Ballon d'Or 2026: Why is the ceremony being held in London for first time in 70 years?

The Ballon d'Or, given to the best men's footballer in the world, is typically given out in Paris but in 2026, it will return to the country from which the inaugural winner, Sir Stanley Matthews, came from in a way to honour the England legend.

Matthews was the winner of the first golden ball back in 1956 for being a player who "embodied the very best traits of Englishness in his every action," according to a statement on the Ballon d'Or's official website.

"The legendary Blackpool and Stoke winger was a true ambassador of football, dedicating a lifelong devotion to his craft, a commitment to enthral, and to fair play," the statement added.

According to UEFA, hosting the event in London "continues its expansion and further strengthens its status as a globally prestigious brand," as well as paying tribute to Matthews.

This year's ceremony will be held in London on October 26. The venue has yet to be announced.

The Theatre du Chatelet in Paris has hosted the awards night since 2019, with the event previously moving around other venues in the French capital since it began.

Matthews beat out Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano and Reims attacker Raymond Kopa for the first trophy, with the pair competing against one another in the inaugural European Cup final in 1956; Di Stefano did go on to win it twice and Kopa once.  

Matthews received the award in Blackpool Town Hall on December 18 in a vastly different ceremony to what we are accustomed to nowadays.

There were no big crowds or guests in tuxedos, but just a small group in attendance, including the Blackpool mayor, who had commissioned a China plate to commemorate the day, according to the Ballon d'Or's official website.

Matthews, who was then 41 years old, received the trophy from Gabriel Hanot - the editor of French newspaper L'Equipe who created the award - and gave a short speech.

However, this year will likely be a much grander affair.

"And though it was only a ceremony of sorts, and though this year’s gala is being held 250 miles south of the Lancashire coastline, it can be stated that this autumn football is coming home," the statement said. "Back to where the Ballon d’Or all began."

The Ballon d'Or Feminin, which began in 2018 and is awarded to the best women's player, is also given out on the same night.

The Ballon d'Or is voted on by journalists from across the globe, one from each nation. Each voter selects their top 10 candidates, with points distributed on a descending scale. 

Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati and Paris-Saint Germain's Ousmane Dembele are the current reigning winners of the respective awards.

Dembele could make a case for reclaiming his title should PSG win the UEFA Champions League again this season, as the French side face Arsenal in the final on Saturday, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

The winger also could increase his chances at this summer's 2026 FIFA World Cup, if France can make a deep run in the tournament.

Bonmati has won the most Ballon d'Or Feminin trophies with three, while Lionel Messi has the most Ballon d'Ors with eight, his last coming in 2023.

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