This is a first since the 2017–2018 season - back when the Champions League still featured 28 teams. Three top-flight clubs – Paris, Nantes and Montpellier – will take part in the upcoming EHF Champions League campaign. Whilst our Rouge et Bleu and The H qualified automatically, Montpellier had to apply for a wild-card place. This application was accepted by the governing bodies. It should be noted that the draw will prevent Stefan Madsen’s side from facing either Nantes or Montpellier during the first group stage. The 24 teams are divided into six groups of four. The top two clubs from each group will then be placed into two groups of six for the main round, which will resume the format we have been familiar with up to now.
There’s no suspense when it comes to the big names. Eleven teams had already secured their places in the next Champions League campaign thanks to their results in their respective domestic leagues: defending champions Barcelona will therefore be in the mix, as will Magdeburg, Aalborg, Veszprém, Kielce, Sporting Club Portugal, Zagreb, Kolstad, Dinamo Bucharest and a newcomer: MT Melsungen, who were recently crowned champions of the EHF European League.
Added to these are other well-known names, such as Plock, Szeged and GOG, all of whom were in the capital club’s group this season. Füchse Berlin, the unfortunate runners-up against Barcelona a few days ago, will also be present, looking once again to secure their first title.
Swiss club Kriens-Luzern are set to experience the biggest moment in their history. Having clinched their first national title with victory over Kadetten Schaffhausen in the final a few weeks ago, the Swiss side’s application was approved by the EHF on Monday. They will therefore make their Champions League debut next season, having taken part in the last three European League campaigns.
SAH have followed a similar path. Finishing second in the regular season behind the unbeatable Aalborg, Skanderborg Aarhus Håndbold will be the third Danish representative in the 2026–2027 edition. The side led by Nick Rasmussen certainly earned their place, having reached the national championship final after knocking out GOG in the semi-finals, before losing in two legs to Aalborg. The Danes are therefore set to make their Champions League debut.
The former Paris Saint-Germain Handball coach could be making a return to Coubertin next season. Appointed head coach of the Serbian national team last summer, the Spanish coach will take charge of RK Partizan Belgrade next season. As two-time defending domestic champions, the Black and Whites have also had their application approved by the EHF. They will therefore make their grand return to Europe’s most prestigious competition, 13 years after their last appearance.
Three other clubs will also be returning to the Champions League after several years away. Having recently been crowned Swedish champions for the first time since 2023, IFK Kristianstad have also impressed the governing bodies, making their return to the EHF Champions League after a seven-season absence. The hiatus was shorter for Porto and Slovenian side Celje, who are returning after two seasons in the EHF European League and the EHF European Cup respectively.
Having featured in the last three EHF Champions League campaigns, Pelister will not be taking part this time around. The North Macedonian side were dethroned in the league by their long-standing rivals Vardar, who were awarded a wild card to secure their return to the top-tier competition.
Consequently, of the 27 clubs that had automatically qualified or had applied to join this new format of the EHF Champions League, 24 have been approved. Only the applications from Tatabanya (Hungary), Valur (Iceland) and Elverum (Norway) were not accepted. The draw for the group stage will take place at 11:00 on Friday 26 June 2026.
France: Paris Saint-Germain Handball, HBC Nantes, Montpellier Handball
Germany: SC Magdeburg, Füchse Berlin, MT Melsungen
Denmark: Aalborg Håndbold, GOG, SAH
Hungary: One Veszprém HC, OTP Bank - PICK Szeged
Poland: Industria Kielce, Orlen Wisla Plock
Portugal: Sporting Clube de Portugal, FC Porto
Spain: Barça
Croatia: HC Zagreb
Romania: CS Dinamo Bucuresti
North Macedonia: HC Vardar 1961
Slovenia: RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko
Serbia: RK Partizan AdmiralBet
Switzerland: HC Kriens-Luzern
Sweden: IFK Kristianstad