By Basant El-Faramawy
The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony is set to take place in London on Monday, October 26, where winners for both the men's and women's categories will be announced. The event is scheduled to begin at 8pm GMT and will be available for global viewing via ballondor.com and DAZN.
Men's Award Contenders and Odds
Bayern Munich striker and England captain Harry Kane enters the ceremony as the frontrunner to secure the prestigious individual honor. Kane is aiming to become the first English player to win the men's award since Michael Owen in 2001. Closely following him in the betting odds is Barcelona and Spain star Lamine Yamal. Other top contenders include Kylian Mbappe, who set a new World Cup goalscoring record, and the 2024 winner, Rodri.
Nominees and Categories
The men's nominations feature a star-studded list including Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, Vinicius Jr, and Lionel Messi. In the women's category, prominent names such as Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmatí, and Caroline Graham Hansen are among the elite nominees. The ceremony will also recognize excellence in several specialized categories, including Goalkeeper of the Year, Young Talent of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Club of the Year for both men and women.
Key Award Categories
For the men's Coach of the Year, nominees include Mikel Arteta, Luis De La Fuente, and Vincent Kompany. The Men's Club of the Year category features Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Bodo/Glimt, Flamengo, and PSG. In the women's division, clubs such as FC Barcelona, Manchester City, and OL Lyonnes have been nominated for Club of the Year.
