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The 2026 Men’s EHF European Handball Championship — widely known as Men’s EHF EURO 2026 — is underway from 15 January to 1 February 2026, hosted jointly by Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, and showcasing European handball at its finest. As one of the most prestigious indoor sporting events on the continent, the tournament brings together elite athletes, passionate fan bases, and cutting-edge innovation on and off the court.
The 17th edition features 24 national teams competing across key host cities such as Herning (Denmark), Malmö and Kristianstad (Sweden), and Oslo (Norway), before culminating in a thrilling final weekend in Denmark. Beyond the intense competition and tactical battles, EURO 2026 serves as a platform for advanced performance analytics, digital fan engagement, broadcast innovation, and smart venue operations, reflecting how modern handball continues to evolve.
At SSBM Geneva, we view tournaments like this not just as sporting events, but as real-world case studies in sports management, technology adoption, data analytics, and economic impact.
The Men’s EHF EURO 2026 has delivered plenty of intense matches and surprises as it moves into its semifinal phase. After thrilling group and main round battles, the last four teams standing are Croatia, Iceland, Denmark, and Germany, setting up an exciting weekend of handball in Herning, Denmark — Croatia will face Germany while Denmark take on Iceland in the semis.
In terms of predictions and odds, Denmark — playing on home soil — is widely seen as the favourite to win the tournament, followed by Croatia and Germany; smaller dark‑horse nations like Iceland also features in discussions among fans and experts about potential surprises. The final will be held on 1st February, with both semi-finals acting as a thrilling prelude to what promises to be a memorable EURO 2026 finish.
As handball grows faster and more data-driven, SSBM Geneva students in our Sports Management MBA and MBA in Data Science programs could analyze player performance, team strategies, and match statistics — exactly the kind of work shaping professional sports today.
Video assistance systems and goal-line technology are transforming the way referees make decisions, ensuring greater accuracy and fairness during matches. At EURO 2026, these cutting-edge tools are showcased on one of Europe’s most-watched indoor sporting stages, allowing officials to review critical moments in real time, reduce human error, and maintain the integrity of the game.
Handball now generates millions of performance data points per match, capturing everything from scoring patterns and shot efficiency to player movements, defensive positioning, and speed metrics. By analyzing this information, teams can transform raw data into actionable insights that influence tactics, substitutions, and training programs — insights that coaches and analysts are leveraging in real time during EURO 2026 to gain a competitive edge, anticipate opponents’ strategies, and enhance overall team performance.
Platforms like Handballytics combine predictive models with statistics to engage fans. Leveraging such platforms for marketing, sponsorship, and digital fan experience strategies allows clubs, federations, and brands to deliver personalized content, optimize advertising campaigns, track fan engagement in real time, and create immersive experiences such as interactive match predictions, fantasy leagues, and data-driven storytelling that keep audiences invested both on and off the court.
Hosting the EHF EURO is more than just a sporting spectacle — it functions as a powerful economic engine that drives growth, creates jobs, and generates revenue across multiple sectors.
Tourism & Local Business: Thousands of fans traveling to the host cities create high demand for accommodation, restaurants, transportation, and retail. Local businesses benefit from increased foot traffic and higher sales, while cities experience a surge in tourism revenue and global visibility. Beyond immediate spending, major tournaments often stimulate long-term infrastructure improvements, including upgraded transport networks, stadium facilities, and hospitality services, leaving a lasting legacy for host communities.
Broadcasting & Sponsorship: Media rights, corporate partnerships, and commercial activations form a critical part of the event’s financial ecosystem. Sponsorships not only provide revenue but also drive brand engagement, digital campaigns, and fan experiences. Innovations in broadcasting technology and interactive platforms enhance viewership while generating additional monetization opportunities for partners and organizers alike.
At SSBM Geneva, our Sports Management MBA explores the business side of major events, while Tech MBA and MBA in AI investigate how technology maximizes operational efficiency and sponsorship ROI. Students see firsthand how data, tech, and management intersect to create economic impact.
Major sporting events leave lasting benefits — from infrastructure upgrades to increased community engagement, and from tourism growth to enhanced international visibility for host cities. They serve as catalysts for innovation, driving improvements in technology, logistics, and fan engagement that often extend well beyond the tournament itself.
SSBM Geneva MBA programs empower students to analyze and measure these multi-dimensional impacts, combining tools from data science and AI with strategic frameworks from sports management and business analytics. Students learn how to model economic outcomes, assess social and cultural effects, and evaluate the long-term sustainability of large-scale sporting events. By bridging theory with practical application, our programs prepare future leaders in the sports and entertainment industries to design, manage, and optimize events that deliver both financial success and meaningful societal value, ensuring that the legacy of major tournaments like Men’s EHF EURO 2026 resonates for years to come.