The executive committees of the German Football Association (DFB) and DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga announced the key dates for the next 2025/26 season on Friday. The first competitive fixtures of the new season for Bundesliga clubs will take place on the weekend of 15-17 August 2025 with the first round of the DFB Cup, apart from the participants in the DFL-Supercup on Saturday 16 August, who will play their first-round ties later in the month (26/27 August).
Bundesliga opener on 22 August 2025
The opening match of the Bundesliga will take place around a week later on Friday 22 August. Before the German top flight pauses for the winter break after Matchday 15 (19-21 December), the schedule will be broken up by three international breaks (1-9 September, 6-14 October and 10-18 November). The Bundesliga resumes in the new year with Matchday 16 (9-11 January 2026) followed by a midweek round. The big final matchday of the campaign is set for 16 May 2026, when all nine fixtures will be played simultaneously as usual.
Cup final on 23 May 2026
Seven days later, the final of the DFB Cup will be held at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Saturday 23 May 2026. The relegation play-offs for the Bundesliga, Bundesliga 2 and 3. Liga are planned between 21 and 26 May.
The DFL scheduled Matchday 13 to 19 of the current season this week:
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