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In exactly 50 days, the Kia Metropol Arena in Nuremberg will become the center of top-level German table tennis: On August 29 and 30, 2026, 16 teams will compete under one roof over the course of a single weekend as the Cup Grand Opening kicks off the new cup season. The countdown is on—and with it, the chance to secure the best seats for two days of world-class table tennis.

In 50 days, Nuremberg will host the kickoff of an event unlike anything German table tennis has ever seen: the round of 16 and quarterfinals of the German Table Tennis Cup, all packed into a single weekend at one central location. All twelve teams from the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) and the four qualifiers from the cup preliminary round will compete in a single-elimination format at the Kia Metropol Arena for the four spots in the Liebherr Cup Final4. That means anyone who wants to be there should use these 50 days to secure their ticket.

The venue has already proven itself as a stage for major events. Opened in 2021, the Kia Metropol Arena is one of Germany’s most modern multipurpose arenas—home to the Nuremberg Falcons and the venue for handball, volleyball, and hockey, as well as concerts and galas. It has already passed its table tennis baptism by fire: In 2023, the German Singles Championships were held here, in front of a sold-out crowd and with an atmosphere that was the deciding factor in choosing Nuremberg as the venue for the Grand Opening. LED video screens, state-of-the-art facilities, and a direct connection to the subway make the arena the ideal setting for an unforgettable fan event.

Grand Opening Cup: The Top Table Tennis Stars in One Place

And from a sporting perspective, everything is ready: after all, the international elite has rarely been gathered so closely together in a single weekend. Expected at the Grand Opening Cup are, among others, Olympic champions Fan Zhendong and Dang Qiu (both Borussia Düsseldorf), Hugo Calderano and Patrick Franziska (both 1. FC Saarbrücken TT), Dimitrij Ovtcharov (TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell), and Shunsuke Togami (TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen), as well as numerous other top stars. Anyone who wants to experience the TTBL elite live will get to see them all here at once.

And it’s all happening over two full days: On Saturday, the round of 16 will take place, played in two parallel sessions at four tables. Nonstop table tennis at the highest level is guaranteed. On Sunday, the quarterfinals will follow, also played in two sessions. Anyone who wants to be there on August 29 and 30 should secure their ticket now: Up to 2,750 fans can attend each day. Tickets are available for Saturday (round of 16), for Sunday (quarterfinals), and as a combo ticket for the entire weekend—starting at just 19 euros. Tickets with specific seat assignments can be ordered through the official TTBL ticket shop, by phone at 0761 888499 99, and at all known ticket outlets.

The Cup Grand Opening at a Glance

Saturday, August 29 (Round of 16, two parallel sessions on four tables)
Starting at 11 a.m.:
Match 1: Borussia Düsseldorf vs. TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen (Table 1)
Match 2: Winner of Preliminary Round Group 1 vs. TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell (Table 2)
Match 3: Winner of Preliminary Round Group 2 vs. Winner of Preliminary Round Group 3 (Table 4)
Match 4: SV Werder Bremen vs. TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt (Table 3)

Starting at 3:00 p.m.:
Match 5: Winner of Preliminary Round Group 4 vs. 1. FC Saarbrücken TT (Table 1)
Match 6: ASC Grünwettersbach vs. Post SV Mühlhausen (Table 4)
Match 7: TTC OE Clarity-Telefonie Systeme Bad Homburg vs. TSV Bad Königshofen (Table 3)
Match 8: Borussia Dortmund vs. TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau (Table 2)

Sunday, August 30 (Quarterfinals, two parallel sessions on two tables)
Starting at 11:00 a.m.:
Winner of Match 5 – Winner of Match 6 (Table 2)
Winner of Match 7 – Winner of Match 8 (Table 3)

Starting at 3:00 p.m.:
3:00 p.m.: Winner of Match 1 – Winner of Match 2 (Table 2)
3:00 p.m.: Winner of Match 3 – Winner of Match 4 (Table 3)

Featured image above: BeLaSportfoto