The 2026-27 Bundesliga season is set to begin on Friday, August 28, with defending champions Bayern Munich opening their title defence at home against VfB Stuttgart. After a dominant 2025-26 campaign, Bayern enter the new season as overwhelming favourites, but Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen will all be looking to close the gap.
Bayern Munich: The Team to Beat
Bayern Munich remain the standard in German football. Vincent Kompany’s side won the Bundesliga by 16 points last season, scored a record 122 league goals and completed a domestic double. They also began the new campaign by defeating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the German Supercup.
Harry Kane remains one of the league’s biggest stars and will again lead Bayern’s attack, while Michael Olise continues to emerge as a decisive attacking force. New additions Nathaniel Brown and Ismael Saibari add further depth to an already formidable squad. Bayern’s combination of quality, experience and depth makes them the clear championship favourite.
Borussia Dortmund: Ready to Challenge?
Dortmund once again appear capable of competing near the top of the table. The Black and Yellow have made changes to their squad, with several new players expected to take on important roles.
Their 2-1 Supercup defeat to Bayern showed both promise and areas for improvement. New signings Giannis Konstantelias and Konstantinos Karetsas provided energy, while Fabio Silva got on the scoresheet. Dortmund will need greater consistency over 34 matches if they are to turn themselves from Bayern’s pursuers into genuine title challengers.
RB Leipzig: A New Look
Leipzig enter the season as one of the Bundesliga’s most intriguing teams. Christopher Nkunku has returned to the club on loan from AC Milan, giving Leipzig another major attacking weapon and adding experience to their forward line.
Leipzig have the talent to compete for a Champions League place and could potentially push higher, but integrating their new pieces will be crucial. Their ceiling may depend on how quickly the squad develops chemistry.
VfB Stuttgart: A Serious Threat
Stuttgart finished fourth last season and continue to build an increasingly competitive squad under Sebastian Hoeneß. Bilal El Khannouss has joined permanently, while Grischa Prömel and Leo Sauer add further options.
Stuttgart have become one of the Bundesliga’s most consistent and exciting teams. They may not have Bayern’s squad depth, but their organization and attacking quality make them a legitimate contender for another top-four finish—and potentially more if the leaders slip.
Bayer Leverkusen: A New Era
Leverkusen are beginning another transition. After winning the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in 2024, the club has experienced significant change and finished sixth last season.
Under new coach Carles Martínez, Leverkusen will attempt to return to the Champions League places. Their transfer activity has included additions such as Miguel Gutiérrez and Facundo Medina, but the key question will be whether a reshaped team can quickly establish consistency.
The Race for Europe
Behind the traditional heavyweights, the battle for European qualification should again be highly competitive. Stuttgart, Hoffenheim, Eintracht Frankfurt and other ambitious clubs will be fighting for positions in the Champions League and Europa League.
With only a few points often separating teams in the race for Europe, consistency against lower-table opponents could prove just as important as the head-to-head matches between the league’s top clubs.
Promoted Teams
Three clubs have joined the Bundesliga for 2026-27: Schalke 04, Elversberg and Paderborn.
Schalke return to the top flight with the largest profile of the promoted sides and will aim to re-establish themselves as a Bundesliga club. Elversberg are one of the season’s great stories, becoming the 59th club in Bundesliga history and the league’s smallest-market newcomer. Paderborn return after securing promotion through the relegation playoff. Survival will be the primary objective for all three.
Players to Watch
– Harry Kane, Bayern Munich — The leading candidate to dominate the scoring race once again.
– Michael Olise, Bayern Munich — A creative and clinical attacking threat.
– Serhou Guirassy, Borussia Dortmund — Capable of being among the Bundesliga’s top scorers.
– Christopher Nkunku, RB Leipzig — Back in familiar surroundings and looking to make a major impact.
– Bilal El Khannouss, VfB Stuttgart — An important part of Stuttgart’s ambitions.
– Deniz Undav, VfB Stuttgart — Another player capable of influencing the scoring race.
Season Prediction
Champions: Bayern Munich
Second: Borussia Dortmund
Third: RB Leipzig
Fourth: VfB Stuttgart
Dark Horse: Bayer Leverkusen
Top Scorer Prediction: Harry Kane
Biggest Surprise: Elversberg’s fight for survival
Final Word
The biggest question entering the 2026-27 Bundesliga season is simple: can anyone stop Bayern Munich? On paper, Bayern have the strongest squad and the deepest group of elite players in the league. The more compelling battles may come behind them, where Dortmund, Leipzig, Stuttgart and Leverkusen could produce an intense fight for Champions League places.
Bayern are the clear favourites, but the Bundesliga has no shortage of storylines: Leipzig’s new-look attack, Dortmund’s rebuild, Stuttgart’s continued rise, Leverkusen’s reset and the arrival of three promoted clubs. The 2026-27 season promises another year of high-scoring football, emerging young talent and a fierce race for European qualification.
