The prestigious Ballon d’Or 2026 award ceremony is scheduled to take place on 26 October in London. This announcement follows a reaffirmation of the voting criteria by the organising body on 9 August, setting the stage for who might lift the coveted award.

Ballon d’Or 2026 Ceremony Details and Assessment Period

The highly anticipated Ballon d’Or ceremony, honouring the best footballers, will be held in London on 26 October. This event will culminate the assessment of players’ performances over an entire sporting season, running from August to July, as detailed by Goal.com. Crucially, the 2026 World Cup will fully factor into these calculations, playing a significant role in determining potential winners.

Voting for the award begins after the nominees are announced. This year, 30 male and 30 female players will be shortlisted for their respective awards.

Revised Voting Criteria Emphasise Individual Impact

The Ballon d’Or organising body reaffirmed its voting criteria on 9 August, just three weeks after the World Cup final, according to Catalan newspaper “Sport” as reported by Goal.com. The core message underscores that individual performance and a decisive, dazzling character now take precedence over collective titles. This shift was initially adopted by French magazine “France Football” in March 2022, moving away from criteria that previously mixed individual and collective achievements.

While the regulations do not state that goals in finals or Champions League matches automatically carry greater weight, the concept of a “decisive, dazzling character” naturally highlights those who perform exceptionally in major matches. Being a European or world champion no longer automatically grants an advantage; instead, the focus is on individual brilliance and decisiveness in crucial moments throughout the season.

Key Contenders Emerge for 2026 Award

Based on the revised criteria, several players are already being discussed as strong candidates for the Ballon d’Or 2026. TNT Sports has even suggested the winner may already be decided, reflecting the strong performances seen over the past season.

• Kylian Mbappé is noted for his individual brilliance, finishing as top scorer in both the World Cup (10 goals in 8 matches) and the Champions League (15 goals in 11 matches), despite his teams not winning those respective titles.
• Rodri was chosen as the best player at the World Cup and demonstrated exceptional performance in the final against Argentina, completing 101 of 105 passes and winning 80% of his duels.
• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, named UEFA’s best player in the Champions League after Paris Saint-Germain’s triumph, contributed 10 goals and 6 assists in 16 matches.
• His teammate, Vitinha, was recognised as the best player in the Champions League final against Arsenal for his midfield control and leadership.
• Ousmane Dembélé, who scored Paris’s equaliser in the Champions League final and had 6 goals and two assists for France in the World Cup, is also in consideration alongside European and world champion teammate Fabian Ruiz.
• Lamine Yamal has a strong case after being named the best player in La Liga 2025/26, contributing 16 goals and 12 assists to Barcelona’s title. His entire season, including Champions League and World Cup with Spain, will be assessed.
• Ferran Torres perfectly illustrates the “decisive character” criterion, having scored the winning goal against Argentina in the World Cup final in the 106th minute, making him only the second substitute to do so.
• Additionally, Sadio Mané is expected to be among the nominees, as reported by DaveOCKOP.