The EHF European League Men has entered a new era for the 2026-27 season, with the competition getting underway on September 29 as the European Handball Federation (EHF) confirmed an extension of its title partnership with Winamax through the 2027-28 season.
The new campaign features 32 clubs from 18 countries and will culminate in the Winamax EHF Finals 2027 at Hamburg’s Barclays Arena on May 22 and 23. Hamburg will host the competition’s season-ending event for a fourth consecutive year.
The 2026-27 season also introduces a revised competition structure designed to create a closer link between the EHF European League Men and the EHF Champions League Men. The tournament will progress through five stages — the group phase, play-offs, last 16, quarter-finals and EHF Finals.
The group phase comprises eight groups of four teams, while clubs exiting the Champions League will enter the European League at designated stages of the knockout phase. The revised system provides a more integrated pathway between the EHF’s two leading men’s club competitions.
Commercially, Winamax will continue as title partner of the EHF Finals in Germany and France. Its rights package includes branding at the finals, visibility around selected European League matches and digital exposure through the Road to Hamburg campaign.
David Szlezak, Managing Director, EHF Marketing, said, “The start of the new season marks an important step for the EHF European League Men. The new playing system creates an even stronger connection within European club handball, while we continue to develop the competition and its final event, the Winamax EHF Finals. Extending our partnership with Winamax gives us continuity with an established partner in two important markets.”
Alexandre Roos, CEO of Winamax, and Christophe Schaming, Managing Director of Winamax, added, “For the third year running, Winamax is demonstrating its strong presence in European handball. We are always looking for excitement, entertainment and maximum visibility as a strong European brand. These qualities are particularly strong in handball, which is why we are very much looking forward to the season and especially to the Winamax EHF Finals of the EHF European League in Hamburg.”
The partnership extension marks Winamax’s third consecutive year of involvement in European handball. The company also holds a partnership with the EHF Champions League Men, expanding its presence across the EHF’s club competition portfolio.
The European League will be distributed through almost 30 official broadcast partners across 50 territories, with EHFTV providing additional live coverage in available markets.
