ninth title. The suspense will remain until the final announcement.
On the French side, there are five: Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano. A handsome haul for the Blues, a year after the Parisian’s triumph.
It’s the big change this year, and it leaves a bitter taste for Parisians. Held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in the 1st arrondissement since 2019, the ceremony is taking place this year at the London Palladium. It’s the first time in the history of the trophy, created by France Football in 1956.
The choice pays tribute to Stanley Matthews, the first-ever Ballon d’Or winner seventy years ago, ahead of Alfredo Di Stéfano and Raymond Kopa. The jury, made up of journalists from the 100 highest-ranked nations in the FIFA rankings, voted according to three criteria: individual performances; team performances and trophies; and, finally, fair play. All official information can be found on the Ballon d’Or website.
This page may contain AI-assisted elements, more information here.
