The [Ballon d’Or](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballon_d%27Or) organisers disclosed on Saturday that US rapper **French Montana** and British singer‑songwriter **Jorja Smith** will deliver exclusive performances at the 2026 ceremony, scheduled for next Monday in London – the award’s inaugural staging in the United Kingdom.
**French Montana** commands more than 30 million monthly listeners on Spotify and blends Moroccan motifs, trap, afro‑beat and New York hip‑hop influences. He has teamed with artists such as Drake, Cardi B and Swae Lee, notably on the 2017 single “Unforgettable”, which has amassed roughly 1.9 billion views on YouTube. **Jorja Smith** fuses R&B;, soul and jazz, drawing on her Jamaican roots and classical music training; she broke through a decade ago with the track “Blue Lights” and has since released a range of intimate to dance‑floor‑ready songs. The Groupe L’Équipe, which runs the ceremony, added in a statement to AFP: “Other surprises are planned.”
Last year’s ceremony in Paris saw Canadian singer Charlotte Cardin attempt to lift the stiff atmosphere by performing her hit “Feel Good” before a largely motionless crowd of footballers and VIPs. Cardin later revealed she felt uneasy, describing a “moment of great solitude” while performing alone under limited lighting and stage effects. In 2025, the male prize went to France’s Ousmane Dembele and the women’s award to Spain’s Aitana Bonmati.
The event, now in its 70th edition, will be broadcast on the sports‑streaming platform [DAZN](https://www.dazn.com) and the L’Équipe TV channel in France. Former France and Arsenal striker **Thierry Henry** and sports journalist Kate Scott will host the show, which promises additional entertainment beyond the two headline performances.
The Ballon d’Or is presented by the magazine France Football, which has overseen the award since 1956. Winners are selected through votes cast by a jury of journalists representing the top 100 nations in the FIFA rankings.
**When and where will the ceremony take place?**
The awards night is set for Monday, 2026, at a London venue yet to be disclosed, marking the first time the prestigious football accolade will be staged on British soil.
**Who are the main performers?**
French Montana and Jorja Smith have been confirmed as the exclusive musical acts, with organisers hinting at further surprises during the evening.
**What is the significance of the venue change?**
Hosting the ceremony in the United Kingdom underscores the global reach of the Ballon d’Or and aims to attract a broader television audience, especially in English‑speaking markets.