French football legend Thierry Henry and British journalist Kate Scott will host the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, scheduled to take place at the London Palladium in England on October 26.
France Football and UEFA announced the hosts on Monday, confirming that the ceremony will mark the 70th anniversary of the prestigious individual football award.
Also read: EIB Global, FCMB unveil €85m Nigeria agriculture deal
Henry, a 1998 FIFA World Cup winner, finished as runner-up in the 2003 Ballon d’Or voting.
The former Arsenal striker also won the UEFA Champions League in 2009 with Barcelona and received nine nominations for the award during his playing career.
He currently works with Scott on Champions League coverage for CBS Sports in the United States, alongside former England internationals Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher.
According to France Football, the ceremony will bring together leading figures in world football as attention turns to the players competing for this year’s award.
The choice of London as the venue also marks a departure from the ceremony’s recent tradition. The event had been held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris since 2019.
Organisers selected London to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the first Ballon d’Or award, won by English footballer Sir Stanley Matthews in 1956.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Henry expressed his excitement about hosting the event in a city closely connected to his football career.
“I am honoured to be hosting this year’s Ballon d’Or. London is the city I call home, and I have a deep connection to its football culture and the passionate fans here,” he said.
Henry added that co-hosting the ceremony with Scott, whom he described as a friend and colleague, felt like a natural fit.
Scott described the Ballon d’Or as an iconic fixture on the football calendar and a major celebration of individual achievement in the sport.
She also expressed delight at returning to the ceremony after previously hosting it in 2014 and 2015. She served as a co-host in 2025 alongside former Netherlands international Ruud Gullit.
Also read: EIB Global, FCMB unveil €85m Nigeria agriculture deal
The 2026 ceremony is expected to bring together prominent players and other figures from across the global football community as the winners of the various awards are announced.
