DFL Confirms 2026/27 Calendar With Later Bundesliga Start and May Day Pause
The schedule reflects World Cup recovery needs to provide clearer, less congested planning.
Overview
- The Bundesliga first matchday is set for August 28–30, 2026, six weeks after the World Cup final on July 19 in the United States.
- The 2. Bundesliga kicks off on August 7, with the DFB-Pokal first round on August 21–24 and the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup on August 22.
- A winter break begins after the December 18–20 fixtures, with play resuming on January 8 for the Bundesliga and January 15 for the 2. Bundesliga.
- A consolidated international window runs September 21 to October 6, 2026, and the calendar skips the May 1–2, 2027 weekend with a compensating midweek round on March 2–4.
- Regular league matchdays conclude on May 22–23, the DFB-Pokal final is scheduled for May 29 in Berlin, and promotion/relegation play-offs are set for May 27/28 and May 31/June 1.