The Ballon d'Or is football's most prestigious individual prize, but the 2026 edition carries a little extra significance. For the first time, the ceremony will be held in London, with the 70th edition set for Monday 26 October 2026 at approximately 8pm UK time. It is a fitting stage for an award that has helped define the sport since L'Équipe founded it in 1956.
There is also a practical headline for fans: Ballon d'Or live coverage will be available free of charge on DAZN and ballondor.com. That matters because this is not just about one trophy. The Ballon d'Or awards ceremony will decide honours across the men's and women's game over the 2025/26 season, turning one night into a broad snapshot of who shaped the year most convincingly.
Why London matters
The venue choice is not random. The event is being held in London in honour of inaugural winner Stanley Matthews, which gives the city a direct link to the award's origins. It is also another reminder that the Ballon d'Or is more than a yearly presentation of hardware. Location, timing and history all add weight to the ceremony itself.
For England, there is an added layer of interest. Harry Kane is hoping to become just the fifth Englishman to win the award, and his presence in the conversation keeps the men's race firmly in focus. The same applies on the women's side, where Alexia Putellas, Melchie Dumornay, Ewa Pajor and Bunny Shaw are among the leading names in the mix, with the Ballon d'Or Féminin again part of the same showcase.
That blend of individual storylines is what gives the night its pull. A Ballon d'Or ceremony can sometimes feel like a coronation, but the best editions also serve as a barometer of the sport itself. The names on the shortlist, the setting in London and the fact that the broadcast is open to fans for free all point in the same direction: this is designed to be a global event, not a closed-room verdict.
And for viewers, the appeal is simple. The ceremony arrives live, at a convenient UK evening slot, with the biggest individual prizes in football being decided in one place. Ballon d'Or live coverage does not get much more accessible than that.
