French football great Thierry Henry and British sports journalist Kate Scott have been selected to present the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, which will celebrate the award’s 70th anniversary.
France Football and UEFA announced their appointment in a publication on their website on Monday, confirming that the event will take place on October 26 at the London Palladium in England.
The ceremony will mark seven decades since the prestigious football award was first presented in 1956.
Henry, a former France international, won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the 2009 UEFA Champions League. He also finished as runner-up in the Ballon d’Or race in 2003.
The former Arsenal striker currently works as a football pundit and co-hosts Champions League programmes on CBS Sports in the United States alongside Scott, former England internationals Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher, among others.
The announcement partly read, “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 publication 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.
“Thierry Henry earned nine Ballon d’Or nominations and finished second in 2003. A legend of French and world football, and a 1998 World Cup and 2009 Champions League winner, he will present the gala alongside Kate Scott, an internationally renowned journalist. The Briton also hosts the Champions League evenings on CBS Sports in the US, where the two are regular co-presenters.”
According to the organisers, London was chosen as the venue for the anniversary edition to honour Sir Stanley Matthews, who became the first recipient of the Ballon d’Or in 1956.
The decision also represents a departure from the event’s recent tradition of being held in Paris. The ceremony had taken place at the Théâtre du Châtelet in the French capital since 2019.
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“This marks a truly historic turning point, as the event had been held at the Théâtre du Châtelet, in the heart of Paris, since 2019,” the publication added.
Reacting to his appointment, Henry expressed excitement about hosting the ceremony in London, a city closely associated with his playing career 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.
“It promises to be a brilliant evening celebrating the very best of the game,” he said.
Scott also welcomed the announcement, describing the award ceremony as an important occasion in the football calendar.
She called the Ballon d’Or an “iconic night on the football calendar and the pinnacle of individual achievement in the game.”
The journalist said she was delighted to return as a host, having previously presented the ceremony in 2014 and 2015. She also served as a co-host in 2025 alongside Dutch football legend Ruud Gullit.