The Ballon d’Or has revealed the nominee lists for several 2026 awards on Tuesday, September 8, officially launching the final stage of the race for football’s most prestigious individual and collective honors.
The announcement covers the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or, as well as awards for coaches, clubs, young players, goalkeepers and top scorers.
When Is the Ballon d’Or 2026 Ceremony?
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on October 26 in London, marking the 70th edition of the prestigious awards and the first time the ceremony has been held in the English capital.
This year’s edition is particularly significant because the assessment period includes the 2026 FIFA World Cup, alongside the major domestic and international competitions of the 2025/26 season.
Ballon d’Or 2026 Coach of the Year Nominees
The men’s Coach of the Year shortlist features five candidates:
- Mikel Arteta of Arsenal.
- Luis de la Fuente of Spain.
- Unai Emery of Aston Villa.
- Vincent Kompany of Bayern Munich.
- Luis Enrique of Paris Saint-Germain.
The shortlist includes coaches who achieved major success with their clubs and national teams during the evaluation period.
Ballon d’Or 2026 Club of the Year Nominees
The nominees for the men’s Club of the Year award include:
- Arsenal.
- Bayern Munich.
- Bodø/Glimt.
- Paris Saint-Germain.
- Flamengo.
Flamengo’s inclusion gives South American football a notable presence in this year’s Club of the Year competition.
Ballon d’Or 2026 Player Nominees
The men’s Ballon d’Or shortlist contains 30 players, while the women’s award also features 30 nominees.
The 2026 race comes after a remarkable football season that included the FIFA World Cup, making the competition particularly difficult to predict.
Among the major names discussed in the race are Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, although the final result will depend on the official voting process.
Other Ballon d’Or Awards in 2026
The Ballon d’Or ceremony includes several awards beyond the main men’s and women’s prizes, including:
- Best Young Player awards.
- Best Goalkeeper awards.
- Top Scorer awards.
- Coach of the Year awards.
- Club of the Year awards.
- The men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or.
Each category has its own shortlist before the winners are announced at the ceremony.
How Is the Ballon d’Or Winner Chosen?
The Ballon d’Or voting process is conducted by journalists. The men’s award involves representatives from the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings, while 50 countries participate in the women’s award.
The voting criteria include individual performances, collective achievements, decisive contributions and fair play.
Who Won the 2025 Ballon d’Or?
Ousmane Dembélé is the current men’s Ballon d’Or holder after winning the award in 2025, while Aitana Bonmatí won the women’s prize.
The football world will now wait to see who succeeds them at the 2026 ceremony in London.
Conclusion
The Ballon d’Or 2026 race officially began with the release of the nominee lists on Tuesday, September 8. The winners will be announced at the ceremony in London on October 26.
With the 2026 World Cup included in the evaluation period, this year’s awards are expected to attract exceptional attention as players, coaches and clubs compete for the prestigious honors.
When is the Ballon d’Or 2026 ceremony?
The ceremony will take place on October 26, 2026, in London.
When were the 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees announced?
The nominee lists were revealed on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
Who are the Coach of the Year nominees?
Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente, Unai Emery, Vincent Kompany and Luis Enrique.
Which clubs are nominated for Club of the Year?
Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Bodø/Glimt, Paris Saint-Germain and Flamengo.
Who won the 2025 Ballon d’Or?
Ousmane Dembélé won the men’s award, while Aitana Bonmatí won the women’s Ballon d’Or.
