The Bundesliga is back on German free-to-air TV, and RTL is kicking off the 2026/27 season with a highlight: On August 29, at the traditional Bundesliga kickoff time on Saturday afternoon, the Cologne-based broadcaster will present the match between RB Leipzig and Borussia Mönchengladbach at 3 p.m. Inga Leschek, Chief Content Officer, RTL Deutschland, said: “The start of the Bundesliga season is one of the most emotional moments in German sports every year. After the German national team’s early exit from the World Cup, many fans are certainly even more excited about the return of the Bundesliga and its special stories. I am very pleased that we will also be broadcasting select Bundesliga matches on free-to-air TV starting with the new season. The Bundesliga is one of Germany’s strongest sports brands and the perfect addition to our top-notch sports portfolio.”
“A match of the highest caliber – in terms of the sport and emotions”
Frank Robens, Executive Vice President Sports, RTL Deutschland, added: “A new Bundesliga season deserves a true top match to kick things off. We are all the more pleased to be able to present fans with a match of the highest caliber – in terms of the sport and emotions – on the first matchday on free-to-air TV. Together with Sky Sport, we intend to make the fascination of the Bundesliga accessible to the widest possible audience through high-quality live broadcasts and turn the start of the season into a very special TV experience.”
The Bundesliga kickoff live on Sky Sport
Shortly after the FIFA World Cup in America, football fans in Germany are eagerly anticipating the new Bundesliga season. On the first four matchdays, RTL Deutschland’s channel Sky Sport will present numerous highlight matches in its programming. The first highlights of the 2026/27 season on Sky Sport, in addition to the season opener between FC Bayern München and VfB Stuttgart on August 28, will be the matches between Borussia Dortmund and HSV on August 29, and the first Bundesliga match at Veltins-Arena auf Schalke in more than three years, when FC Schalke 04 will host FC Bayern München in a top match on September 5.
Sky Sport will again broadcast all 306 matches of the 2nd Bundesliga in the 2026/27 season live. All nine matches per matchday will be shown live Fridays through Sundays, regularly eight of them as exclusive broadcasts. Sky Sport will broadcast all matches taking place simultaneously live, either as individual games, as a conference, or via the interactive “My Matchday” service. All live broadcasts of the Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga on Sky Sport will be available through Sky (sky.de) and Wow (wowtv.de).
