France Football has chosen Thierry Henry to host the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony alongside broadcaster Kate Scott, marking a new venture for the Arsenal and France national team legend.
According to L’Équipe, the duo will oversee the 70th edition of the gala, scheduled to take place on Monday, October 26, at the London Palladium, as the event moves to the English capital for the first time.
Henry will appear as host for the first time, succeeding the Netherlands’ Ruud Gullit, while Scott continues her association with the event, hosting for the fourth time. The pairing brings together two familiar faces whom Champions League viewers are accustomed to seeing side by side.
Commenting on his selection, Henry said: “London is my home, and I have a deep connection with this city, its football culture, and its passionate fans,” recalling his bond with the capital that witnessed his peak years with Arsenal and his rise as one of the club’s greatest icons.
Henry and Scott work together covering the Champions League for CBS Sports, alongside Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards. This gives the pair shared experience in front of the cameras before making the transition from the analytical studio to the stage announcing the most prestigious individual awards.
For her part, Scott said: “It is an honor to host this legendary event once again,” returning to manage an evening celebrating the world’s standout male and female players in an edition coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the award’s inception.
Fans await the identity of Ousmane Dembélé’s successor, the winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or, amid a competitive field featuring prominent names like Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal. As for Henry, he will attend this time to manage the crowning moment, having spent his career accustomed to appearing among contenders for major honors.
