When is Ballon d'Or 2026? Date, time of soccer awards ceremony

When is Ballon d’Or 2026? Date, time of soccer awards ceremony originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Whatever your views on individual awards in a team sport, the Ballon d’Or ceremony has become one of the most significant events on the soccer calendar.

The glitz and glamor of the red-carpet gala brings together some of the finest footballers and other celebrities for an evening in which the best players, teams and coaches of the past season are honored for their achievements.

This year marks something of a departure, with the event relocating from Paris to London in order to mark the 70th anniversary of the very first time the Ballon d’Or was awarded.

Below are the key details on when and where the festivities will take place in 2026.

When is the 2026 Ballon d’Or?

• Date: Monday, October 26, 2026
• Time: 8 p.m. local time (3 p.m. ET)

The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held in London, UK on Monday, October 26. This is roughly in line with the date of recent years.

There will be a red-carpet event and a cocktail reception prior to the beginning of the awards ceremony.

What time does the Ballon d’Or ceremony start?

The ceremony is due to start at 8 p.m. local time (3 p.m. ET). It is scheduled to last approximately two hours.

Here is the schedule for the evening, according to organisers (all times ET):

• 1:30 p.m.: Doors Open – Red Carpet
• 2 p.m.: Cocktail Reception
• 3 p.m.: Start of the Ballon d’Or ceremony
• 5 p.m.: End of Ceremony: Cocktail reception in the receptive spaces of the theater
• 8 p.m.: End of the evening

Where is the Ballon d’Or ceremony this year?

For the first time, the Ballon d’Or gala will take place in London, UK this year.

Organisers have not yet confirmed a venue, even though tickets are already listed for sale via Cornucopia events. It will reportedly be at the London Palladium, a world-famous theatre that opened in 1910.

The ceremony, which has been held at Paris’ Theatre du Chatelet in recent years, is in London in 2026 to mark the 70th anniversary of Sir Stanley Matthews winning the inaugural Ballon d’Or.

Full list of 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees

The list of nominees for the men’s and women’s Ballons d’Or, plus the other awards at the event, has not yet been announced.

France Football is due to confirm the shortlists on Tuesday, September 8.