London To Light Up As Ballon dOr Crowns World’s Best Men’s And Women’s Footballers

The prestigious Ballon dOr awards , which honour the world’s best men’s and women’s footballers, will move from its long standing base in Paris to London this year, marking a major shift in the sport’s global celebration calendar.

The ceremony is scheduled for October 26 and will also mark the 70th anniversary of the first ever Ballon dOr, won by England legend Stanley Matthews . Organisers France Football and UEFA confirmed the venue change on Thursday, calling it a special edition with historic significance.

London , already one of football’s most influential cities, will now host the glamorous night that crowns the best players in the world. The city is home to major clubs like Arsenal , which recently won its first league title in 22 years and continues its push for a maiden Champions League crown.

The move also adds symbolic weight given England captain and record scorer Harry Kane , who delivered a standout season with German champions Bayern Munich , scoring 61 goals across competitions, including a dominant Champions League run.

Last year’s men’s winner Ousmane Dembélé had guided Paris Saint-Germain to their first Champions League triumph. This season, he continues to play a decisive role despite injury interruptions, including key contributions in Europe’s elite competition.

On the women’s side, Spanish star Aitana Bonmatí , winner of the past three Ballon dOr titles, faced an injury hit season but returned late in a campaign where FC Barcelona Women added yet another Champions League crown.

Ballon dOr voting remains a global process, with journalists from around the world selecting their top ten players from a shortlist of thirty, compiled by France Football , L’Équipe , and UEFA .

With its move to London , the ceremony enters a new chapter, blending tradition with a fresh stage in one of football’s most anticipated nights.