Challenge League (Malta) 2026/27

The Maltese Challenge League, currently sponsored as the BOV Challenge League, functions as the second tier of Maltese football. It operates directly below the Maltese Premier League and is organized by the Malta Football Association (MFA). The competition was instituted in its current form for the 2020–21 season, replacing the Maltese First Division which had served as the second tier since the top flight was renamed the Premier League in 1980.

This structure represents a rebranding of the league following a restructuring that occurred after the premature end of the 2019–20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The current format involves sixteen teams playing a single round-robin regular season. After this phase, the league splits into two groups: a 'Top Eight' group competing for the championship and promotion, and a 'Play-Out' group competing to avoid relegation.

The top two teams from the final standings are directly promoted to the Premier League. A third promotion spot is determined by a playoff between the third-placed team of the Challenge League and the twelfth-placed team of the Premier League. The bottom four teams, occupying positions thirteen through sixteen, are relegated to the National Amateur League, which serves as the third tier. The league's official website is hosted by the MFA at mfa.com.mt.

Historically, the second tier has seen various formats and team numbers. Prior to the 2024–25 reduction, the league featured eighteen teams playing a double round-robin. Ħamrun Spartans holds the record as the most successful club in the history of the second tier, including the First Division era, with three titles. Other notable winners include Balzan, Marsa, and Melita. The current champion is Valletta, although Balzan is listed as the 2025–26 champion in some sources. The Challenge League differs from the Premier League primarily in tier status, with the Premier League being the elite professional division qualifying for UEFA competitions.