The 70th Ballon d'Or ceremony will be held in London on October 26, 2026, marking the first time the prestigious football award event takes place outside Paris where it is traditionally hosted [1, 2]. The decision honors England’s Stanley Matthews, the first-ever Ballon d'Or winner when the award was created by France Football magazine in 1956 [1, 2].
UEFA welcomed the move, saying, "By staging its 70th edition in the capital of England and the United Kingdom, the Ballon d'Or continues its expansion and further strengthens its status as a globally prestigious brand" [1].
The exact London venue for the ceremony has not yet been announced [1, 2]. Since its inception in 1956, the Ballon d'Or has become the benchmark for individual achievement in men's and women's football worldwide [1, 2].
The most recent winners, announced for 2025, were Ousmane Dembele for the men's award and Aitana Bonmati for the women's award [1, 2]. The award continues to celebrate excellence across both men's and women's football.
The ceremony's move to London marks a symbolic tribute to the legacy of Stanley Matthews while expanding the global reach of the Ballon d'Or. The event is scheduled for October 26, 2026, as the spotlight turns to the English capital for the first time in the award's seven-decade history [1, 2].