The EHF is set to introduce a fundamental format overhaul for its men's club competitions starting with the 2026/27 season. Europe's most prestigious competition, the Champions League, is abandoning the two-group structure it has used for years in favor of an expanded 24-team format, split into six groups of four. In the tournament, which will run from 9 September 2026 to 13 June 2027, the top two finishers in each group will advance to the main round, while the bottom two drop into the European League; the top four from the main round will then progress to the quarterfinals.
The overhaul is not limited to the Champions League. The men's European League is also switching to a new system: 32 teams will be split into eight groups of four, with the competition beginning directly at the group stage rather than through a qualification round. The tournament will unfold across five stages — group stage, play-offs, round of 16, quarterfinals and the EHF Finals.
On the women's side, there is no change for this season. The Women's Champions League retains its current format — two groups of eight, 16 teams in total. The EHF has postponed the overhaul of the women's club competitions to the 2027/28 season.
