London: UEFA has announced that the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony will be held in London on October 26, marking the first time the prestigious football awards will take place outside Paris.

According to Qatar News Agency, the event will coincide with the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d'Or, which was launched by France Football magazine in 1956. The ceremony is organized through an ongoing partnership between UEFA and the French publication since 2024.

UEFA stated that London was chosen in tribute to England legend Stanley Matthews, the first winner of the Ballon d'Or seven decades ago. Organizers indicated that the move reflects the growing global status of the award and is part of efforts to expand its international reach.

The venue for the ceremony has not yet been announced. Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati won the men's and women's Ballon d'Or awards respectively in 2025.