Ballon d’Or 2026: the 70th ceremony in London, here’s why

In just a few hours, the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place at the London Palladium, in London’s Soho district.

After six editions held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, the Ballon d’Or is temporarily leaving the French capital. This choice has nothing to do with Harry Kane’s chances of winning, as one of the favourites for this edition, but is instead driven by two specific reasons.

70th anniversary and a fresh start

France Football wants to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the first Ballon d’Or won by Stanley Matthews in 1956. The organisation is also highlighting the event’s international dimension, as it is now jointly organised with UEFA. While this move is being presented as temporary, the magazine has not ruled out repeating the experience abroad in the coming years.

Dembélé for back-to-back glory?

The defending champion, Ousmane Dembélé remains a credible candidate for this 70th edition after helping Paris Saint-Germain win their second consecutive European title. With 26 goals and 14 assists in 51 matches for Paris and the France national team, Dembélé rediscovered his best form in decisive moments.

Performing well against Liverpool and Bayern Munich, the Frenchman notably scored in the Champions League final against Arsenal. His six goals at the World Cup, which ended in a semi-final appearance with Les Bleus, further strengthen his case.

Read also: Ballon d’Or 2026: everything you need to know about this 70th ceremony

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.