Handball World Championship 2027 in Germany: tickets, venues, schedule & hotels

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Twenty years after Germany's 2007 title, the Men's Handball World Championship returns to Germany. Matches are played in January 2027 in Munich, Stuttgart, Kiel, Magdeburg, Hanover and Cologne. Here are the key dates, the official ticket routes and tips for travel and accommodation.

Venues and format

In the preliminary round (13 to 19 January), eight groups of four play in four cities, two groups per arena. The top three of each group advance to the main round; the bottom teams play for the President's Cup in Magdeburg.

• Munich, SAP Garden: Group A with Germany and Group C with Croatia – including the opening match and ceremony on 13 January.
• Stuttgart, Porsche-Arena: Group B with Switzerland and Group D with France.
• Kiel, Wunderino Arena: Group E with Sweden and Norway, and Group G with defending champions Denmark.
• Magdeburg, GETEC Arena: Group F with Portugal and Group H with Iceland.

The main round (20 to 25 January) is played in Cologne (LANXESS arena) and Hanover (ZAG Arena). If Germany qualify, Alfred Gislason's team play their main round and quarter-final in Cologne. The final weekend with semi-finals, bronze match and the final on 31 January also takes place at the LANXESS arena.

Germany's games in Munich

All three of Germany's preliminary-round games start at 8:30 pm (CET) at SAP Garden:

• Wednesday, 13 January 2027: Germany v Tunisia (opening day; the first match starts at 5:30 pm, followed by the opening ceremony)
• Friday, 15 January 2027: Uruguay v Germany
• Sunday, 17 January 2027: Germany v Serbia

On the other preliminary-round days, games usually throw off at 6 pm and 8:30 pm, in the main round at 3:30 pm, 6 pm and 8:30 pm. Times for Group D with France and a possible French main-round group in Cologne may differ slightly. The official schedule on handball2027.com is binding.

Tickets: last chance from 1 December

Tickets are sold only via the official tournament website handball2027.com and eventim. Demand is huge: Germany's matchdays in Munich and Cologne sold out within minutes again in the third ticket phase in September. The fourth and final ticket phase starts on 1 December 2026 – the last time new allocations go on sale.

Your best chances are matchdays without Germany, for example in Stuttgart, Kiel or Magdeburg, and the main-round games of the other groups. A day ticket usually covers all matches played in the arena that day – so you see two games for one ticket.

Avoid unauthorised resale platforms: prices are often far above face value, and there is no guarantee your ticket will be valid at the gate.

Getting to the arenas

• Munich: SAP Garden is in the Olympic Park. The easiest way is the U3 underground towards Olympiazentrum, then a short walk.
• Cologne: The LANXESS arena is in Deutz, right next to Köln Messe/Deutz station – ideal if you arrive by long-distance train.
• Kiel: The Wunderino Arena is within walking distance of the main station.
• Stuttgart, Magdeburg, Hanover: All three arenas are reached from the main station by S-Bahn, light rail or tram.

In January, winter weather can make driving difficult, and parking is scarce on matchdays. The train is usually the more relaxed option. Check current timetables and any extra services with the local transport operators.

Where to stay

Hotels in Munich and Cologne get expensive quickly around Germany's matchdays. Book with free cancellation as soon as your ticket is confirmed. In Munich, Schwabing, Münchner Freiheit and the area around the main station are well connected. In Cologne, hotels in Deutz are right next to the arena; the old town around the cathedral and main station is just one S-Bahn stop away.

Things to do in the host cities

Between matchdays, explore the city: the Olympic Park and old town in Munich, the cathedral and an old-town tour in Cologne, or the Kiel Fjord.

Sources: German Handball Federation (dhb.de, news of 18 June and 4 September 2026), official tournament website handball2027.com, City of Munich (muenchen.de). Last checked: 4 November 2026. Dates and throw-off times may change – the organisers' information is binding.

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