The 70th edition of the Ballon d'Or football awards ceremony, marking its 70th anniversary, held at the London Palladium Theatre.
The 70th Ballon d'Or is coming to the London Palladium on Monday 26 October, and it's a bit of a milestone for the award. France Football started the Ballon d'Or back in 1956, and this is the 70th edition. Since 2024, it's been co-organised with UEFA, and this year it's leaving Paris for the first time ever. It's been held at the Théâtre du Châtelet since 2019, but it's moving to London as a tribute to Sir Stanley Matthews, the Blackpool FC winger who became the very first winner in 1956. The night brings together football legends, celebrity guests and international media.
There are two trophies to be decided. The men's winner is chosen by journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries, and the women's by those from the top 50, based on the rankings in place when the nominees were announced on 8 September 2026. Each juror ranks ten of 30 nominees, with 15 points for first place, then 12, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1.
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It's a full evening, so keep the timings in mind if you're planning to be there. The red carpet runs from 6:00 to 7:40 p.m., the official ceremony follows from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m., and the winners' press conference starts at 10:30 p.m. That's the red carpet, the awards, and the press conference all in one night.
