Thierry Henry will take centre stage at one of football’s biggest nights after being announced as a host of the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony alongside British presenter, Kate Scott.
The pair will present the 70th edition of the prestigious awards on Monday, 26 October, at the London Palladium, welcoming some of the biggest names in world football as the winners are revealed.
The announcement comes just one week before the ceremony, with anticipation building over who will claim this year’s individual prizes. Henry will bring his experience as one of football’s most recognisable figures, while Scott joins him after establishing herself as a leading presenter in international football coverage.
Thierry Henry and Kate Scott announced as Ballon d’Or hosts
France Football and UEFA confirmed that Henry and Scott will host the ceremony in London, which marks the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or.
Henry is no stranger to the award, having received nine nominations during his playing career and finishing as runner-up in 2003. The former Arsenal and France striker enjoyed an outstanding career, winning the 1998 FIFA World Cup with France and the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona in 2009.
His appointment adds another high-profile name to the ceremony, with the Frenchman widely regarded as one of the greatest forwards of his generation.
Scott, meanwhile, is an internationally recognised British journalist who regularly presents UEFA Champions League coverage for CBS Sports in the United States.
The pair already have experience working together, having appeared as co-presenters during Champions League coverage. Their existing partnership should provide a familiar dynamic as they welcome football’s leading players, coaches and clubs to the London stage.
The ceremony will see the winners announced across the men's and women's Ballon d’Or categories, alongside several other individual and team awards.
What to expect from the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony
This year's event carries extra significance as the award celebrates its 70th anniversary.
First presented in 1956, the Ballon d’Or has become one of football’s most recognised individual honours, with the ceremony bringing together the sport’s biggest names to celebrate performances across the season.
Attention will naturally centre on the race for the men's and women's prizes, with supporters waiting to discover which players will be recognised for their performances over the past year.
Henry's own history with the award adds another layer of interest. Despite his achievements at club and international level, he never won the Ballon d’Or, finishing second in 2003 behind Czech midfielder Pavel Nedvěd.
Now, more than two decades later, he will help present the award to a new generation of football stars.
With Scott alongside him, the ceremony promises to bring together familiar faces from across football for a landmark edition of the awards.
The winners will be revealed on Monday, 26 October, when the football world turns its attention to London for the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony.
