Will Vinicius & Jude Bellingham attend Ballon d'Or 2026 ceremony?
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Vinicius and Bellingham have been nominated for the award.
Real Madrid’s much-anticipated return to the Ballon d’Or 2026 presentation has taken a surprising turn. The club has lifted its boycott, but two of its top stars have chosen not to attend the renowned event in London.
It is interesting to note that Real Madrid have four nominations for this year’s Ballon d’Or award in the men’s category: Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, and Marc Cucurella.
The award ceremony will take place at London’s Palladium Theatre on October 26, starting at 20:00 GMT. The choice to withdraw from the competition does not determine the ultimate standing of either participant, which will be revealed only after the publication of the official results.
Also Read: What time will Ballon d’Or 2026 awards be handed out?
Vini Jr & Bellingham to miss Ballon d’Or 2026
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Spanish publication AS reported that Vinícius and Bellingham will not come to London for the Ballon d’Or ceremony on October 26, 2026.
Both have elected to stay in Madrid, despite having been nominated for the men’s prize. The report said that the Brazilian winger and the English midfielder are not going with Madrid’s delegation, but the reasons for their omission have not been publicly disclosed.
The verdict is especially noteworthy given the tangled history the award has in Madrid. The Spanish giants withdrew their delegation in 2024 when they learned that Vini Jr would not win the Ballon d’Or, which went to Rodri.
The club also skipped the next ceremony. This year, though, ties with the organisers have improved, and Madrid have chosen to come back.
Players including Kylian Mbappé and Marc Cucurella are with Real Madrid in London. Emilio Butragueño heads the club’s delegation, while Yan Diomande and women’s football candidate Felicia Schröder are also likely to attend.
However, the absences of Vini Jr and Bellingham mean the Spanish giants won’t be represented by all their star names.
Where is the Ballon d’Or 2026 taking place?
It will be held at the London Palladium Theatre in London, England. The ceremony will take place on October 26, 2026, starting at 20:00 GMT.
Will Vinicius & Jude Bellingham attend Ballon d’Or ceremony?
No, they have reportedly chosen to stay in Madrid and will not attend the ceremony in London. The reasons for their absence have not been disclosed.
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