Schwarz-Weiß Erfurt likely to remain first-class

In all likelihood, Bundesliga volleyball will continue to be played in Erfurt in the coming season. The women of Schwarz-Weiß Erfurt, who have been relegated from the sport, have applied for a license to play in the top division. This was announced by the club and the governing body. As all three promoted teams Skurios Volleys Borken, ETV Hamburg and Binder Blaubären TSV Flacht submitted license applications, as did this year's nine Bundesliga clubs, the top division will be able to play with the targeted number of twelve clubs again for the first time next season.

"In addition to the positive development off the court around our Bundesliga team, despite the fact that we clearly missed our sporting target, it was also decisive for us that we were able to add new teams to the 1st Bundesliga. This will make the competition in the league more interesting for us again," said Black & White President Michael Panse, explaining the board's decision to compete in the top flight for another year.

Bundesliga expanded

"The fact that three teams have decided to move up to the 1st Bundesliga is a strong signal for the positive development of women's volleyball in Germany," said Julia Retzlaff, the new managing director of the Volleyball Bundesliga (VBL).

In the 2025/26 season, the women's Bundesliga will once again have a simple main round with 132 matches and subsequent play-offs. The intermediate round or third round played before the play-offs in recent years will no longer be played.