DFB Cup 2026/27: every round, every date and how to get tickets

Germany's national cup is knockout football in its purest form: one match per round, no second legs, and a final in Berlin that every club in the country dreams of reaching. This guide covers every date of the 2026/27 DFB-Pokal, the current ties and what you need to know if you want to travel to a match. We update it after every draw.

DFB-Pokal 2026/27: dates for every round

The match days for each round are fixed in advance in the German FA's (DFB) framework calendar. Ties are played midweek, usually on a Tuesday and Wednesday, with the final on a Saturday.

Round	Match days	Draw
First round	21–24 August and 1–2 September 2026	6 June 2026
Second round	27–28 October 2026	5 September 2026
Round of 16	1–2 December 2026	1 November 2026
Quarter-finals	2–3 and 9–10 February 2027	scheduled for 6 December 2026
Semi-finals	20–21 April 2027	scheduled for 14 February 2027
Final	Saturday 29 May 2027, 8pm, Olympiastadion Berlin	–

This season the quarter-finals are spread over two weeks, with each of the four ties played on a different day.

Now: the round of 16 on 1 and 2 December 2026

Ten Bundesliga clubs and six second-tier sides are left. The draw took place on 1 November at the German Football Museum in Dortmund; the first-named club is at home:

• Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Dortmund
• VfB Stuttgart v Dynamo Dresden
• Bayer 04 Leverkusen v RB Leipzig
• Bayern Munich v Hertha BSC
• Borussia Mönchengladbach v SV Darmstadt 98
• 1. FC Kaiserslautern v SC Freiburg
• Holstein Kiel v 1. FC Köln
• VfL Bochum v FC Augsburg

Which tie is played on which evening, and at what time, is announced by the DFB after the draw.

How kick-off times are set

The framework calendar only fixes the possible match days. The exact schedule is decided after each draw, in consultation with the clubs, the police and security authorities, and the broadcasters. That often leaves just a few weeks between the draw and the match itself.

If you want to see a particular tie, get in touch as soon as the draw is made and keep your travel plans flexible.

How the competition works

Sixty-four teams enter: all 36 clubs from the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga, the top four from the previous third-division season, the 21 regional cup winners and three further sides from the regional associations with the most teams. Reserve sides of professional clubs are not allowed to take part.

Every round is a single knockout match. If it is level after 90 minutes, extra time and penalties follow. In the early rounds, third-tier and amateur clubs are at home against Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga opposition – which is why August brings the packed small grounds and giant-killing stories the competition is known for.

Holders and record winners

Bayern Munich won the 2026 final 3–0 against VfB Stuttgart on 23 May 2026, their 21st DFB-Pokal title and a record. Werder Bremen are next with six.

What the winners play for

The cup winners qualify for the following season's Europa League and face the German champions in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup – for many clubs, the shortest route into Europe.

The final: at the Olympiastadion since 1985

Since 1985 the final has been held every year at Berlin's Olympiastadion, whoever reaches it. In 2027 it kicks off on Saturday 29 May at 8pm: DFB-Pokal final 2027.

Unlike every other round, the date is known a year ahead – only the finalists are not. If you want to be sure of a place, plan your ticket and hotel early, whoever makes it through.

Tickets and match breaks

For the cup ties we offer, we put together your ticket and hotel as one booking. You choose the hotel to suit your budget and preferred area, and decide how many nights you stay. All current ties are on our DFB-Pokal tickets page.