Bundesliga
TTBL presents new event formats for championship and cup
The Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) is starting a new chapter and focusing on innovative event formats: Starting in the current 2025/26 season, the German champion will be determined in a compact Final Four event. The cup competition will also undergo a structural overhaul: At the start of the following 2026/27 season, fans can look forward to an exciting cup grand opening, with all round of 16 and quarterfinal matches taking place over a single weekend.
With these innovations, the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) brings together the best teams in the league in one place and offers not only sporting highlights, but also a varied supporting program for spectators, partners, and sponsors. The new event structure is intended to increase the visibility of the TTBL and generate more media attention for table tennis as a whole, as well as significantly simplifying planning and implementation for all involved. The decisions for these format changes are the result of joint consultations and the unanimous decision of all twelve TTBL clubs and were made in close coordination with Dyn Media GmbH, the media partner of the TTBL.
With the introduction of the new formats, the TTBL is responding to demand from fans, media, and sponsors for compact and attractive events featuring the best teams and players of the season, as well as to the challenges posed by an increasingly dense international tournament calendar. Positive experiences with formats such as the Cup Final Four have already shown that compact competitions are very popular.
TTBL Final Four 2025/26: Decision on the German championship in Frankfurt
Starting in the 2025/26 season, the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) will present a new format for determining the German champion: Starting this season, the TTBL Final Four will be the thrilling conclusion to the Bundesliga season and will become the central stage for deciding the German championship title.
On May 30 and 31, 2026, a central Final Four event will be held for the first time to determine the German team champion – planned to take place at the Süwag Energie ARENA in Frankfurt.
The four best-placed teams from the main round are eligible to participate. The semi-finals will take place on Saturday, and the final for the German championship will take place on Sunday. All matches will be played on a central center court, ensuring that every game can be watched live and without overlap.
“Final Four event to be highlight of German sporting calendar”
“The Final Four brings together all the drama of the championship decider in a compact, intense format,” says Nico Stehle, managing director of Tischtennis Bundesliga GmbH. “We have had many positive experiences with the Cup Final Four over the years and have demonstrated how much potential this format has. The new event offers fans a unique experience and creates new and attractive opportunities for clubs and sponsors to showcase themselves and network. We are convinced that the Final Four will strengthen the TTBL in the long term and establish itself as a highlight in the German sporting calendar.”
Cup Grand Opening 2026/27: High-class start to the new season
The Cup Grand Opening brings together 16 teams – the twelve TTBL clubs and the four winners of the DTTB Cup preliminary round – and thus all the stars at the start of the 2026/27 season in an attractive tournament format that, in addition to sporting excitement, also serves as a meeting place for fans, clubs, and the media – including the official Media Days. All round of 16 and quarterfinal matches of the cup competition will thus be played on a single weekend. The location and date of the event will be announced at a later date. The round of 16 matches will be played on Saturday, followed by the quarterfinal matches on Sunday.
With the Pokal Grand Opening, the TTBL is implementing another strong event format that combines sporting competition, media visibility, and fan experience. The central venue enables high-quality implementation and offers all participants—from clubs to media to sponsors—an optimal platform for the start of the new season. Second and third division clubs in particular will be able to benefit from increased media presence and professional broadcasts in the future.
“Cup Grand Opening with all the stars – a stage unlike anything the cup competition has ever offered before”
“The Cup Grand Opening represents a modern, audience-friendly start to the season. By bundling all the round of 16 and quarter-final matches into one weekend, we are creating a real meeting place for the table tennis community, with short distances for the media, clear structures for the clubs and maximum visibility for all fans,” explains Nico Stehle. “What's particularly appealing is that all twelve TTBL clubs and the four winners of the cup preliminary round will be competing together in one place, in one event. This means that spectators will not only get to experience all the stars of the Bundesliga up close in one weekend, but also ambitious clubs from the 2nd and 3rd leagues in the spotlight – a stage that the cup competition has never offered before.”
Featured image above: Dang Qiu from Borussia Düsseldorf at the Liebherr Cup Final Four (Photo: BeLa Sportfoto)
