The race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or will officially get under way on Tuesday, September 8, when France Football unveils the nominees for this year’s prestigious individual awards.
A 30-player shortlist is expected for both the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or, with the nominations set to recognise the outstanding performers from the 2025/26 season.
The announcement comes after a memorable campaign that included the major European club competitions and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, giving several leading contenders the opportunity to strengthen their claims on both the domestic and international stages.
Performances at the World Cup are expected to feature prominently in the debate, with a number of the game’s biggest names making significant contributions for their respective countries as well as their clubs.
The September 8 announcement will not be limited to the two main awards. France Football is also expected to reveal nominees for the Kopa Trophy, which honours the best young player, alongside the Yashin Trophy for goalkeepers, the Gerd Müller Trophy for forwards and the Johan Cruyff Trophy for coaches.
Shortlists for the Club of the Year awards are also expected to be announced during the unveiling, with the various nominations reportedly scheduled to be released between 11am and 4pm Central European Time.
Ousmane Dembélé won the men’s Ballon d’Or in 2025, while Barcelona and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí took the women’s prize.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to be held in London on October 26. The event will coincide with the 70th anniversary of the award, adding further significance to this year’s ceremony.
With the final nominations set to be confirmed next week, attention will now turn to the leading contenders and the increasingly intense debate over who should be crowned the world’s best player in 2026.
