Bundesliga 2026/27: Bayern Munich start as overwhelming favourites

The 2026–27 Bundesliga season kicks off on 28.08.2026 with a curtain-raiser between Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart, opening the 64th edition of Germany’s top flight. Eighteen clubs will play 34 rounds before the final standings are decided on 22 May.

Bayern arrive as clear favourites and title defenders after a dominant 2025–26 campaign. The Bavarians lifted the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup with a 2:1 win over Borussia Dortmund and finished last season 16 points clear of Dortmund, scoring a record 122 goals in 2025-26. They also won the German Cup — their first in six years — while striker Harry Kane finished as the league’s top scorer with 36 goals in his third season since arriving from Tottenham.

Squad questions and tactical experiments

Bayern strengthened their forward line by adding Luis Díaz and Olise to a front three that already centres on Kane, but the search for a consistent attacking midfielder remains open. Jamal Musiala is still working to return to his previous level after a serious winter injury, and Serge Gnabry and Lennart Carl were often used as creative wide players last season. Both are currently sidelined, while Musiala continues to contend with "sporadic fainting attacks" linked to the therapies he is undergoing. Bayern signed Moroccan attacking midfielder Ismael Saibari from PSV, and during pre-season and the Supercup the German international left-back Nathaniel Brown, a signing from Eintracht, featured in a more advanced midfield role.

Coach Kovac has also tested bold ideas: during the Supercup he swapped the sides of his wing-backs in a 3-4-2-1, with left-footed Sweden international Daniel Svensson on the right and Norway international Julian Ryerson on the left — only to restore them to their original flanks at halftime, calling the experiment "an option" for the season.

Outside the Bayern story, the league promises a tight fight for European places and a fierce battle to avoid the drop. Heidenheim, St. Pauli and Wolfsburg were relegated to the 2. Bundesliga, while promoted sides include Schalke — bolstered by Miron Muslic, Edin Dzeko and Nikola Katic — debutants Elversberg and Paderborn.

Toward the end of last season as many as nine clubs had their survival threatened, and similar uncertainty is expected now. Hamburger SV could face difficulties after failing to adequately replace outgoing players, while Union Berlin endured a turbulent pre-season. Köln managed to keep last season’s breakout creator Said El Malaa after Borussia Dortmund balked at a €50 million price and the player rejected a move to Brentford.

Dortmund have sought to inject creativity by signing 18-year-old Konstantinos Karecas from Genk for €30 million and selling Janis Konstadelias to PAOK for €26 million. They also brought in defensive midfielder Joey Ferman from PSV for €22 million. RB Leipzig, third last season, lost their standout player and coach: winger Jan Diomande was sold to Real Madrid for €140 million, and the club replaced Ole Werner with former Argentina international and ex-Bayern centre-back Martin Demichelis.

Bayer Leverkusen embark on a rebuild after a turbulent campaign that left them sixth, while Stuttgart — who finished fourth and will play in the Champions League — and Hoffenheim, who ended fifth, have strengthened their offensive options ahead of what promises to be another competitive Bundesliga season.

Photo: press material from the event