When is the 2026 Ballon d’Or, who are the favourites, and how can you watch it?

The Ballon d’Or, football’s most prestigious individual honour, will be awarded on Monday, with Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe among the frontrunners in the men’s category and Spain’s Alexia Putellas the favourite to pick the women’s award for the third time. Given to the best player of the 2025-26 season, the upcoming ceremony will mark the award’s 70th edition, and the first time it is held outside France. Ahead of Monday’s official gala, here’s everything to know about the award, its history and more: The Ballon d’Or is the highest individual award given to a footballer, based on his or her performance in the previous season.