Thierry Henry to co-host the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony in London
The Arsenal icon will appear with Kate Scott on the Ballon d'Or stage in London on October 26, 2026.
Thierry Henry has been named one of the hosts for the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony, which will take place in London on October 26, organisers announced. He will share the stage with presenter Kate Scott.
From punditry to the Ballon d'Or stage
Both Henry and Scott are part of CBS's football show Golazo, and the broadcast team will also feature former players Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards alongside them. The appointment continues the trend of former stars moving into high-profile hosting roles for major awards nights.
Henry succeeds Ruud Gullit, who co-presented the 2025 ceremony with Scott. The choice underlines organisers' preference for presenters with both on-field pedigree and live-broadcast experience.
There had been speculation that Lionel Messi might appear as a presenter, but that now appears unlikely — possibly because Messi, along with Jamal, Kane and Kylian Mbappé, remains among the favourites to win this year's award.
“London is my home. I have a deep connection with this city, with its football culture, with its passionate supporters. It is shaping up to be an exceptional evening and will gather the greatest football talents,” Henry said.
The Ballon d'Or account welcomed the duo on social media on October 19, 2026, noting they would share the stage the following Monday in London.
Photo: press material from the event
