2. Bundesliga North Women (Germany) 2026/27

Founded in 1976, the 2. Bundesliga North Women (2. Bundesliga Nord der Frauen) operates as a regional volleyball competition in Germany. Organized by the Deutscher Volleyball-Verband (DVV), the league originally formed as one of two parallel divisions alongside the South, serving as the second tier of the national pyramid. Following a major structural reform in the 2023/24 season, the competition was reclassified as the third tier after the introduction of the single nationwide semi-professional league, the 2. Bundesliga Pro.

The North division comprises clubs primarily from northern state associations, including Lower Saxony, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Bremen, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Berlin-Brandenburg. The current season features six teams: Bonn Women, Cloppenburg Women, Cottbus Women, Emlichheim Women, Hildesheim Women, and Osnabruck Women. The format employs a double round-robin system, meaning each club plays every opponent twice, once at home and once away. Unlike the top-tier 1. Bundesliga, which is managed by the Volleyball Bundesliga GmbH, this level remains semi-professional and amateur, focusing on regional development rather than international recruitment.

The league’s primary function is to serve as a feeder system for the unified 2. Bundesliga Pro. The champion receives direct promotion without the need for playoffs, while the teams finishing at the bottom are relegated to the Regionalliga. This straightforward structure eliminates the complexity of return legs or replays often found in cup competitions. In recent years, SCU Emlichheim has demonstrated significant dominance, securing the title in three consecutive seasons between 2023/24 and 2025/26. However, the club declined promotion in the most recent campaign, highlighting the competitive balance within the division. Other notable past champions include Stralsunder Wildcats and Skurios Volleys Borken, reflecting the deep historical roots of volleyball in northern Germany.