German 2025/26 Football Season: Schedules, Broadcasters, Promotions and Rule Changes

Overview

• The Bundesliga runs from 22 August 2025 to 16 May 2026 with a winter break from 22 December to 9 January and relegation ties scheduled for 21/22 and 25/26 May.
• Sky carries roughly 80% of Bundesliga matches including Fridays, Saturday afternoon fixtures and the Saturday night top game, DAZN retains Sunday slots and adds a Saturday afternoon conference, and Sat.1 shows the season opener, the Supercup and all relegation games.
• The 2. Bundesliga began on 1 August 2025 and spans 34 matchdays with a 22 December–16 January break and a mid-May finish, with Sky showing every game and RTL/NITRO/RTL+ airing the Saturday evening match free-to-air alongside a wide highlights package.
• Division lineups are set: 1. FC Köln and Hamburger SV moved up to the Bundesliga, Holstein Kiel and VfL Bochum went down, 1. FC Heidenheim stayed up via the playoff, SV Elversberg remained in the second tier, and Eintracht Braunschweig preserved its 2. Bundesliga place.
• New match operations apply this season as goalkeepers may hold the ball for eight seconds with breaches punished by a corner and referees signaling the final five seconds, while post-VAR referee announcements continue on a test basis in the top two divisions and MagentaSport streams every 3. Liga match live.