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What time is the Ballon d'Or ceremony? 2026 start time, award schedule and how to watch
Soccer’s biggest individual award will be handed out Monday, Oct. 26, and for the first time the Ballon d’Or ceremony is leaving Paris. The 70th edition takes place at the London Palladium Theatre in London, England.
Here’s when it starts, when the top prizes are expected and how to watch from the United States.
What time is the Ballon d’Or ceremony?
The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT (8 p.m. GMT), according to Sports Illustrated, DAZN and UEFA. Players, coaches and guests are expected on the red carpet a couple of hours earlier, SI reported.
SI also said the full Ballon d’Or ranking countdown begins online at 12 p.m. ET, hours before the live show, so the lower placings will be revealed before the ceremony starts.
2026 Ballon d’Or award schedule (ET)
DAZN and SI published the same planned running order. Times are approximate and can shift during a live show.
| Award | ET | PT |
|---|---|---|
| Kopa Trophy (men and women) | 4:05 p.m. | 1:05 p.m. |
| People’s Choice Award | 4:17 p.m. | 1:17 p.m. |
| Coach of the Year (men and women) | 4:23 p.m. | 1:23 p.m. |
| Yashin Trophy (men and women) | 4:43 p.m. | 1:43 p.m. |
| Gerd Müller Award (men and women) | 4:52 p.m. | 1:52 p.m. |
| Club of the Year (men and women) | 4:59 p.m. | 1:59 p.m. |
| Sócrates Award | 5:15 p.m. | 2:15 p.m. |
| Ballon d’Or Féminin | 5:36 p.m. | 2:36 p.m. |
| Ballon d’Or | 5:46 p.m. | 2:46 p.m. |
That means the women’s winner is expected about 10 minutes before the men’s winner, near the end of the roughly two-hour show.
Where to watch the Ballon d’Or in the US
In most countries, the ceremony streams live for free on DAZN, SI reported. Viewers need to create a DAZN account, but a paid subscription is not required for the broadcast. Some countries have local partners as well, such as L’Équipe TV in France and Telefónica in Spain.
Why London?
UEFA said the choice of London pays tribute to the award’s first winner, England’s Stanley Matthews. This year also marks the award’s 70th anniversary. UEFA listed Thierry Henry among the evening’s hosts.
Who will win the Ballon d’Or 2026?
The winner had not been announced as of Monday morning. SI described the men’s race as finely balanced, with Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal emerging as the leading contenders. Each has a strong case, SI said, and the outcome may not be clear until the final announcement.
The men’s shortlist published by UEFA also includes three past winners: record eight-time winner Lionel Messi, last year’s winner Ousmane Dembélé and 2024 winner Rodri. Other nominees include Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, Vinícius Júnior, Declan Rice, Michael Olise, Achraf Hakimi and Vitinha.
Yamal, who plays for Barcelona, won the men’s Kopa Trophy for the best young player last year, according to UEFA. Kane is listed with Bayern München and Mbappé with Real Madrid.
Last year’s winners
For context, UEFA listed the 2025 winners:
- Men’s Ballon d’Or: Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Women’s Ballon d’Or: Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona)
- Men’s Kopa Trophy: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
- Men’s Club of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain
- Women’s Club of the Year: Arsenal
FAQ
What time does the Ballon d’Or ceremony start?
At 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026.
What time will the Ballon d’Or winner be announced?
The men’s Ballon d’Or is scheduled for about 5:46 p.m. ET, with the Ballon d’Or Féminin around 5:36 p.m. ET.
Where can I watch the Ballon d’Or ceremony?
DAZN streams it for free in most countries with a free account, according to Sports Illustrated.
Where is the 2026 Ballon d’Or?
At the London Palladium Theatre in London, the first time the ceremony has been held outside Paris.