London’s Ballon d’Or 2026 ceremony will begin at 21:45 after severe traffic around the London Palladium forced organisers to push the programme back by 45 minutes.
Key takeaways
- Congestion in central London delayed the arrival of players, guests and leading figures expected at the ceremony.
- France Football and the event organisers adjusted the schedule to allow invitees sufficient time to reach the venue.
- Harry Kane, considered the leading candidate for the award, reached the red carpet at 21:23.
- The red-carpet schedule has also been affected, with supporters still waiting for football’s major names to arrive.
London traffic holds up football’s awards night
The delay came as heavy traffic in the streets surrounding the London Palladium made access difficult ahead of one of football’s biggest individual occasions. Organisers opted against beginning while key guests were still making their way through the capital.
There remains intense anticipation outside the theatre, where the red carpet is due to welcome the winners and a host of leading names from the European game. Kane’s arrival gave the evening its first major moment, with the England forward widely viewed as the principal contender for the main prize.
Ceremony remains set to go ahead
Despite the disruption, the event has not been cancelled or substantially altered beyond the later start. The ceremony is expected to get under way once the principal guests have taken their places inside the London Palladium.
For a night that brings together players and clubs from across the continent, London’s traffic has briefly dictated the rhythm. The focus will now turn from delayed arrivals to the awards themselves when proceedings begin at 21:45.
