2026 Ballon d’Or: Organisers confirm London as venue for prestigious awards

The organisers of the Ballon d’Or have announced that the 2026 edition of the prestigious football award ceremony will take place in London on October 26.

It will be the first time the event is being hosted in the English capital since the award was created in 1956. The 2026 ceremony is expected to be a special one as it will mark the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or, widely regarded as the most prestigious individual award in world football.

The Ballon d’Or was first awarded to England legend Stanley Matthews in 1956 after his outstanding performances for Blackpool and the English national team. Since then, the award has grown into one of the biggest events on the global football calendar, attracting players, coaches, club officials and football fans from around the world.

In recent years, the award has largely been dominated by football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have shared multiple titles between them and set remarkable records in the history of the prize.

Last year’s Ballon d’Or award was won by Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembele. The French international received the honour during a glamorous ceremony held in Paris and organised by Groupe L’Equipe, owners of France Football magazine.

The organisers have not yet revealed the exact venue that will host the 2026 ceremony in London, but expectations are already building ahead of the historic event.

The announcement is expected to excite football fans in England, with many looking forward to seeing some of the biggest stars in world football gather in London for one of the sport’s most celebrated nights.