Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga promotions and relegations

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17 May 2026, Brandenburg, Cottbus: The FC Energie Cottbus team celebrates on the Cottbus Altmarkt after their return from the last game of the season. Numerous fans await them there. On Sunday, there will be official promotion celebrations in the city with the team and supporters. Photo: Frank Hammerschmidt/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the regulations of the DFL German Football League and the DFB German Football Association, it is prohibited to utilize or have utilized photographs taken in the stadium and/or of the match in the form of sequential images and/or video-like photo series. (Photo by Frank Hammerschmidt/picture alliance via Getty Images)

It is that time of year again — saying goodbye to some old friends and welcoming some new ones.

The Bundesliga will wave goodbye to Heidenheim and St. Pauli, while Schalke 04 and SV Elversberg will make the jump to the big time. For Schalke, it will be quite the return:

Promoted to the Bundesliga:
• Schalke
• Elversberg

Relegated to the 2. Bundesliga:
• Heidenheim
• St. Pauli

Promotion/relegation playoff:
• Wolfsburg vs Paderborn

— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) May 17, 2026

The relegation playoff between VfL Wolfsburg and SC Paderborn 07 was clinched with Paderborn’s 2-0 win against SV Darmstadt. Meanwhile, Wolfsburg went on the road to beat St. Pauli 3-1 and avoid direct relegation.

As for the two teams moving up to 2. Bundesliga, it will be FC Energie Cottbus and VfL Osnabrück:

Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Aufstieg in die 2. #Bundesliga, FC Energie Cottbus

Die #DFL-Geschäftsführer gratulieren zur lang ersehnten Rückkehr in den Profifußball https://t.co/5MS854s8d7@Nur_Energiepic.twitter.com/9UoA91AdeK

— DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga (@DFL_Official) May 16, 2026

Congratulations on the promotion to the 2nd #Bundesliga, FC Energie Cottbus

The #DFL managing directors congratulate you on the long-awaited return to professional football https://dfl.de/de/aktuelles/willkommen-zurueck-in-der-2-bundesliga-fc-energie-cottbus/@Nur_Energie

Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Aufstieg, VfL #Osnabrück

Die #DFL gratuliert zur Rückkehr in die 2. Bundesliga https://t.co/MbeaFcKFy0pic.twitter.com/dg7RA1EUQ0

— DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga (@DFL_Official) May 2, 2026

Congratulations on the promotion, VfL #Osnabrück

The #DFL congratulates you on your return to the 2. Bundesliga https://dfl.de/de/aktuelles/gratulation-an-den-vfl-osnabrueck/

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