Traditionally hosted in Paris, the glamorous event is moving to England as part of celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or, which was first awarded in 1956 to English football legend Stanley Matthews. UEFA and France Football confirmed the historic venue switch on Thursday, making this year’s edition one of the most anticipated in the award’s history.
The ceremony will crown the best men’s and women’s footballers in the world following another thrilling football season. The move to London is seen as a tribute to the global growth of the award and to English football’s rich history.
Current holders of the prestigious prizes are Ousmane Dembélé and Aitana Bonmatí, who won the 2025 men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or awards respectively.
Attention is already turning toward the leading contenders for the 2026 award, with stars such as Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé and Declan Rice all being mentioned among the favourites after impressive performances this season.
Football fans across the world are now eagerly waiting to see who will lift the famous golden trophy in London on what promises to be a historic night for the sport.