Structure of the Super Handball League 2025/26

Structure of the Super Handball League 2025/26

The 2025/26 season of the Super Handball League (SHL) follows a clear and competitive structure that rewards performance and keeps the title race open until the very end.

Regular Season – 14 Teams, 26 Matches

All 14 teams play in a double round-robin format, facing each opponent twice — once at home and once away — for a total of 26 matches per team.

At the end of the regular season:

• Teams 1 to 8 qualify for the play-offs

• Teams 9 and 10 are safe and retain their SHL spot

• Teams 11 to 14 enter the relegation round

Every match matters, with positions often decided in the final weeks.

Play-Offs – More Teams in the Title Race

This season replaces the former Final 4 setup with a wider Final 8, giving more teams the chance to compete for the championship.
It keeps the season exciting longer and rewards more strong-performing clubs.

The quarter-finals are played in a Best of Two (BOT2) format, with seeding based on regular season ranking. Matchups are as follows:

Quarter-final matchups:

• #1 vs #8

• #2 vs #7

• #3 vs #6

• #4 vs #5

The team with the highest aggregate score over two legs advances to the semi-finals. If tied, the second leg goes to extra time, and if necessary, penalties.

SHL Finals – One Weekend, One Champion

The season concludes with the SHL Finals, hosted on neutral ground. The four remaining teams compete in:

• Semi-finals – BOT1 (one match)

• Grand Final – BOT1 (one match)

The winner of the final is crowned SHL Champion 2025/26.