After the bankruptcy of the German champion HB Ludwigsburg, the handball Bundesliga season 2025/26 is faced with a special season. The most important thing for the new season in the Hbf.
The start of the season of the new Bundesliga season is marked by the bankruptcy of Top Club HB Ludwigsburg. In addition to the concern about the loss of image for the league that was already impressive for attention, there are other question marks: Which teams start, who plays where, who has master opportunities? An overlook.
Supercup as a start
The Supercup is the official start of the new season in German women’s handball. Usually the cup winner and German champion HB Ludwigsburg would meet HSG Blomberg-Lippe. Europa League winner Thuringian HC will now compete instead of the insolvent Ludwigsburger on Saturday (August 23, 3:00 p.m.).
Field of participants still unclear
Six days later, league operations starts the first matchday. It is still unclear whether the HB Ludwigsburg will take part in the Bundesliga game operation. A spokeswoman for the provisional insolvency administrator said on August 19 on August 19. HB Ludwigsburg is still one of the twelve Bundesliga clubs in the table and in the game plan on the HBF website.
From mid-November to mid-December, the Bundesliga season for the World Cup will be interrupted, which takes place in Germany and the Netherlands from November 26 to December 14. On April 4, the main round of the season ends after 22 game days.
This is how the playoff mode works
After the 22nd main round game days, the best eight teams qualify for the playoffs for the German championship, the remaining four teams go to the play-downs. The playoffs are played in the best-of-throat mode. If an encounter ends after 60 minutes of tie, there are up to two extensions, followed by seven meters.
The play-downs also follow the best-of-throat mode. The losers of the Play-Downs descend from the 1st Bundesliga.
The favorites
Six of the past eight championship titles went to HB Ludwigsburg, which was active until 2023/24 under the name SG BBM Bietigheim. No other club dominated the league like the Swabians. Even if Ludwigsburg should compete in the 1st Bundesliga, it should be clear that the title will go to another club this year.
Borussia Dortmund around international Alina Grijseels in particular will register claims. In 2020/21, BVB won the championship title the only time so far, this year it is top favorite for the title. The HSG Blomberg-Lippe and the Thuringian HC could also hope for the master coup. HSG Bensheim-Auerbach is part of the extended favorite group in the fight for the top of the table.
The transfers
The bankruptcy and thus a contractual commitment of the Ludwigsburg players have boosted the transfer market again. Some top players leave the Bundesliga, including national player Xenia Smits and Johanna Bundsen (both to HB Metz), Jenny Carlson (to Moldde Elite) and viola Leuchter (on Odense Haandbold).
Other players have joined other Bundesliga clubs. VfL Oldenburg has strengthened with foreign player Jenny Behrend, HSG Bensheim-Auerbach has made a substitute for the pregnant Kim Irion with Mareike, Guro Nestaker has joined Borussia Dortmund and national team captain Antje Döll moves to Neckarsulm.
Alina Grijseels is back in Dortmund after two years.
Apart from the Ludwigsburg team resolution, the transfers of playmaker Alina Grijseels and district runner Meike Schmelzer are probably the top transfers of the summer. Grijseels returns to Borussia Dortmund after stations in Metz and Bucharest. After four years abroad, Schmelzer joins the flames from Bensheim.
Hbf on TV and stream
The broadcaster “DF1” shows selected HBF games on free TV. The streaming service “Dyn” and “Sporteurope.tv” show all games in the paid subscription.