The 2026-27 Bundesliga season starts on August 28 with defending champions Bayern Munich at home against Stuttgart. Borussia Dortmund host Hamburg, while newcomers Elversberg start at home against Bayer Leverkusen.
The Women's Bundesliga began on August 21, as Bayern Munich defeated Union Berlin in the capital. Both Stuttgart and Mainz are new to the league this year, replacing Carl Zeiss Jena and Essen who were relegated.
As is custom in Germany, the domestic men's season truly begins for Bundesliga sides with the first round of the German Cup, which started the week before the league season. The biggest upset in the opening round was Heidenheim, who were in the Bundesliga last season, losing to fourth-division team Jeddeloh. Both Bayern and Dortmund will have to wait a bit longer to play their first round game because the two faced off in the German Super Cup (the game between the league and cup winners of the previous season) - where Bayern ran out winners.
The first 'Klassiker' of the new Bundesliga season is at the end of October and will be played in Munich.
The winter break starts after the 14th game of the season on December 20. The Bundesliga will resume play on the weekend of January 8 and has midweek games immediately afterwards.
Are there any new rules in the Bundesliga season?
Some of the new rules we saw at the World Cup will be applied in the Bundesliga too.
Measures are being introduced to improve time management, with the referees able to use the five-second countdown that was on show at the World Cup for goal kicks and throw ins. Although rarely seen, if the limit is exceeded a goal kick becomes a corner for the opposition and a throw in changes hands.
Substitutes will have 10 seconds to leave the pitch, otherwise the new player will have to wait until a break in play – at least a minute later – before he can return to the field.
VAR will also be allowed to have a say in second yellow cards and corner kicks. If a player covers his mouth during a dispute with an opponent, he may be punished with a yellow card. At the World Cup, this was punishable by a red card. Scheduled hydration breaks, regardless of the temperature, will not be introduced in the Bundesliga.
There will also be a new longer international break this season, which sees September's and October's breaks merge into one three-week break starting on September 24 and ending on October 4. This means Bundesliga action will pause for 16 days. The November international break will remain a nine-day interruption.
Have there been any major Bundesliga transfers?
There have been a few signings of real note this summer, perhaps most famously and unsurprisingly at Bayern Munich.
Breakout Germany wingback Nathaniel Brown signed from Frankfurt, while Moroccan striker Ismael Saibari also joins as a strong back-up to Harry Kane.
Elsewhere in the league, Dortmund signed Konstantinos Karetsas for a reported €30 million ($34.6 million) from KRC Genk. Gladbach's German midfield starlet Rocco Reitz left for RB Leipzig, while Hoffenheim are excited by the arrival of 18-year-old holding midfielder Nathan De Cat. Leverkusen reportedly spent €32 million on Afonso Moreira. The Portuguese left winger hopes to continue the form he showed at Lyon.
Freiburg have a new goalkeeper – Mio Backhaus signed from Werder Bremen. Noah Atubolu is expected to join Frankfurt.
The son of former England striker Emile Heskey, Reigan has signed for Cologne, and Robin Gosens returns to Germany to play for newly promoted Schalke.
There have also been a few departures from the league this season. After leaving Bayern Munich at the end of his contract earlier in the summer, Leon Goretzka is reportedly on the verge of joining Aston Villa in the Premier League. Former Borussia Dortmund defender Niklas Süle has retired, opting to play for fun in the lower leagues. Former Dortmund teammate Julian Brandt has moved to Ajax on a Bosman.
Bazoumana Toure leaves Hoffenheim after just a year at the club. The 20-year-old Ivorian winger left the Bundesliga for the Premier League, signing for Newcastle for reportedly a whopping €50 million.
Leverkusen moved on from Alejandro Grimaldo and Matej Kovar, while Freiburg's exciting Swiss midfielder Johan Manzambi moved to Aston Villa for a reported €60 million.
Who are the new teams and coaches in the Bundesliga?
For the first time since 2012, there will be three new teams in the Bundesliga. Elversberg become the 59th club in the history of the Bundesliga, while giants Schalke return after three years away. Paderborn won the playoff to also return, having been in the second division for six years. Wolfsburg lost that game, which saw them relegated for the first time in their history. St. Pauli and Heidenheim were the other two teams relegated.
There have been four coaching changes for the new season. Marie-Louise Eta, who was only in a caretaker role, is replaced full time by the Swiss Mauro Lustrinelli at Union Berlin. Albert Riera's disastrous run at Eintracht Frankfurt was unsurprisingly ended, as Adi Hütter returns to a club he last managed in 2021. Bayer Leverkusen removed Kasper Hjulmand from his position, opting for Spaniard Carles Martinez Novell who last coached at Toulouse. Perhaps the biggest coaching news is former Bayern Munich player Martin Demichelis taking over at RB Leipzig for Ole Werner, who was dismissed despite leading the club to third last season. Hamburg don't have a new coach, but in Kathleen Krüger they welcome a new Head of Sport who is not only breaking the glass ceiling but will give the club a new strategic vision moving forward.
Who are the new, exciting players to watch?
Dortmund’s Karetsas is an exciting, very talented player who was on the wish list of many clubs across Europe. The 18-year-old, who can play in attacking midfield and on the wing, joined Dortmund from KRC Genk this summer.
Nathan De Cat is one of the most exciting young Belgian players. The 18-year-old defensive midfielder joined Hoffenheim this summer, leaving Anderlecht.
A duo of young German prospects at newly promoted Elversberg is worth keeping an eye on: Francis Onyeka (on loan from Leverkusen) and Noah Darvich (on loan from Stuttgart) are considered two of the most exciting 19-year-old players in the country. They are expected to play a major role in Elversberg's debut Bundesliga season, and take big strides in their development in the process.
Germany’s arguably most sought-after talent, Kennet Eichhorn, who left Hertha Berlin for Bayer Leverkusen this summer, must first recover from an injury. The 16-year-old is currently battling a metabolic disorder that led to significant weight loss and physical weakness during preseason. His Bundesliga debut is most likely to come in 2027 as a result.
