The Bundesliga is preparing for its return. The 2026/27 season officially begins on Friday, August 28, when defending champion Bayern Munich hosts VfB Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena at 8:30 p.m. local time. It will be the opening game of the 64th Bundesliga season, which runs through May 22, 2027.

A later start after the World Cup

Germany’s top flight will begin later than most major European leagues in 2026. The schedule was shaped by the expanded World Cup and the domestic calendar that follows it.

Before the Bundesliga gets underway, German soccer will already have returned through the DFB-Pokal and the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup. That match is scheduled for August 22 and will feature Borussia Dortmund against Bayern Munich, giving the defending league champion a major competitive test six days before Matchday 1.

Bayern begins another title defense

Bayern Munich enters the campaign as champion for the second consecutive season. The Bavarian club secured the 2025/26 Bundesliga title with a 4-2 victory against VfB Stuttgart, making the opening fixture an immediate rematch between two of last season’s strongest teams.

The matchup also brings together two of Germany’s most productive attacks. Stuttgart finished second only to Bayern in league goals last season, while striker Deniz Undav scored 19 times. Harry Kane, meanwhile, has developed an exceptional record against Stuttgart, with 14 goals in eight appearances against the club.

Elsewhere on Matchday 1, Borussia Dortmund hosts Hamburger SV, RB Leipzig faces Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Bayer Leverkusen visits newly promoted SV Elversberg.

Three promoted teams join the Bundesliga

The new campaign introduces Schalke 04, SV Elversberg and SC Paderborn to the top division.

Schalke returns after three seasons in Bundesliga 2 and does so as second-division champion. Elversberg will play Bundesliga soccer for the first time in club history after securing automatic promotion, while Paderborn earned its place by defeating Wolfsburg in the promotion playoff.

Their arrival gives the new season three very different stories: the return of a traditional giant, a historic debut and another comeback to Germany’s elite.

When does the Bundesliga season end?

Matchday 34 is scheduled for Saturday, May 22, 2027, with all nine games set to kick off at 3:30 p.m. local time.

For now, August 28 is the key date. Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart will officially bring Bundesliga soccer back and begin another race for the German championship.

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