The 2026–27 EHF European Cup will be the 30th season of Europe's tertiary club handball tournament organised by the European Handball Federation (EHF), and the 7th season since it was renamed from the Challenge Cup to the EHF European Cup.
The defending champions are GRK Ohrid, who won their first title in the previous season.
Format The tournament is played in a knockout format. Ties will be played in a home-and-away format. Finalists will play a total of seven rounds (Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Last 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and the Final).
Rankings Rankings for the following federations were based on performances of clubs from each respective country during the most recent three-year period. RankPlace distribution for the 2026/27 season eurohandball.comAssociationAverage pointsTeams1 Greece44.6752 Bosnia and Herzegovina23.6743 Czech Republic21.0034 Italy20.0045 Austria19.3356 Finland17.6727 Turkey17.3358 Cyprus15.6739 Belgium12.33110 Estonia12.00211 Israel10.67412 Kosovo10.33313 Netherlands9.67114 Faroe Islands9.00315 Luxembourg9.00416 Azerbaijan8.33117 Lithuania7.33318 Latvia7.00119 Great Britain2.00120 Bulgaria2.000
For the following federations the number of spots in the EHF European Cup depended on the number spots in the other two European competitions. AssociationAverage pointsTeams21 Iceland42.00122 Serbia42.00323 North Macedonia41.50424 Norway38.00225 Romania36.00226 Slovenia28.33327 Hungary22.50128 Croatia21.00229 Slovakia20.67230 Switzerland16.00231 Sweden15.33032 Ukraine11.33133 Montenegro8.67334 Poland0.002
Qualified teams The full list of teams qualified for each stage of the 2026–27 EHF European Cup was announced on 7 July 2026.Final MEC System 2026/27 season eurohandball.com
Notes 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 2nd, 3rd, etc.: League position of the previous season
+Round 2 roomz JAGS Vöslau (1st) Förthof UHK Krems (5th, CW) Kur Derdaele Sporting Pelt (1st) RK Borac m:tel (2nd) RK Sloga Doboj (3rd) HRK Gorica (4th) (1st) HC Dukla Prague (3rd) HC ROBE Zubří (4th) Põlva Serviti (1st) H71 (1st) BK-46 (1st, CW) HIFK (2nd) Olympiacos SFP (1st, CW) AEK (2nd, CR) Islington HC (2nd) PLER-Budapest (7th) Haukar (3rd) AS SGS Rahat Hashron (1st) Cassano Magnago SSD ARL (1st) Raimond Sassari (2nd) KH Kastrioti (1st, CW) ZRHK Tenax Dobele (1st) Dragūnas Klaipėda (1st) Red Boys Differdange (1st) RK Lovćen (1st) HV KRAS/Volendam GRK Ohrid (3rd)EC RK Alkaloid (4th) HC Butel Skopje (5th) Runar Sandefjord (5th, CW) Nærbø IL (7th) Rebud KPR Ostrovia Ostrów Wielkopolski (4th) SCM Politehnica Timișoara (4th, CR) RK Vojvodina (2nd) RK Dinamo Pančevo (3rd) MŠK Považská Bystrica (3rd, CR) HK Kúpele Bojnice (2nd) RK Trimo Trebnje (3rd, CR) RK Slovenj Gradec (4th) Pfadi Winterthur (3rd, CW) Beşiktaş JK (1st, CW) Nilüfer BSK (2nd, CR) HC Motor (1st) +Round 1 HC Fivers WAT Margareten (7th) SC Kelag Ferlach (4th) Alpla HC Hard (2nd, CR) RK Konjuh Živinice (4th, CW) RK Vogošća (5th) MRK Trogir (5th) Parnassos Strovolou (2nd) PAC Omonia 29M (4th) SKKP Handball Brno (6th) Tallinna Mistra (2nd) Kyndil (2nd) VÍF (4th) AC PAOK (3rd) Ionikos AC NF (4th) GS Drama 1986 (5th) Maccabi Rishon LeZion (4th) Maccabi Tel Aviv (6th) Holon Yuvalim HC (7th) Teamnetwork Albatro Siracusa (6th, CW) Pallamano Conversano (5th) KH Besa Famgas (3rd, CR) KH Vëllaznimi (4th) VHC Šviesa (2nd) Granitas-Karys (4th) Handball Esch (4th) HB Dudelange (2nd) HC Berchem (3rd) RK Budvanska rivijera (2nd) RK Sutjeska Nikšić (3rd) GRK Tikveš (6th) Netland MKS Kalisz (5th) AHC Potaissa Turda (5th) RK Dubočica 54 (4th) RK Gorenje Velenje (5th) BSV Bern (4th) Spor Toto SK (3rd) İstanbul GSK (4th) Giresunspor (5th)
Qualifying rounds Round 1 A total of 38 teams played in the first round. First leg matches were on 12 and 13 September 2026, while second leg matches took place on 19 and 20 September 2026. The draw was on 14 July 2026.
Round 2 A total of 64 teams will play in the second round. First leg matches will be held on 17 and 18 October 2026, while second leg matches will take place on 24 and 25 October 2026. The draw will be held on 22 September 2026.
Round 3 A total of 32 teams will play in the third round. First leg matches will be held on 21 and 22 November 2026, while second leg matches will take place on 28 and 29 November 2026.
Last 16 First leg matches will be held on 13 and 14 February 2027, while second leg matches will take place on 20 and 21 February 2027.
Quarter-finals First leg matches will be held on 20 and 21 March 2027, while second leg matches will take place on 27 and 28 March 2027.
See also 2026–27 EHF Champions League 2026–27 EHF European League 2026–27 Women's EHF Champions League 2026–27 Women's EHF European League 2026–27 Women's EHF European Cup
References
External links Official website