Overview
- The DFB/DFL schedule sets Bundesliga matchdays from 22 August 2025 to 16 May 2026 with a winter break from 22 December to 9 January and relegation ties on 21–26 May.
- DFL confirms roughly €4.484 billion across 2025/26–2028/29, equating to about €1.121 billion per season for the 36 clubs in the top two tiers.
- Sky remains primary for live Bundesliga coverage with Fridays, Saturday afternoon singles and conference, and the Saturday evening top match, while DAZN carries all Sunday kickoffs and adds a new Saturday‑afternoon conference.
- Free‑to‑air windows include Sat.1 for the season opener, Supercup and all relegation games; in 2. Bundesliga, Sky shows every match live and RTL/RTL+/NITRO air a regular Saturday‑evening game across roughly 33 fixtures per season.
- Match operations feature new rules: goalkeepers may hold the ball for eight seconds with time breaches yielding a corner, referees signal the final five seconds by hand, and referee announcements after VAR interventions are under continued test.