The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place in London on October 26, marking the first time in the award’s 70-year history that the event will be held outside France.
Organisers UEFA and France Football confirmed the move on Thursday as part of celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of football’s most prestigious individual award.
The decision was also made to honour England legend Sir Stanley Matthews, who became the first-ever Ballon d’Or winner in 1956.
The exact venue for the ceremony in London is yet to be announced.
The Ballon d’Or has traditionally been staged in Paris by Groupe L’Equipe, owners of France Football magazine.
Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembele won the 2025 men’s Ballon d’Or award, succeeding a list of winners dominated for years by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Dembele’s victory contrasted sharply with the previous era, when Messi and Ronaldo shared almost complete dominance of the award across more than a decade.
Messi remains the most decorated player in Ballon d’Or history with eight titles won in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
The Argentine forward notably won four consecutive awards between 2009 and 2012 during his peak years at Barcelona.
Ronaldo follows with five Ballon d’Or titles secured in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
The Portuguese star built his reputation through successful spells with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, becoming one of football’s most prolific goalscorers.
The rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the greatest in football history, with both players dominating the global game for more than a decade.
The 2026 edition will now add another historic chapter to the Ballon d’Or after organisers decided to move the ceremony away from France for the first time since the award was created.
