Handbolls-EM 2026 Kicks Off Across Sweden, Denmark, and Norway with Broad Coverage

The 2026 European Handball Championship, known as Handbolls-EM, began on January 15 and will run until February 1. The tournament is hosted jointly by Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, featuring 24 teams divided into six groups of four. Each group’s top two teams will advance to the main round starting January 22.

Sweden opens its campaign in Malmö, marking the 17th edition of the men's European Handball Championship. Group E, which includes Sweden, Croatia, the Netherlands, and Georgia, is one of the six groups competing. Other groups include powerhouses such as Germany, Spain, Denmark, and France.

Matches are widely accessible to Swedish viewers: all games are streamed on Viaplay, with select matches also broadcast on Viaplay Sport and TV 10. Key early matches on the opening day included France vs. Czech Republic and Spain vs. Serbia at 18:00, followed by Germany vs. Austria and Norway vs. Ukraine at 20:30.

The tournament will progress to semifinals on January 30, with the final scheduled for February 1. The event represents a significant moment for European handball, pitting favorites and challengers against each other in a wide distribution of venues across three countries.

This setup offers fans comprehensive access and exciting competition as the best European nations vie for the title.