2. Bundesliga (Germany) 2026/27

The 2. Bundesliga is the second tier of the German handball league system, situated directly below the 1. Handball-Bundesliga and above the 3. Liga. Founded in 1981 by the Deutscher Handballbund (DHB), the competition replaced a fragmented regional structure to establish a unified national second division. Today, the league is administered by Handball-Bundesliga e.V. (HBL), which oversees operations for both the top and second tiers.

Since the 2011/12 season, the league operates as a single nationwide division comprising 18 teams. The season follows a double round-robin format where each club plays every other team twice, once at home and once away. Historically, the league was split into two regional divisions from 1994 until 2011.

Success in the 2. Bundesliga offers clear pathways for advancement. The top two teams in the final standings gain direct promotion to the 1. Bundesliga without the need for playoffs. Conversely, the bottom two teams, occupying 17th and 18th place, are directly relegated to the 3. Liga. A crucial third promotion spot is determined through a two-legged playoff between the 16th-placed team of the 2. Bundesliga and the third-placed team of the 3. Liga. In the event of a tie after extra time, a penalty shootout decides the winner, as the away goals rule does not apply.

TuS N-Lübbecke stands as the most successful club in the history of the competition, having won five titles across the 1993/94, 2001/02, 2003/04, 2008/09, and 2016/17 seasons. HBW Balingen-Weilstetten and Bergischer HC follow with four titles each. The league shares its title sponsorship with the 1. Bundesliga, with Opel taking over from 2026.

While the 1. Bundesliga serves as the premier professional league with national television coverage and access to European competitions, the 2. Bundesliga functions as a developmental tier. It features lower budgets and often includes younger or transitioning players. Both leagues require licensing from the HBL, though the first tier imposes stricter criteria regarding stadium infrastructure and financial solvency.