2026 Ballon d’Or: Where to Watch, Nominated Players, and Everything You Need to Know

FolioPitch.com – 27 October 2026 | The football world turns its attention to London on Monday evening as the 70th annual Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place at the Palladium. For fans seeking the complete 2026 Ballon d Or Where to watch nominated players Everything you need to know, this guide covers the broadcast details, the full list of nominees, and the key storylines surrounding the sport’s most prestigious individual awards. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 20:00 GMT (21:00 CET), and the anticipation is building around a men’s shortlist that features 29 names but no clear runaway favorite.

How to watch the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony

Viewers in English-speaking territories, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia, can watch the ceremony live on DAZN. The event will also be streamed on the official Ballon d’Or website, ensuring that supporters around the globe can follow every moment as the winners are revealed. This accessibility is a key part of the 2026 Ballon d Or Where to watch nominated players Everything you need to know, as fans from Serie A to the Premier League will be tracking their favorite stars.

Men’s Ballon d’Or: The contenders

No Italian players are up for the main award this year, and only one Serie A representative features on the men’s shortlist: Inter captain Lautaro Martinez, who is considered an outsider. The frontrunners include Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, and Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele. The full list of nominees is a who’s who of global talent:

• Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)
• Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona, Spain)
• Marc Cucurella (Real Madrid, Spain)
• Ousmane Dembele (PSG, France)
• Luis Diaz (Bayern Munich, Colombia)
• Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United, Portugal)
• Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal, Brazil)
• Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
• Achraf Hakimi (PSG, Morocco)
• Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England)
• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG, Georgia)
• Sadio Mane (Al-Nassr, Senegal)
• Marquinhos (PSG, Brazil)
• Lautaro Martinez (Inter, Argentina)
• Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid, France)
• Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina)
• Joao Neves (PSG, Portugal)
• Michael Olise (Bayern Munich, France)
• Willian Pacho (PSG, Ecuador)
• Julian Quinones (Al-Qadsiah, Mexico)
• Declan Rice (Arsenal, England)
• Rodri (Barcelona, Spain)
• Fabian Ruiz (PSG, Spain)
• William Saliba (Arsenal, France)
• Ferran Torres (Barcelona, Spain)
• Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich, France)
• Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid, Brazil)
• Vitinha (PSG, Portugal)
• Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)

PSG’s dominance on the list is notable, with seven players nominated, reflecting their recent domestic and European success. Real Madrid and Barcelona also have strong representation, while Arsenal and Bayern Munich are well represented. The 2026 Ballon d Or Where to watch nominated players Everything you need to know would not be complete without noting that Lionel Messi, now at Inter Miami, remains a nominee, keeping the eternal debate alive.

Kopa Trophy: Best under-21 player

Juventus forward Kerim Alajbegovic is one of 10 candidates for the Kopa award, given to the best player under the age of 21. The full list includes:

• Kerim Alajbegovic (Juventus, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
• Ayyoub Bouaddi (Manchester City, Morocco)
• Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona, Spain)
• Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig, Ivory Coast)
• Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich, Germany)
• Eli Junior Kroupi (AFC Bournemouth, France)
• Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
• Johan Manzambi (Aston Villa, Switzerland)
• Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen, Algeria)
• Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG, France)

Yamal’s inclusion in both the main award and the Kopa Trophy highlights his extraordinary rise, and many see him as the future of the game.

Yashin Trophy: Goalkeepers

The Yashin Trophy, awarded to the best goalkeeper, features a strong international field:

• Yassine Bounou (Al-Hilal, Morocco)
• Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid, Belgium)
• Joan Garcia (Barcelona, Spain)
• Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund, Switzerland)
• Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, Argentina)
• Edouard Mendy (Al-Ahli, Senegal)
• David Raya (Arsenal, Spain)
• Matvey Safonov (PSG, Russia)
• Unai Simon (Athletic Club, Spain)
• Vozinha (Colo-Colo, Cape Verde)

Club and Coach of the Year

The Club of the Year award sees Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Bodo/Glimt, Flamengo, and PSG nominated. The Coach of the Year shortlist includes Mikel Arteta (Arsenal), Luis De La Fuente (Spain), Unai Emery (Aston Villa), Vincent Kompany (Bayern Munich), and Luis Enrique (PSG). These categories recognize the tactical minds and collective successes that defined the past season.

Conclusion

As the Palladium prepares to host the 70th Ballon d’Or, the 2026 Ballon d Or Where to watch nominated players Everything you need to know serves as your ultimate guide to the evening’s events. With a wide-open race for the men’s award, a stacked Kopa Trophy list, and recognition for goalkeepers, clubs, and coaches, the ceremony promises drama and debate. Whether you’re rooting for Kane, Yamal, Dembele, or an outsider like Lautaro Martinez, be sure to tune in on DAZN or the official website to witness history unfold.