The 2026 European Handball Championship will be the second edition after expanding the final stage from twelve to sixteen teams and deciding to hold the tournament every four years instead of two, UEFA reports.

2026 Euro Handball Championship Format

Qualification includes three stages: a preliminary round (mini-tournaments), the main round (groups with home and away matches) and playoffs (home and away).

The hosts, Latvia and Lithuania, will automatically qualify for Euro 2026. Some teams start in the preliminary round while others start directly in the main round depending on the number of participants.

Preliminary Round (April 8-17, 2024)

Participants will be divided into three, four or five groups of four teams based on their numbers and play in mini-tournaments. Winners of the groups and, if necessary, best runners-up will advance to the main round.

Main Round (December 9, 2024 - April 16, 2025)

Forty participants (including those who start directly in the main round) will be divided into ten groups of four teams. Each team will play against each other in their group home and away. The ten group winners join Latvia and Lithuania in the final stage, while the top eight second-place finishers will compete in the playoffs.

Playoffs (September 15-24, 2025)

Eight teams will be split into four pairs. After home and away matches, the final four participants of the final stage will be determined.

Final Tournament (from January 18 to February 8, 2026, exact dates will be announced later)

Sixteen teams will be divided into four groups. The top two teams from each group advance to the quarter-finals.

2026 Euro Handball Championship Calendar

Preliminary round draw: January 25, 2024.

Preliminary round: April 8-17, 2024.

Main round draw: May 30, 2024.

Main round: December 9-18, 2024, January 27 - February 5, 2025, March 3-12, 2025, April 7-16, 2025.

Playoff draw: May 15, 2025.

Playoffs: September 15-24, 2025.

Final stage: from January 18 to February 8, 2026.

As a reminder, the Ukrainian team at Euro 2022 in the Netherlands finished fourth while Portugal is the current champion.