French football legend Thierry Henry and British journalist Kate Scott will host the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, scheduled for October 26 at the London Palladium in England.
France Football and UEFA announced the pair on Monday, confirming that the event will mark the 70th anniversary of football’s most prestigious individual award.
The ceremony will bring together some of the biggest names in world football as attention turns to the players competing for this year’s honours.
Henry, a member of France’s 1998 World Cup-winning team, finished runner-up in the 2003 Ballon d’Or voting. He also won the UEFA Champions League in 2009 and received nine nominations for the award during his playing career.
He currently co-hosts Champions League coverage on CBS Sports in the United States alongside Scott, with former England internationals Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher also featuring on the programme.
Announcing the hosts, France Football and UEFA said: “Thierry Henry, 2003 Ballon d’Or runner-up, and British journalist Kate Scott will host the ceremony for the 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or on Monday, October 26, at the London Palladium.”
The organisers added: “Who will win the 2026 Ballon d’Or? The suspense remains intact. But this Monday, exactly one week before the winners are revealed, France Football and UEFA announce the hosts of the 70th Ballon d’Or. On October 26, Thierry Henry and Kate Scott will welcome the elite of world football to the London Palladium.”
The decision to stage the ceremony in London also marks a departure from its recent Paris setting. The event had been held at the Théâtre du Châtelet since 2019.
The organisers said the move was intended to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Sir Stanley Matthews becoming the first recipient of the trophy in 1956.
Henry expressed delight at hosting the ceremony in a city closely connected to his football career, particularly his time at Arsenal.
“I am honoured to be hosting this year’s Ballon d’Or. London is the city I call home, and I have a deep connection to its football culture and the passionate fans here. So, to be hosting here alongside my friend and colleague, Kate, feels like a natural fit,” he said.
“It promises to be a brilliant evening celebrating the very best of the game.”
Scott described the Ballon d’Or as an “iconic night on the football calendar and the pinnacle of individual achievement in the game”.
She previously hosted the ceremony in 2014 and 2015 before returning as co-host in 2025 alongside former Netherlands international Ruud Gullit.
The winners of the 2026 awards are expected to be announced at the London ceremony on October 26.
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