To mark its 70th anniversary, the prestigious Ballon d'Or ceremony is temporarily leaving Paris and will be staged in London for the first time in its history, on 26 October 2026.
The countdown has begun. Before that, on 8 September, France Football will unveil 30 nominees in each of the women's and men's categories, coming "less than two months before the winners are crowned". The race will be shaped by the club competitions and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the winners chosen by journalists from the leading nations in the FIFA rankings. Reigning holders Ousmane Dembélé and Aitana Bonmatí will have to defend their titles. The London evening will double as a symbolic tribute to the legacy of the first winner, Sir Stanley Matthews, crowning the world's best in his homeland seven decades on.
