The 2026 Ballon d'Or is today, with soccer's biggest stars gathering in London to find out who will take home the game's most prestigious individual awards.
The Ballon d'Or ceremony starts at 4 p.m. ET on Monday, Oct. 26. The ceremony will be held at the London Palladium, and U.S. fans have streaming options to watch the awards live.
Harry Kane, Yamal and Kylian Mbappé are among the leading contenders for the men's award, making the winner announcement one of the most anticipated moments of the ceremony.
Here's everything to know about what time the Ballon d'Or ceremony starts today, how to watch it live, streaming options and when the winner will be announced.
What time is the Ballon d'Or ceremony today?
The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony starts at 8 p.m. GMT Monday, Oct. 26, at the London Palladium. That's 4 p.m. Eastern in the United States.
Here are the U.S. start times:
- Eastern: 4 p.m.
- Central: 3 p.m.
- Mountain: 2 p.m.
- Pacific: 1 p.m.
The one-hour difference from what Americans might normally expect is because clocks in Europe changed Oct. 25, one week before daylight saving time ends in the United States on Nov. 1.
How to watch the Ballon d'Or live today; Where to stream Ballon d'Or ceremony
Stream:Ballon d'Or website and DAZN
What channel is the Ballon d'Or on in the U.S.?
There is no traditional U.S. television channel listed for today's ceremony in The Sporting News' viewing guide. The outlet instead lists streaming options including DAZN and Paramount+.
When will the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner be announced?
The ceremony begins at 4 p.m. ET, but the men’s Ballon d’Or winner is typically saved for near the end of the show. With the ceremony expected to last about two hours, viewers should expect the biggest award to be revealed closer to the end of the event, rather than right at 4 p.m.
Player rankings from No. 30 through No. 11 are expected to begin appearing before the main ceremony, followed by the presentation of the evening's major awards. The ceremony includes both the men's and women's Ballon d'Or as well as awards recognizing young players, goalkeepers, coaches and clubs.
Who is favored to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or?
Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé are among the leading names in the men's race. The Sporting News identifies the three as among the most likely winners heading into Monday's ceremony.
Ousmane Dembélé, last year's winner, is also back among the nominees and looking to retain the award.
Who are the 2026 Ballon d'Or nominees?
Thirty players were nominated for the men's award. Some of the biggest names include Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembélé, Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi, Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior, Rodri and Declan Rice. There are also 30 nominees for the women's Ballon d'Or.
Where is the Ballon d'Or ceremony today?
The ceremony is being held at the London Palladium in London. That's significant because the Ballon d'Or has traditionally been presented in Paris. The move to London marks the award's 70th anniversary and honors Sir Stanley Matthews, the English star who became the inaugural Ballon d'Or winner in 1956.
Maria Francis is a Pennsylvania-based journalist covering trending and breaking topics across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions for USA Today Network. Reach her at mfrancis@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: What time is Ballon d'Or ceremony today? Live stream, how to watch