Football fans will not have to wait much longer to know the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
France Football will reveal the nominees on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, with the lists expected to be released between 11 am and 4 pm.
The announcement will reveal the nominees for the men's and women's Ballon d’Or, as well as several other major awards.
The final ceremony will take place on October 26, 2026, in London, with the event marking the 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or.
When will the Ballon d’Or 2026 nominees be announced?
The 2026 Ballon d’Or nominee lists will be released on September 8.
The announcement will take place gradually between 11 am and 4 pm, giving fans the chance to follow the different categories as they are revealed.
The official Ballon d’Or website and its social media channels will publish the names during the announcement period.
The men's Ballon d’Or list will contain 30 players, while the women's Ballon d’Or will also have 30 nominees.
Ballon d’Or 2026 categories
The September 8 announcement will cover several categories.
Men's Ballon d’Or
30 players
Women's Ballon d’Or
30 players
Men's Kopa Trophy
10 young players
Women's Kopa Trophy
5 young players
Men's Yashin Trophy
10 goalkeepers
Women's Yashin Trophy
5 goalkeepers
Men's Johan Cruyff Trophy
5 coaches
Women's Johan Cruyff Trophy
5 coaches
Men's Club of the Year
5 clubs
Women's Club of the Year
5 clubs
The ceremony will also include the Gerd Müller Trophy, which recognises the leading goalscorer, and the Socrates Award, which honours footballers involved in important social and humanitarian causes.
Which players are expected to be on the Ballon d’Or 2026 list?
The official list has not been released yet, so none of these names should be described as confirmed nominees.
However, several players have been strongly linked with the 2026 shortlist after their performances during the season and the 2026 World Cup.
Harry Kane
Harry Kane is one of the biggest names expected to feature.
The Bayern Munich and England striker has been among the leading contenders throughout the Ballon d’Or race. His goalscoring numbers and performances for club and country have made him one of the players to watch when the list is announced.
Lamine Yamal
Lamine Yamal is another major contender.
The Barcelona and Spain star has continued to attract attention at the highest level and is again expected to be part of the Ballon d’Or conversation.
Kylian Mbappé
Real Madrid and France forward Kylian Mbappé is also expected to make the list.
His performances for France and Real Madrid have kept him among the leading names in the race, particularly after his strong showing at the 2026 World Cup.
Rodri
Rodri is another player who could be among the leading nominees.
The Spain and Manchester City midfielder has a strong case after his international success and his influence at the highest level.
Ousmane Dembélé
The defending men's Ballon d’Or winner, Ousmane Dembélé, could also return to the shortlist.
Dembélé won the 2025 award after an outstanding season with Paris Saint-Germain.
Other names to watch
Other players being mentioned among the leading contenders include:
- Lionel Messi
- Michael Olise
- Vitinha
- Achraf Hakimi
- Vinícius Júnior
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
- Erling Haaland
- Jude Bellingham
- Declan Rice
These names are based on current predictions and power rankings, not an official 2026 nominee list.
Who were the 2025 Ballon d’Or nominees?
Last year's men's Ballon d’Or had 30 nominees.
The full list was:
- Ousmane Dembélé
- Lamine Yamal
- Vitinha
- Mohamed Salah
- Raphinha
- Achraf Hakimi
- Kylian Mbappé
- Cole Palmer
- Gianluigi Donnarumma
- Nuno Mendes
- Pedri
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
- Harry Kane
- Désiré Doué
- Viktor Gyökeres
- Jude Bellingham
- Robert Lewandowski
- Lautaro Martínez
- Scott McTominay
- Serhou Guirassy
- Alexis Mac Allister
- Florian Wirtz
- Virgil van Dijk
- Fabián Ruiz
- Denzel Dumfries
- Erling Haaland
- Declan Rice
- Vinícius Júnior
- João Neves
- Michael Olise
Ousmane Dembélé eventually won the men's award, with Lamine Yamal finishing second and Vitinha third.
Winners of the main Ballon d’Or awards in 2025
The 2025 ceremony also produced winners across the other categories.
- Men's Ballon d’Or: Ousmane Dembélé
- Women's Ballon d’Or: Aitana Bonmatí
- Men's Kopa Trophy: Lamine Yamal
- Women's Kopa Trophy: Vicky López
- Men's Yashin Trophy: Gianluigi Donnarumma
- Women's Yashin Trophy: Hannah Hampton
- Men's Johan Cruyff Trophy: Luis Enrique
- Women's Johan Cruyff Trophy: Sarina Wiegman
- Men's Gerd Müller Trophy: Viktor Gyökeres
- Women's Gerd Müller Trophy: Ewa Pajor
- Men's Club of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain
- Women's Club of the Year: Arsenal
The 2025 awards showed just how competitive the Ballon d’Or has become, with players from different clubs and countries competing across the different categories.
When is the Ballon d’Or 2026 ceremony?
The winners will be announced at the main Ballon d’Or ceremony on October 26, 2026, in London.
It will be a special edition of the award because it is the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony.
The men's winner will succeed Ousmane Dembélé, while the women's winner will succeed Aitana Bonmatí.
The wait for the 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist is almost over.
On September 8, football fans will finally know the 30 players selected for the men's award, along with the nominees for the women's Ballon d’Or, Kopa Trophy, Yashin Trophy, Johan Cruyff Trophy and Club of the Year awards.
Names such as Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Rodri and Ousmane Dembélé are among those expected to attract the most attention.
But until France Football officially releases the lists, the names being discussed remain predictions.
The real shortlist will be known on September 8 between 11 am and 4 pm.
