Football's biggest individual prize will be handed out on Monday evening when the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony gets under way at the London Palladium, with Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane the bookmakers' favourite to be crowned the world's best player. It is the first time in the award's 70-year history that the gala has been staged outside Paris, and fans across the UK have spent the day searching for details on timings and where to watch.
When and where is the ceremony?
The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony will be held at the London Palladium on Monday, October 26, marking the first time it is being held in Britain. Organisers said the decision to move the ceremony away from France, its usual host country, was made to pay tribute to the 1956 inaugural Ballon d'Or winner, England's Stanley Matthews.
The event is set to start at 8pm UK time, although live streaming could begin at around 6pm, when nominees will arrive on the red carpet for photos and interviews. The red carpet will begin at 18:00 GMT and last for about an hour and a half, followed by the official ceremony at 20:00 GMT. France and Arsenal striker Thierry Henry and sports journalist Kate Scott will be the cohosts.
How to watch the Ballon d'Or in the UK
TV channel and live stream
There is no traditional terrestrial or satellite channel broadcasting the gala in Britain. The ceremony will be broadcast live on DAZN in the United Kingdom and most other international markets, with DAZN providing free streaming coverage in 200 markets, although availability and viewing requirements may differ by territory. Signing up for a free DAZN account using just an email address provides full access, and the official Ballon d'Or website will also carry a live stream of the event.
How long does it last?
The ceremony is expected to last for around two hours. Supporters who want to follow the Champions League contenders arriving will have the red carpet to enjoy first, before the main prizes are handed out from 8pm.
Harry Kane's bid to end England's long wait
Four Englishmen have won the Ballon d'Or in its 70-year history and Harry Kane is odds-on to become the fifth when the winner for the 2025-26 season is announced at the London Palladium tonight. The England captain is hoping to join inaugural winner Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen on the roll of honour for the most prestigious individual prize in world football.
Kane's case rests largely on his goalscoring. He is the bookmakers' favourite after scoring 73 goals for club and country and winning the Bundesliga and German Cup with Bayern Munich. Domestically with England, he has continued to lead the line in style, including a memorable display during Kane's double against Croatia in the Nations League. His critics point elsewhere, though: Bayern exited last season's Champions League at the semi-final stage and Kane also came up short at the World Cup with England at the same stage, a lack of silverware that might persuade voters to look elsewhere.
Who else is in contention for the men's award?
Barcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal was odds-on to win this year's men's prize, but Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane has now taken his place as the bookies' favourite. Spain and Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal is a close second as debate swirls around the biggest individual prize in the sport.
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé rounds out what bookmakers see as a three-way fight at the top, with the squad that won last summer's World Cup also well represented among the contenders, a tournament covered in depth around the dramatic England 2-3 Spain Nations League thriller at Wembley earlier this season. Bookmakers believe it is a three-horse race, with eight-time winner Lionel Messi next in the betting. The full men's shortlist also features Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez, Paris Saint-Germain pair Nuno Mendes and Joao Neves, and Bayern's Michael Olise, among others linked to the UEFA Nations League and this year's World Cup.
Women's Ballon d'Or and the other prizes
London City Lionesses and Spain star Alexia Putellas is the clear frontrunner for the women's Ballon d'Or, with her former Barcelona team-mates Ewa Pajor and Aitana Bonmati, the previous winner, closest behind her with the bookmakers. England internationals Alex Greenwood and Alessia Russo also feature among the nominees for the women's prize.
Beyond the two main awards, the evening will also confirm winners of the Kopa Trophy for the best young player, the Yashin Trophy for the top goalkeeper, and the men's and women's club and coach of the year prizes, continuing the expanded format introduced in recent years. Whichever way the votes go, Monday's gala caps a season that began with a home World Cup triumph for Spain and runs through to a historic night for English football, regardless of who lifts the trophy.