LONDON, United Kingdom — UEFA has announced that the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held in London on October 26, marking the first time the prestigious football awards gala will take place in the English capital.
The organisers said this year’s edition will also commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or, widely regarded as football’s most prestigious individual award. The ceremony is jointly organised by France Football and UEFA.
Okay News reports that UEFA said London was selected partly to honour English football legend Stanley Matthews, who became the first-ever Ballon d’Or winner in 1956.
The organisers noted that staging the event in London reflects the continued global expansion and commercial growth of the Ballon d’Or brand ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Attention is already shifting toward who will succeed the 2025 winners, Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí and France forward Ousmane Dembélé, at the upcoming ceremony.
UEFA added that further information regarding nominations and media accreditation would be announced in the coming months.
