The Bundesliga 2026-27 season is scheduled to begin on 28 August 2026 and conclude on 22 May 2027. It will be the 64th season of Germany's top-flight football competition.
Teams
The following 18 clubs will compete in the Bundesliga 2026-27 season:
- FC Augsburg
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen
- FC Bayern München
- Borussia Dortmund
- Borussia Mönchengladbach
- Eintracht Frankfurt
- SC Freiburg
- Hamburger SV
- TSG Hoffenheim
- 1. FC Köln
- RB Leipzig
- 1. FSV Mainz 05
- SV Werder Bremen
- VfB Stuttgart
- FC Union Berlin
- FC Schalke 04
- SV Elversberg
- SC Paderborn 07
Newly promoted clubs SV Elversberg and FC Schalke 04 secured automatic promotion from the 2. Bundesliga, while SC Paderborn 07 earned promotion via the relegation play-off. They replace Heidenheim, St. Pauli, and Wolfsburg, who dropped out of the Bundesliga following the 2025-26 season.
Promoted & Relegated Teams
Three clubs were promoted to the Bundesliga for the 2026-27 season, while three teams dropped to the 2. Bundesliga following the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign.
| Promoted to Bundesliga 2026-27 | Relegated from Bundesliga 2025-26 |
|---|---|
| FC Schalke 04 (2. Bundesliga Champions) | 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 |
| SV Elversberg (2nd Place) | FC St. Pauli |
| SC Paderborn 07 (Promotion Play-off Winners) | VfL Wolfsburg |
Schalke 04 secured an immediate return to Germany's top flight by winning the 2. Bundesliga title, while SV Elversberg achieved the first Bundesliga promotion in the club's history. SC Paderborn 07 claimed the final Bundesliga place by defeating Wolfsburg in the promotion/relegation play-off, sending the former Bundesliga champions down to the second tier for the first time since 1997.
League Format
The Bundesliga 2026-27 season follows the traditional Bundesliga competition format with 18 clubs competing in a double round-robin schedule. Each team plays every other club twice, once at home and once away, resulting in 34 matchdays and 306 matches across the season.
Teams receive three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a defeat. At the end of the season, the club with the most points is crowned Bundesliga champion.
- 1st place: Bundesliga Champions
- Top positions qualify for UEFA club competitions
- Bottom two clubs are relegated to the 2. Bundesliga
- 16th place enters the Bundesliga relegation play-off
European Qualification
The Bundesliga continues to provide multiple qualification places for UEFA competitions. The highest-ranked clubs qualify for the UEFA Champions League, while additional places are awarded for the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League based on league position and domestic cup results.
Defending Champions
Bayern Munich enter the 2026-27 season as defending Bundesliga champions after securing their 34th Bundesliga title during the 2025-26 campaign. The Bavarians will once again be among the favourites to lift the Meisterschale, although strong challenges are expected from clubs such as Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Predictions
Think you know who will win the Bundesliga? Visit our Bundesliga Predictions page to vote for your champion and discuss the biggest contenders for the 2026-27 season.
You can also simulate Bundesliga matches using the Footballizer Match Simulator and create your own season forecasts.
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