The Ballon d’Or 2026 is leaving Paris for the first time in its 70-year history, with the ceremony set for the London Palladium on 26 October 2026. Thierry Henry, a player who was nominated nine times and never won it, has been handed the microphone.
That mix of tradition, relocation and a little irony makes this edition worth a closer look. Here is what changed, why, and how the winner actually gets picked.
Key takeaways
- The 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for 26 October 2026 at 20:00 GMT at the London Palladium.
- It is the first edition held outside Paris, chosen partly to honour Stanley Matthews, the first winner in 1956.
- Thierry Henry and Kate Scott co-host the night.
- Ousmane Dembélé and Aitana Bonmatí arrive as the reigning 2025 winners.
- Journalists vote, not fans: each ranks ten players, with 15 points for first place.
Why is the Ballon d’Or 2026 in London?
Because of a winger from Stoke. France Football magazine launched the award in 1956, and its first winner was England’s Stanley Matthews. When UEFA confirmed the move in May 2026, it said London was picked as a tribute to Matthews, seven decades on.
There is a business reason too. UEFA has co-organised the ceremony with France Football since 2024, and organisers framed the switch as part of growing the award’s global reach. Think of it like a band that has played the same hometown venue for decades finally booking a world tour. The songs stay the same; the audience gets bigger.
The venue choice suits a show. The Palladium is a West End theatre, not a stadium, so expect a staged gala rather than a pitch-side party. The night is broadcast worldwide, which matters if you follow football from Jakarta or Johannesburg. Our piece on how streaming changed the way we watch explains why events like this now chase global screens first and the room second.
Who is hosting, and why does Thierry Henry fit?
Henry is one of the best players never to lift the trophy. According to ESPN, he was nominated nine times, reached the podium twice and came closest in 2003, finishing second to Pavel Nedvěd. Asking him to hand out the prize is a nice bit of theatre, and he has plenty of TV experience to carry it.
Goal reports that Henry said he was “honoured to be hosting this year’s Ballon d’Or.” His co-host Kate Scott knows the job well: she presented the ceremony in 2014, 2015 and 2025, so she is the steady hand who keeps the running order on time.
How does Ballon d’Or voting work?
This part trips people up, so here it is plainly. Fans do not vote. A jury of journalists does, one per country. The men’s jury covers the top 100 nations in the FIFA men’s ranking; the women’s jury covers the top 50 in the women’s ranking, as beIN Sports explains.
Each juror picks ten players from a 30-name shortlist and ranks them. The points are fixed:
| Rank on ballot | Points |
|---|---|
| 1st | 15 |
| 2nd | 12 |
| 3rd | 10 |
| 4th | 8 |
| 5th | 7 |
| 6th | 5 |
| 7th | 4 |
| 8th | 3 |
| 9th | 2 |
| 10th | 1 |
Highest total wins. Ties go to whoever has more first-place votes. Voters are told to weigh three things: individual performance, team trophies, and fair play. Individual form is meant to count most, which is why a superb season on a team that won nothing can still beat a quieter one on a treble winner.
Who arrives with a real shot?
The holders are the obvious starting point. Ousmane Dembélé won the men’s award in 2025 after a huge season with Paris Saint-Germain, edging out Lamine Yamal. Aitana Bonmatí won the women’s award for a third straight year.
Other names on the men’s shortlist include Lionel Messi, a record eight-time winner, 2024 winner Rodri, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham and Yamal. On the women’s side, Alexia Putellas (2021 and 2022) is the only former winner listed alongside Bonmatí.
My honest take: don’t read too much into reputation. The points system rewards broad agreement, so a player who appears on almost every ballot in second or third can beat a star who splits the jury. Check the official result after 26 October rather than trusting any pre-ceremony ranking.
What else gets handed out?
The night is bigger than one golden ball. Men’s and women’s prizes are also given for the best young player, goalkeeper, coach, club and striker, plus the Sócrates Award for players who back social causes. That last one is a reminder that football’s reach starts small, something we saw in our look at how local sports clubs shape their communities.
FAQ
When and where is the Ballon d’Or 2026 ceremony?
It is scheduled for Monday, 26 October 2026, at 20:00 GMT at the London Palladium. It is the first edition held outside Paris.
Who hosts the 2026 Ballon d’Or?
Former Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry co-hosts with sports broadcaster Kate Scott, who also presented the ceremony in 2014, 2015 and 2025.
How is the Ballon d’Or winner chosen?
A jury of journalists, one per country (100 for the men’s award, 50 for the women’s), ranks ten players from a 30-name shortlist. Points run from 15 for first down to 1 for tenth, and the highest total wins.
Want the full picture? Bookmark the official Ballon d’Or results once the London ceremony wraps, then compare the top ten with your own ballot. You may be surprised how far apart they are.
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