The European Masters Handball movement continues to grow. While the 2026 edition in Setúbal is already on the horizon, the European Handball Federation has officially opened the call for applications to host the 2027 EHF European Masters Handball Championships for Men and Women.
This early announcement aims to give potential organisers more preparation time and, at the same time, allow teams participating in the 2026 edition to know where the next European Masters tournament will take place.
A tournament that combines competition, friendship and passion
The European Masters Handball Championships are much more than a competition. According to the EHF Masters Handball Philosophy, the spirit of the event is focused on having fun, meeting old friends and experiencing handball again, combining the competitive side of the sport with its social dimension.
This vision is fully aligned with the EHM motto: “Only Passion, No Age”. Handball does not end when a player retires; it simply transforms. For Masters players, every tournament is an opportunity to keep the flame of the 40×20 court alive, share experiences and continue promoting the values of handball across Europe.
Key dates for 2027
The proposed dates for the 2027 EHF European Masters Handball Championships are:
17–20 June 2027
The day of arrival is planned for Wednesday, 16 June 2027, with matches scheduled from Thursday to Sunday. Departure would take place on Sunday evening or Monday morning.
The EHF has also indicated that an alternative period may be subject to negotiation.
Categories
The 2027 edition is planned for the following age categories:
Men: +35, +45, +50, +55 and +60
Women: +33 and +43
The +60 men’s category may be implemented if a minimum of four teams participate, while M55+ remains a main category.
What potential organisers should provide
The EHF is looking for organisers capable of delivering an attractive indoor event, with 2 to 4 playing courts depending on the number of teams, preferably in a central location to encourage interaction between athletes. Organisers should also provide suitable accommodation options, venue information, electronic scorekeeping, player services and water free of charge.
Other key services include medals for the top four teams in each category, prizes for best player and goalkeeper, qualified referees, a Central Information Centre for results and rankings, guides for each age category and social activities such as “get together” evenings.
Application deadline
National Federations interested in hosting the 2027 EHF European Masters Handball Championships must submit their application to the EHF Office no later than:
31 May 2026
The awarding of the 2027 championship will take place during the EHF Executive Committee meeting in June 2026.
Download the full information package
All interested National Federations, clubs, cities and potential organisers can download the attached materials with the detailed information about the 2027 EHF European Masters Handball Championships.
The package includes:
- The official call for organisers.
- The Masters overview document.
- The application form in Word format.
These documents provide the full requirements, conditions, event details and application information needed to prepare a proposal for hosting the 2027 edition.
A growing movement across Europe
The Masters movement has experienced remarkable growth over the years. The 2025 edition in Sevilla welcomed 55 teams and approximately 970 players, while the 2026 edition in Setúbal is expected to reach 64 teams and around 1,150 players.
These figures show the strength of Masters handball in Europe and the importance of continuing to create high-quality events for players, clubs and communities.
EHM encourages potential organisers to step forward
European Handball Masters welcomes this call from the EHF and encourages clubs, cities and National Federations to explore the opportunity to host the 2027 edition.
The Masters community needs new cities, new teams and new challenges. Every host city has the opportunity to contribute to the growth of a movement built on passion, respect, camaraderie and the lifelong love of handball.
Only Passion, No Age.
