2026 European Women's Handball Championship

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2026 EHF European Women's Handball Championship
Mistrzostwa Europy w Piłce Ręcznej Kobiet 2026 (in Polish)
Campionatul European de Handbal Feminin din 2026 (in Romanian)
2026 Mistrovství Evropy v házené žen (in Czech)
Majstrovstvá Európy v hádzanej žien 2026 (in Slovak)
2026 Avrupa Kadınlar Hentbol Şampiyonası (in Turkish)
2026 European Women's Handball Championship Logo.png
Tournament details
Host countriesFlag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
Venue(s)6 (in 6 host cities)
Dates3–20 December
Teams24 (from 1 confederation)
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The 2026 EHF European Women's Handball Championship, commonly referred to as the EHF EURO 2026, will be the 17th edition of the EHF European Women's Handball Championship. It will be held from 3 to 20 December 2026.

Contents

The championship was originally scheduled to be held in Russia, but due to the invasion of Ukraine, they were stripped of the hosting rights. [1] On 8 March 2024, the EHF announced Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Turkey as co-hosts. [2]

Bid process

First bidding process

Bids

On 11 May 2021 it was announced that the following nations sent in an official expression of interest: [3]

On 20 October the final bids were presented. The Scandinavian bid was withdrawn, leaving Russia unopposed. [4] [5]

Host selection

As only the Russian bid remained it was unanimously selected at the 14th EHF Extraordinary Congress on 20 November 2021. [6] [7]

Second bidding process

On 4 July 2023, the EHF confirmed that Russia would not host the event due to the war in Ukraine, [8] and thus reopened the bidding process. On 25 October, the EHF announced the official bids.

The hosts were originally going to be announced on 28 January 2024 in Cologne, but the EHF decided to delay the announcement to April while also inviting every bidding nation to a meeting in mid-February. [9]

During the meeting in mid-February, Romanian media reported that a possible five-country co-hosting plan was being negotiated by all five bidding countries and the EHF after it was reported that none of the three bids fulfilled all the requirements. [10]

On 8 March 2024, the EHF announced all five countries, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Turkey, as co-hosts. [2] This marks the second time a sports tournament has been held in more than four countries, after UEFA Euro 2020.

Venues

Flag of Poland.svg Katowice Flag of Romania.svg Oradea
Spodek
Capacity: 11,036		 Oradea Arena
Capacity: 5,500
Katowice-Spodek (8).jpg Sala Polivalenta (Oradea).jpg
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Brno Flag of Romania.svg Cluj-Napoca
Arena Brno
Capacity: 12,000		 BTarena
Capacity: 10,000
Rondo hall.jpg Cluj Polyvalent Hall 2.jpg
Flag of Slovakia.svg Bratislava Flag of Turkey.svg Antalya
Ondrej Nepela Arena
Capacity: 10,000		 Antalya Arena
Capacity: 10,000
Ondrej nepela arena 2019 2.jpg Yellow pog.svg Katowice will host preliminary round, main round and knockout stage.
Blue pog.svg Cluj-Napoca will host preliminary round and main round.
Red pog.svg Brno, Bratislava, Oradea and Antalya will host preliminary round only.		 Antalya spor arena.webp

Qualification

Qualified teams

TeamQualification methodDate of qualificationAppFirstLastStreakBest placement in tournamentRank [11]
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic Host nation8 March 20249th 1994 2024 2Eighth place (1994, 2002)TBD
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 10th 1996 7Fifth place (1998)TBD
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 16th 1994 10Third place (2010)TBD
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 4th2Twelveth place (1994, 2014)TBD
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 2nd 2024 Twentieth place (2024)TBD
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Top three at 2024 edition13 December 202417th 1994 17Champions (1994, 1996, 2002)TBD
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Champions (Ten times) [a] TBD
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 15 December 2024Champions (2000)TBD

Notes

  1. ↑ Norway have won in 1998, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2022 and 2024.

References

  1. ↑ Mackay, Duncan (4 July 2023). "Russia stripped of 2026 European Women's Handball Championships". Inside the Games. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Organisers for Women's EHF EURO 2026 confirmed". EHF. European Handball Federation. 8 March 2024.
  3. ↑ "Seven nations bid for EHF Euros in 2026 and 2028". European Handball Federation. 11 May 2021. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  4. ↑ "Россия – единственный кандидат на проведение женского Евро-2026". Handball Federation of Russia. 20 October 2021.
  5. ↑ "Schweiz bündelt Kräfte mit Spanien und Portugal: Ausrichter für Handball-Europameisterschaften zeichnen sich ab". handball world (in German). 20 October 2021. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  6. ↑ "EHF EURO hosts for 2026 & 2028 confirmed". European Handball Federation. 20 November 2021. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  7. ↑ "The 14th EHF Extraordinary Congress". European Handball Federation. 20 November 2021. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  8. ↑ "EHF seeks alternative host for Women's EHF EURO 2026". EHF. 4 July 2023.
  9. ↑ Popovici, Marian (27 January 2024). "România, în pole position pentru a organiza Euro 2026 la handbal feminin! Ce decizie a luat EHF". Fanatik.ro.
  10. ↑ "Campionatul European din 2026 la handbal feminin ar putea fi organizat în cinci țări". GSP.ro. 12 February 2024.
  11. ↑ https://ehfcl.eurohandball.com/media/cfvd5lj3/ehf_womens-four-year-national-team-ranking.pdf
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