The organisers of the Ballon d’Or have announced key details and information for the 2026 edition of the prestigious football award.
The nominees for all 12 award categories will be announced on September 8, and winners will be announced at the main ceremony in London on October 26.
The announcement will disclose the players, coaches and clubs nominated for football’s most coveted prizes.
Here are the 12 Ballon d’Or 2026 categories and the number of nominees in each shortlist:
Men’s Ballon d’Or
30 players will jostle for the men’s Ballon d’Or in what is believed to be the most popular category and highly anticipated shortlist.
The eventual winner will be crowned the world’s best male footballer at the October ceremony.
Women’s Ballon d’Or
The women’s Ballon d’Or will also feature 30 nominees. The shortlist will bring together the best and leading female players who impressed during the past season.
Men’s Young Talent of the Year
In this category, a total of 10 talented and promising young players will be shortlisted. Recognition will be given to the next generation of football stars through the Men’s Young Talent of the Year award.
Women’s Young Talent of the Year
The women’s equivalent of the category before it. Five players will be shortlisted. The award will crown the best young female players to emerge during the season.
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year
The best goalkeeper in the last year will emerge from this category. Ten goalkeepers will be nominated and will jostle for the prize for the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year
The female goalkeeper with the best performance between the sticks will be recognised in this category. Five goalkeepers will be shortlisted for the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award, the equivalent of the men’s category of the same award.
Men’s Coach of the Year
Efforts and achievements of Coaches and managers who led their team to glory and triumph will be recognised and rewarded in this category. Five coaches shortlisted for the Men’s Coach of the Year award.
Women’s Coach of the Year
The Women’s Coach of the Year category will also feature five nominees, highlighting the leading managers in the women’s game.
Men’s Striker of the Year
This category will recognise and crown the effort of goal poachers and their remarkable offensive display from the season. Players who etched their name in football fan consciousness with their efficiency in front of goal. Ten strikers will be nominated for the Men’s Striker of the Year award.
Women’s Striker of the Year
Five female strikers will be shortlisted for the Women’s Striker of the Year award. It will reward impressive and outstanding attacking performances by a female player from the season
Men’s Club of the Year
This is a category that will recognise the effort and performance of players collectively as a team during the season.
Five men’s clubs will be shortlisted for the Men’s Club of the Year award following their performances during the season.
Women’s Club of the Year
The women’s game will also have its own club award, with five clubs shortlisted for the Women’s Club of the Year prize.
When will the Ballon d’Or 2026 nominees be announced?
The 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlists will be unveiled on September 8, with nominees for all 12 categories announced on the official Ballon d’Or website.
The announcement will kick-start the final stage of the countdown to the ceremony, where the winners will be crowned on October 26 in London.
