Serie B (Italy) 2026/27

Serie B is the second tier of the Italian football league system, sitting directly below Serie A and above Serie C. The competition was founded in 1929 by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) under the presidency of Leandro Arpinati, as part of the "Viareggio Charter" reforms that reorganized Italian football into a centralized national structure. Prior to 1929, the second tier consisted of regional divisions (Seconda Divisione and Prima Divisione). It was initially managed by the Lega Calcio alongside Serie A until 2010, when it formed its own independent governing body, the Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie B (Lega B).

The competition currently features 20 teams. The season format is a double round-robin, where each team plays every other team twice (home and away), resulting in 38 matches per team. Promotion and relegation are structured as follows: the top two teams are automatically promoted to Serie A. The third promotion spot is determined by playoffs involving teams ranked 3rd through 8th; however, if the point gap between 3rd and 4th place exceeds 14 points, the 3rd-place team is promoted directly. For relegation, the bottom three teams (ranks 18, 19, and 20) are directly relegated to Serie C. A play-out match is held between the 16th and 17th placed teams to determine the final relegation spot, unless the point gap between them exceeds 5 points, in which case the 17th-place team is relegated directly.

In 2018, the league adopted a title sponsor, officially renaming it Serie BKT due to an agreement with Indian tire manufacturer BKT, marking the first time the competition carried a sponsor's name in its official title. The record for the most Serie B titles is shared by Genoa and Atalanta, each having won the championship six times. The current champions (as of the 2025–26 season) are Venezia, who secured their third title. Notable historical events include the 1982 Lazio vs. Milan match, which holds the attendance record with approximately 65,850 to 70,000 spectators, featuring two major clubs that had been relegated to the second tier.

Serie B differs from Serie A primarily in financial scale and broadcasting rights. In 2009, Serie A clubs split from Serie B to negotiate independent, lucrative global broadcasting deals, whereas Serie B relies on a smaller, shared revenue pot. For the 2024–2027 cycle, Serie B broadcasting rights were sold for approximately €13 million each to Sky and DAZN, with Amazon Prime Video joining as a streaming partner, a stark contrast to Serie A's multi-billion euro deals. Stadium requirements for Serie B are less stringent than Serie A's, with many clubs playing in older, municipal grounds with capacities ranging from 5,000 to 15,000, whereas Serie A clubs typically possess larger, modern facilities. Both leagues operate under the same FIGC Club Licensing and financial sustainability regulations, but the operational costs and wage bills are significantly higher in Serie A.