The 2026 Ballon d'Or gala will be held this Monday, October 26, in London. The ceremony recognizes the best footballers of the past season and is one of the most anticipated events on the sports calendar. This year, the event changes Paris for the British capital to honor Stanley Matthews, the first player to receive this award.
What time does the 2026 Ballon d'Or gala start and where is it broadcast?
The 2026 Ballon d'Or gala will begin at 9:00 p.m. this Monday, Spanish peninsular time. Before the ceremony, fans can follow the red carpet, scheduled for 7:00 p.m., with the arrival of footballers and other guests. The presentation of the main men's award is scheduled for 10:55 p.m., although the time may vary during the event. The ceremony will take place at the Palladium theater in London and will be presented by Kate Scott and Thierry Henry.
Fans can follow the awards ceremony live through Movistar Plus+, which will offer special programming from before the start of the ceremony. In addition, EL PAÍS will provide minute-by-minute coverage to report on the winners and the main events of the night.
Who are the favorites to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or?
Among the main candidates for the men's Ballon d'Or are Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, and Lamine Yamal. All three are among the most prominent names in an edition that will once again bring together some of the biggest stars in international football. In the women's category, one of the favorites is Alexia Putellas, who has already won the award twice. The Spanish footballer aims to win the recognition again after a standout season with FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team.
In the previous edition, held in 2025, the winners were Ousmane Dembélé, in the men's category, and Aitana Bonmatí, in the women's. In addition to the two main awards, the ceremony will recognize the best clubs, young players, top scorers, goalkeepers, and coaches in both men's and women's categories.
Among the candidates for best coach are the Spaniards Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente, Unai Emery, and Luis Enrique. This Monday's gala will reveal who succeeds the 2025 winners and which footballers take home the main individual awards of the season.
