2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony to be held in London for the first time

The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony will be held in London for the first time, taking place on Monday, October 26. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the award, which was first established in 1956 by two sports writers from France Football. The event will be co-organised with UEFA and will be hosted at the London Palladium theatre, starting at 8pm. This venue choice pays tribute to the inaugural winner, England's Stanley Matthews.

The Ballon d'Or, awarded to the best men's and women's players in football, has evolved since its inception. Initially, it recognised only European players until 1995, when non-Europeans playing in Europe were included. By 2007, the award became global. The Women's Ballon d'Or was introduced in 2018, with Ada Hegerberg as the first recipient, highlighting the growing recognition of women's football.

Harry Kane, playing for Bayern Munich, is currently the favourite to win the men's Ballon d'Or, overtaking Barcelona's Lamine Yamal. In the women's category, Alexia Putellas is leading the odds, with her former Barcelona teammates Ewa Pajor and Aitana Bonmati following closely. The voting for the awards will consider performances from the previous season, with a jury of specialised journalists casting their votes based on individual and collective achievements.

Voting for the Ballon d'Or involves an international jury of journalists, with one representative from each country in the top FIFA rankings. Each juror selects ten players from a shortlist, which is compiled by France Football and UEFA ambassadors. The scoring system awards points based on the order of preference, with ties resolved by the number of first-place votes. The editor-in-chief of France Football will settle any disputes that arise during the voting process.

Beyond the main awards, the ceremony will also present several other accolades, including Young Talent of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, and Coach of the Year. Each of these awards has its own voting criteria and panels. Additionally, fans can vote for their 'Ballon d'Or Of All Time' by selecting from past winners who have received the award at least twice, with a fee that offers a chance for tickets to the next ceremony.

via Sky Sports