2026 European Men's Handball Championship

2026 EHF European Men's Handball Championship
EM i håndbold for mænd 2026 (in Danish)
EM i håndball for menn 2026 (in Norwegian)
EM i handboll för herrar 2026 (in Swedish)
Tournament details
Host countries Denmark
Norway
Sweden
Venue(s)4 (in 4 host cities)
Dates15 January – 1 February[1]
Teams24 (from 1 confederation)

The 2026 EHF European Men's Handball Championship, commonly referred to as the EHF Euro 2026, will be the 17th edition of the EHF European Men's Handball Championship, the biennial international men's handball championship of Europe organized by EHF. It will be co-hosted by Denmark, Norway and Sweden from 15 January to 1 February 2026.

Bid process

Main article: 2026 European Men's Handball Championship bidding process

Bids

On 11 May 2021 it was announced that the following nations sent in an official expression of interest:[1]

Host selection

As only the Scandinavian bid remained it was unanimously selected at the 14th EHF Extraordinary Congress on 20 November 2021.[3][4]

Qualification

Main article: 2026 European Men's Handball Championship qualification

36 teams registered for participation and competed for 20 places at the final tournament. After the qualification round 1, the remaining 32 teams take part in qualification round 2, where each team is drawn into eights groups of four. The top-two placed teams in each group qualified for the final tournament, alongside the four best-ranked third-placed teams, not counting the matches against fourth-placed teams. The draw took place on 21 March 2024 in Copenhagen, Denmark.[5][6] Qualification started in November 2025 and ended in May 2026.

Of the 24 qualifiers, 22 return from the previous edition. Italy qualified for only their second appearance, with their first being back in 1998. Ukraine come back having missed out in 2024.

Of the non-qualifiers, Bosnia and Herzegovina miss out for the first time since 2018, while 2024 debutants, Greece also failed to qualify.

The lowest ranked team from the EHF rankings to qualify was Ukraine, ranked 30th. The highest ranked team to not qualify was Greece, ranked 22nd.

Qualified teams

Team Qualification method Date of qualification App First Last Streak Best placement in tournament Rank[7]
 Denmark Host nation 20 November 2021 16th 1994 2024 14 Champions (2008, 2012) 1
 Norway 12th 2000 11 Third place (2020) 8
 Sweden 16th 1994 10 Champions (1994, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2022) 4
 France Defending champions 26 January 2024 17th 17 Champions (2006, 2010, 2014, 2024) 2
 Iceland Top 2 in Group 3 15 March 2025 14th 2000 14 Third place (2010) 9
 Croatia Top 2 in Group 5 15 March 2025 17th 1994 17 Runners-up (2008, 2010, 2020) 5
 Slovenia Top 2 in Group 1 15th 6 Runners-up (2004) 11
 Portugal Top 2 in Group 8 16 March 2025 9th 4 Sixth place (2020) 7
 Hungary Top 2 in Group 2 7 May 2025 15th 12 Fifth place (2024) 6
 Czech Republic Top 2 in Group 5 13th 1996 5 Sixth place (1996) 17
 Germany Top 2 in Group 7 16th 1994 6 Champions (2004, 2016) 3
 Georgia Top 2 in Group 3 8 May 2025 2nd 2024 2 18th place (2024) 26
 Montenegro Top 2 in Group 2 8th 2008 7 Eleventh place (2022) 14
 Spain Top 2 in Group 4 17th 1994 17 Champions (2018, 2020) 10
 Faroe Islands Top 2 in Group 6 2nd 2024 2 20th place (2024) 21
 Netherlands 4th 2020 4 Tenth place (2022) 12
 Austria Top 2 in Group 7 11 May 2025 7th 2010 5 Eighth place (2020, 2024) 13
 North Macedonia Top 2 in Group 1 9th 1998 8 Fifth place (2012) 19
 Poland Top 2 in Group 8 12th 2002 4 Fourth place (2010) 16
 Serbia Top 2 in Group 4 9th 2010 9 Runners-up (2012) 18
 Italy Four best third place teams 2nd 1998 1 Eleventh place (1998) 20
 Romania 4th 1994 2024 2 Ninth place (1996) 25
  Switzerland 6th 2002 2 Twelveth place (2004) 15
 Ukraine 8th 2000 2022 1 Eleventh place (2002) 30

Venues

A first draft of the venues was proposed in August 2023.[8] The tournament will be played across four venues in four cities: one in Denmark (Herning, Groups A and B), one in Norway (Bærum, Groups C and D), and two in Sweden (Malmö and Kristianstad, Groups E and F).[9] The main round will take place in Herning and Malmö, with the former organising the final weekend.[10] In regards to Norway, Oslo was chosen over Trondheim, after negotiations with Trondheim fell through due to financial reasons.[11]

In September 2024, one team per venue was selected. Denmark will play in Herning (Group B), Norway in Bærum (Group C) and Sweden in Malmö (Group E). If they qualify, Germany will play in Herning (Group A), the Faroe Islands in Bærum (Group D) and Iceland in Kristianstad (Group F).[12]

Bærum, Norway
Kristianstad, Sweden
Unity Arena
Capacity: 15,000 		Kristianstad Arena
Capacity: 4,700
Herning, Denmark Malmö, Sweden
Jyske Bank Boxen
Capacity: 12,500 		Malmö Arena
Capacity: 13,000

Draw

The draw took place in Herning, Denmark, on 15 May 2025.[13][14] On 2 September 2024, the three co-hosts were allowed to choose a nation to be drawn in their country if they qualified. Denmark chose Germany, Norway picked Faroe Islands while Sweden selected Iceland.[15][16][12]

Seeding

The seedings were announced on 12 May 2025.[17]

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4

Preliminary round

The schedule was released on 10 November 2024.[18]

All times are local (UTC+1).[19]

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Germany 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Main round
2  Spain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Austria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Serbia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 15 January 2026. Source: EHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
15 January 2026
18:00 		Spain  v  Serbia Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
Report
15 January 2026
20:30 		Germany  v  Austria Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
Report
17 January 2026
18:00 		Austria  v  Spain Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
Report
17 January 2026
20:30 		Serbia  v  Germany Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
Report
19 January 2026
18:00 		Austria  v  Serbia Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
Report
19 January 2026
20:30 		Germany  v  Spain Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
Report

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Denmark 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Main round
2  Portugal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  North Macedonia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Romania 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 16 January 2026. Source: EHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
16 January 2026
18:00 		Portugal  v  Romania Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
Report
16 January 2026
20:30 		Denmark  v  North Macedonia Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
Report
18 January 2026
18:00 		North Macedonia  v  Portugal Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
Report
18 January 2026
20:30 		Romania  v  Denmark Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
Report
20 January 2026
18:00 		North Macedonia  v  Romania Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
Report
20 January 2026
20:30 		Denmark  v  Portugal Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
Report

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  France 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Main round
2  Norway 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Czech Republic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Ukraine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 15 January 2026. Source: EHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
15 January 2026
18:00 		France  v  Czech Republic Unity Arena, Bærum
Report
15 January 2026
20:30 		Norway  v  Ukraine Unity Arena, Bærum
Report
17 January 2026
18:00 		Ukraine  v  France Unity Arena, Bærum
Report
17 January 2026
20:30 		Czech Republic  v  Norway Unity Arena, Bærum
Report
19 January 2026
18:00 		Czech Republic  v  Ukraine Unity Arena, Bærum
Report
19 January 2026
20:30 		France  v  Norway Unity Arena, Bærum
Report

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Slovenia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Main round
2  Faroe Islands 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Montenegro 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4   Switzerland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 16 January 2026. Source: EHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
16 January 2026
18:00 		Slovenia  v  Montenegro Unity Arena, Bærum
Report
16 January 2026
20:30 		Faroe Islands  v   Switzerland Unity Arena, Bærum
Report
18 January 2026
18:00 		Montenegro  v  Faroe Islands Unity Arena, Bærum
Report
18 January 2026
20:30 		Switzerland  v  Slovenia Unity Arena, Bærum
Report
20 January 2026
18:00 		Montenegro  v   Switzerland Unity Arena, Bærum
Report
20 January 2026
20:30 		Slovenia  v  Faroe Islands Unity Arena, Bærum
Report

Group E

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Sweden 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Main round
2  Croatia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Netherlands 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Georgia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 17 January 2026. Source: EHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
17 January 2026
18:00 		Croatia  v  Georgia Malmö Arena, Malmö
Report
17 January 2026
20:30 		Sweden  v  Netherlands Malmö Arena, Malmö
Report
19 January 2026
18:00 		Netherlands  v  Croatia Malmö Arena, Malmö
Report
19 January 2026
20:30 		Georgia  v  Sweden Malmö Arena, Malmö
Report
21 January 2026
18:00 		Netherlands  v  Georgia Malmö Arena, Malmö
Report
21 January 2026
20:30 		Sweden  v  Croatia Malmö Arena, Malmö
Report

Group F

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Hungary 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Main round
2  Iceland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Poland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Italy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 16 January 2026. Source: EHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
16 January 2026
18:00 		Iceland  v  Italy Kristianstad Arena, Kristianstad
Report
16 January 2026
20:30 		Hungary  v  Poland Kristianstad Arena, Kristianstad
Report
18 January 2026
18:00 		Poland  v  Iceland Kristianstad Arena, Kristianstad
Report
18 January 2026
20:30 		Italy  v  Hungary Kristianstad Arena, Kristianstad
Report
20 January 2026
18:00 		Poland  v  Italy Kristianstad Arena, Kristianstad
Report
20 January 2026
20:30 		Hungary  v  Iceland Kristianstad Arena, Kristianstad
Report

Main round

Points and goals gained in the preliminary group against teams that advance were transferred to the main round.

Group I

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 A1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Semifinals
2 B1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 C1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Fifth place game
4 A2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 B2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 C2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 22 January 2026. Source: EHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
22 January 2026 C1 v B2 Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
22 January 2026 A2 v C2 Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
22 January 2026 A1 v B1 Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
24 January 2026 C1 v B1 Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
24 January 2026 A1 v C2 Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
24 January 2026 A2 v B2 Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
26 January 2026 A1 v B2 Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
26 January 2026 A2 v C1 Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
26 January 2026 B1 v C2 Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
28 January 2026 A1 v C1 Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
28 January 2026 A2 v B1 Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
28 January 2026 B2 v C2 Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning

Group II

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 D1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Semifinals
2 E1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 F1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Fifth place game
4 D2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 E2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 F2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 23 January 2026. Source: EHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
23 January 2026 F1 v E2 Malmö Arena, Malmö
23 January 2026 D2 v F2 Malmö Arena, Malmö
23 January 2026 D1 v E1 Malmö Arena, Malmö
25 January 2026 F1 v E1 Malmö Arena, Malmö
25 January 2026 D1 v F2 Malmö Arena, Malmö
25 January 2026 D2 v E2 Malmö Arena, Malmö
27 January 2026 D1 v E2 Malmö Arena, Malmö
27 January 2026 D2 v F1 Malmö Arena, Malmö
27 January 2026 E1 v F2 Malmö Arena, Malmö
28 January 2026 D1 v F1 Malmö Arena, Malmö
28 January 2026 D2 v E1 Malmö Arena, Malmö
28 January 2026 E2 v F2 Malmö Arena, Malmö

Knockout stage

Bracket

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
30 January
 
 
 
 
1 February
 
 
 
 
 
30 January
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third place
 
 
1 February
 
 
 
 
 
 

Semifinals

30 January 2026
17:45 		v Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning
30 January 2026
20:30 		v Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning

Fifth place game

30 January 2026
15:00 		v Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning

Third place game

1 February 2026
15:15 		v Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning

Final

1 February 2026
18:00 		v Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning

Ranking and statistics

Final ranking

The teams ranked fourth in each group after the completion of the preliminary round matches will be ranked 19 to 24, while teams ranked third in each group after the completion of the preliminary round matches will be ranked 13 to 18 according to the number of points won in the preliminary round. Places seven or eight will be attributed to the two teams ranked fourth in the main round groups, places nine and ten to the two teams ranked fifth in the main round groups, places eleven and twelve to the two teams ranked sixth in the main round groups according to the number of points won by the respective teams after completion of the main round matches. Places one to six will be decided by play–off or knock–out.

References

  1. ^ a b "Seven nations bid for EHF Euros in 2026 and 2028". European Handball Federation. 11 May 2021. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Schweiz bündelt Kräfte mit Spanien und Portugal: Ausrichter für Handball-Europameisterschaften zeichnen sich ab". handball world (in German). 20 October 2021. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  3. ^ "EHF EURO hosts for 2026 & 2028 confirmed". European Handball Federation. 20 November 2021. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  4. ^ "The 14th EHF Extraordinary Congress". European Handball Federation. 20 November 2021. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Exec takes key decisions for national team competitions". eurohandball.com. 1 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Familiar rivals to meet again in Men's EHF EURO 2026 Qualifiers". eurohandball.com. 21 March 2024.
  7. ^ Rankings
  8. ^ "COMPETITIONS COMMISSION MEETING" (PDF). Renaissance Wien Hotel, Wien, Austria: European Handball Federation. 25 August 2024. p. 10. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  9. ^ ""Exactly what we want to show to the outside world"". www.eurohandball.com. EHF. 27 January 2024.
  10. ^ Wijkström, Maja (January 28, 2024). "EM 2026 – nästa stora mästerskap på hemmaplan! - Handbollslandslaget".
  11. ^ "Telenor Arena blir norsk VM-arena i 2025 | handball.no". handball.no - Norges Håndballforbund.
  12. ^ a b "List of seeded teams for Men's EHF EURO 2026 confirmed". eurohandball.com. 2 September 2024.
  13. ^ "EHF EURO 2026 card complete after fiery Qualification Phase concludes". ihf.info. 12 May 2025.
  14. ^ "Men's EHF EURO 2026 groups set at the draw event in Herning". ihf.info. 15 May 2025.
  15. ^ https://danskhaandbold.dk/nyheder/herning-bliver-dansk-vaertsby-for-maendenes-em-i-2026
  16. ^ https://www.handball.no/nyheter/2024/09/em-2026-disse-herrelagene-er-klare/
  17. ^ "Pots set for Men's EHF EURO 2026 draw". eurohandball.com. EHF. 12 May 2025.
  18. ^ "Schedule" (PDF). ehfeuro.eurohandball.com. 10 November 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  19. ^ "Men's EHF EURO 2026 match schedule released". eurohandball.com. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
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