Karmactive Staff
The Ballon d’Or has never been handed out on this street before. Tonight it is. The 70th edition of the award kicks off at 8:00 PM GMT on October 26, 2026, at the London Palladium—the first time the ceremony has been held in London. And the odds have shifted sharply enough in recent days that the winner is no longer the certainty it appeared to be earlier this month.
The main ceremony begins at 8:00 PM GMT (1:30 AM IST, Tuesday, October 27). The 2026 award covers the 2025–26 season, which included the 2026 FIFA World Cup. France Football has confirmed a 30-man shortlist for the men’s prize alongside a separate women’s award and multiple category trophies. Last year’s winners were Ousmane Dembélé (men’s) and Aitana Bonmatí (women’s).
If you are watching tonight or tracking a late bet, the current market has Harry Kane—England captain and Bayern Munich striker—as the clear favourite at 7/20, with Kylian Mbappé at 2/1 and Lamine Yamal at 9/2. Kane leads the odds by a distance, but Mbappé has closed ground and tonight is effectively a two-horse race.
The Season That Changed the Calculation
This Ballon d’Or rewards a season containing a World Cup—the first since 2022. Performances in a tournament watched globally carry weight beyond club form alone. European football and 2026 World Cup coverage has tracked both Kane’s tournament contributions and Mbappé’s decisive moments as the two strongest candidates through the final voting window. Sports analysis and award season coverage carries the full 30-man breakdown and category-by-category preview.
The 30-man shortlist reflects the usual concentration around the Champions League and the World Cup squads. On the women’s side, the award sits in separate competition with its own shortlist and ceremony structure.
The market has consolidated sharply. Kane sits at 7/20—a clear favourite signal—while Mbappé has closed to 2/1, a genuine challenger price. Yamal has drifted to 9/2, leaving the contest as a head-to-head between the two leaders in the final hours before the envelopes open.
Where and what time is the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony?
The 70th Ballon d’Or takes place on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the London Palladium. The ceremony begins at 8:00 PM GMT (1:30 AM IST on Tuesday, October 27). It is the first time the award has been held in London.
The official winner announcement is expected within two hours of the 8:00 PM start. Check back for the confirmed result as soon as the men’s and women’s awards are presented.
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Related coverage: 2026 World Cup climate risks.
Reporting for this update was checked against an official source.
