Ballon d’Or ceremony moved to London after 11 years in France

France Football has announced London as the venue for this year’s Ballon d’Or awards ceremony.

The organizers disclosed this on Thursday, and also announced October 26 as the date of the ceremony.

Labeled as the most prestigious and distinguished award in the world of football, the Ballon d’Or will celebrate the 70th year of its existence this year, and London has been chosen as host city for the first time in the award’s history.

According to the organizers, the choice of London aims to celebrate the first winner of the award in 1956, Sir Stanley Matthews.

It is the first time since 2019 that the awards ceremony will not be held in Paris. It was held in Zurich, Switzerland between 2010 and 2015, then returned to other locations in France from 2016, and Paris became its home in 2019.

The 2026 edition is a return to the City where the award was envisioned.

The annual award, previously independently owned by France’s L’Équipe Group, was merged with FIFA’s award to become the FIFA Ballon d’Or award from 2010 – 2015.

However, European football governing body UEFA has been a co-organizer since 2024 till present.

Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembele, and Barcelona Femenine’s Aitana Bonmatti, are the current men’s and women’s 2025 Ballon d’Or winners respectively.

المصدر: Daily Trust (NG)