The 2025–26 Women's EHF European Cup was the 33rd season of Europe's tertiary club handball tournament organised by the European Handball Federation (EHF), and the 6th season since it was renamed from the Challenge Cup to the EHF European Cup.
The defending champions were Valur, who won their first title in the previous season. Valur did not defend their title due to their involvement in this season's European League.
CB Atlético Guardés won their first title after beating IUVENTA Michalovce in the final.
Format The tournament was played in a straight knockout format. The ties are held in a home and away format. Overall, there are six rounds to navigate in order to win the trophy (Round 2, Round 3, Last 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Final).
Rankings The rankings are based on the performances of each club from a respective country from a three year period.
RankPlace distribution 2025–26 eurohandball.comAssociationAverage pointsTeams1 Spain64.0042 Slovakia40.6733 Turkey36.334 Portugal25.675 Serbia18.3326 North Macedonia17.6747 Netherlands17.3338 Ukraine16.3319 Czech Republic15.6710 Faroe Islands11 Croatia15.0012 Israel13.33213 Iceland14 Italy11.6715 Switzerland11.00116 Greece10.334
RankAssociationAverage pointsTeams17 Belarus10.00018 Poland8.67219 Montenegro8.00020 Sweden21 Slovenia6.33222 Bosnia and Herzegovina5.6723 Austria4.3324 Kosovo3.33425 Luxembourg326 Malta2.33027 Azerbaijan228 Belgium2.00029 Lithuania130 Finland1.33031 Cyprus1.00132 BulgariaN/A Everyone else0.000
Qualified teams The full list of teams qualified for each stage of the 2025–26 Women's EHF European Cup was announced on 8 July 2025.
The labels in the parentheses show how each team qualified for the place of its starting round: EC: European Cup title holders CW: Cup winners CR: Cup runners-up 4th, 5th, etc.: League position of the previous season SF: Semi-final league position QF: Quarter-final league position
+Round 3 Házená Kynžvart (3rd) Haukar (2nd) WHC Gjorche Petrov (1st) Madeira Andebol SAD (2nd) IUVENTA Michalovce (2nd) CB Atlético Guardés (3rd) +Round 2 WAT Atzgersdorf (2nd) Union Korneuburg (5th) Azeryol HC Kur OŽRK Krajina Cazin ŽRK Krivaja HC Byala ŽRK Split 2010 Cyview Developers Latsia H71 AEK Athens HC AEP Panorama Anagennisi Artas A.C. PAOK Selfoss (5th) Holon Yuvalim HC Maccabi Arazim Ramat Gan Jomi Salerno (1st) Handball Erice (2nd) KHF Ferizaj KHF Istogu KHF Samadrexha KHF Shqiponja HC SM Garliava Handball Käerjeng HB Dudelange Red Boys Differdange Westfriesland SEW (2nd) Cabooter Fortes Venlo (3rd) H.V. Quintus (5th) WHC Cair Skopje WHC Kumanovo WHC Metalurg Avtokomanda KPR Kobierzyce (3rd) Energa Start Elbląg (4th) ADAA São Pedro do Sul (3rd) ABC De Braga (4th) ŽRK Železničar Inđija (2nd) ŽORK Bor (4th) HC DAC Dunajská Streda HK Slovan Duslo Šaľa ŽRK Mlinotest Ajdovščina (2nd) ŽRD Litija (4th) Atticgo BM Elche (2nd) Costa del Sol Málaga (4th) Replasa Beti-Onak (9th, CR) Yellow Winterthur (3rd) Üsküdar BSK (4th) Trabzon Ortahisar BSK (5th) HC Galychanka
Qualifying rounds Round 2 A total of 50 teams played in the second round. First leg matches were held on 27 and 28 September 2025, while second leg matches took place on 4 and 5 October 2025. The draw took place on 15 July 2025.
Round 3 A total of 32 teams played in the second round. First leg matches were held on 8 and 9 November 2025, while second leg matches took place on 15 and 16 November 2025. The draw took place on 7 October 2025.
Last 16 First leg matches were held on 17 and 18 January 2026, while second leg matches took place on 24 and 25 January 2026. The draw took place on 18 November 2025.
Quarterfinals First leg matches were mostly held on 21 and 22 March 2026, while the second leg matches took place on 28 and 29 March 2026. The draw took place on 31 January 2026.
Matches
Semifinals
Matches
CB Atlético Guardés won 52–47 on aggregate
IUVENTA Michalovce won 54–53 on aggregate
Final The first leg match was held on 17 May 2026, while the second leg match will be held on 24 May 2026.
Matches
CB Atlético Guardés won 53–44 on aggregate
See also 2025–26 EHF Champions League 2025–26 EHF European League 2025–26 Women's EHF Champions League 2025–26 Women's EHF European League 2025–26 EHF European Cup
References
External links Official website