Ligue Butagaz Énergie Women (France) 2026/27

The Ligue Butagaz Énergie operates as the premier women’s handball competition in France. Formerly known as the LFH Division 1 Féminine, the tournament sits at the apex of the national pyramid, ranking above the Division 2 Féminine and Nationale 1 Féminine. The structure differs significantly from the men’s top flight, the Starligue, which runs under an autonomous body with a larger commercial footprint. The women’s league remains more directly integrated with the national federation, reflecting historical organizational differences.

Founded in 1951, the competition has undergone recent structural changes. For the 2026–2027 season, the league will revert to a twelve-club format featuring a single round-robin regular season. This shift replaces the previous double round-robin system adopted in 2022–2023. The new arrangement includes twenty-two matches per team, followed by a playoff system termed “finalités.” These playoffs determine the champion, European qualification spots, and relegation positions. The current twelve teams include Achenheim Truchtersheim Women, Besançon Women, Brest Bretagne Women, Chambray Touraine Women, Dijon Women, and HBC Toulon Women.

Promotion and relegation links the top tier to the second division. One side drops from the Ligue Butagaz Énergie to Division 2 Féminine, usually after a play-down phase involving the lowest-placed teams. Conversely, a club ascends from the second tier provided it holds the VAP status. This certification ensures the club meets specific professional financial and sporting criteria. Metz Handball stands as the most successful entity in the competition’s history, securing twenty-seven titles through 2024–2025. The club won the most recent four consecutive championships. The league adopted its current sponsored name in 2019 following a deal with the gas company Butagaz.