European Championship U19 Women (EU) 2025/26

The European Women's U19 Handball Championship is the premier youth international handball competition for female players in Europe, organized by the European Handball Federation (EHF). Established in 1996, the tournament was originally known as the European Women's Junior Handball Championship until it adopted its current U19 designation in 2004. It sits below the senior European Championship but above the Division B and Division II tiers, serving as a critical development pathway for young athletes across the continent.

The structure of the event has undergone significant changes over time. The inaugural edition in 1996 featured 12 teams, but by 2004 the field had expanded to 16 participants, a size that remained standard for many years. The 2025 edition marked a major expansion to 24 teams, divided into six preliminary groups of four. The top two teams from each preliminary group advanced to a Main Round consisting of three groups of four, while the remaining teams played in classification rounds. The top two teams from each Main Round group, along with the two best third-placed teams, progressed to the Quarterfinals.

Denmark holds the record for the most titles with four victories in 1996, 2007, 2011, and 2015. Hungary follows with three titles, won in 2019, 2021, and 2023. Russia also has three titles, secured in 2002, 2004, and 2013. Romania has two titles, from 1998 and 2000. The current champion is Germany, which won the 2025 tournament held in Podgorica, Montenegro, defeating Spain 34–27 in the final. Notable records include the 2013 final between Russia and Hungary, which saw the highest total score of 64 goals, and the 2021 final, where Hungary defeated Russia by the largest margin of 9 goals.

There is no formal relegation system for the main championship. Teams that do not qualify for the Main Round from Division B must go through qualification rounds, and eliminated teams in the main event often participate in a President's Cup or similar classification tournament rather than being relegated to a lower division for the next year's main event.