Start, game plan, table, dates of the 63rd season

The Bundesliga was founded in 1963 and is one of the most popular leagues in the world. A total of 18 clubs fight for the championship, international places and relegation in a regular season in 34 match days.

In the 2024/25 season, the 62nd season, FC Bayern Munich played again at the top of the table and got his 34th championship title. FC Bayern had previously won eleven championships in a row before this series was interrupted in the 2023/24 season.

After the end of the 2024/25 season, the view is now aimed at the coming season. The Bundesliga starts the 63rd season. In this article you will find all the important information about the start of the season, the participating clubs and the relevant dates of the season 2025/26.

Start of the Bundesliga 25/26: When does it start?

The framework for the 2025/26 football season has been determined. As usual, the 2nd Bundesliga kicks off. It starts on Friday, August 1, 2025. Three weeks later, the starting signal is also given in the Bundesliga. The first game of the highest German division is scheduled for Friday, August 22, 2025.

Football Bundesliga 2025/25: schedule and appointments

The schedule was decided together by the Presidium of the German Football Association (DFB) and the German Football League (DFL). It forms the basis for the end of the coming season in German professional football. In the following overview you can see all important key data such as the start of the season, winter break and relegation.

Li): Relative List-None (&> Li): PL- (1.2EM) (&> Li): Marker: Text- (0) (&> Li): Relative (&> Li): Before: Absolute (&> Li): Before: W-3 (&> Li): Before: H-3 (&> Li): Before: BG-fire (& Li): Before: LEFT-0 (&> Li): Before: Top- (8px) (&> Li): Before: Rounded-Full My-5 « >
• 1st – 15th matchday: August 22, 2025 to December 21, 2025
• Winter break: December 22, 2025 to January 9, 2026
• 16. – 34th matchday: January 9, 2026 to May 16, 2026
• Relegation: 21./22.5.2026 to 25./26.5.2026

The teams of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season

A total of 18 teams have qualified for the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The composition results from the placements of the 2024/25 season and the results of the promotion and relegation decisions. The 15 best -placed teams of the pre -season stay in the league, while two teams rise directly from the 2nd Bundesliga. Another place is awarded by the relegation games between the 16th of the Bundesliga and the third place in the 2nd Bundesliga.

Li): Relative List-None (&> Li): PL- (1.2EM) (&> Li): Marker: Text- (0) (&> Li): Relative (&> Li): Before: Absolute (&> Li): Before: W-3 (&> Li): Before: H-3 (&> Li): Before: BG-fire (& Li): Before: LEFT-0 (&> Li): Before: Top- (8px) (&> Li): Before: Rounded-Full My-5 « >
• FC Bayern Munich
• Bayer 04 Leverkusen
• Eintracht Frankfurt
• FSV Mainz 05
• RB Leipzig
• Borussia Mönchengladbach
• SC Freiburg
• Borussia Dortmund
• FC Augsburg
• Werder Bremen
• VfB Stuttgart
• 1. FC Union Berlin

The exact composition can still change, depending on the output of the relegation games. The full schedule for the season is expected to be published in July 2025.

Table of the Bundesliga 2024/2025: Results and qualifications

In every Bundesliga season, the fight for the master shell is at the center of attention. But that’s not all that makes the league exciting. The relegation battle also keeps fans and clubs in suspense until the last match day. The following overview shows which placement has which consequences:

Li): Relative List-None (&> Li): PL- (1.2EM) (&> Li): Marker: Text- (0) (&> Li): Relative (&> Li): Before: Absolute (&> Li): Before: W-3 (&> Li): Before: H-3 (&> Li): Before: BG-fire (& Li): Before: LEFT-0 (&> Li): Before: Top- (8px) (&> Li): Before: Rounded-Full My-5 « >
• 1. Table place: German champion, master bowl and qualification for the Champions League 2026/2027
• 2. to 4. table place: Qualification for the Champions League 2026/2027
• 5. And 6th place in the table: Qualification for the Europa League 2026/2027
• 7. Participation in the playoffs for Conference League 2026/2027
• 16. Relegation
• 17th and 18th place in the table: Descent to the 2nd Bundesliga 2026/2027