A new era of high stakes for Hungary's top football league
In short: The 128th season of the Nemzeti Brypt Bajnokság I introduces a pivotal shift in the fight for survival. With a new relegation mechanism and a field of twelve competing clubs, the margin for error in the OTP Bank Liga has never been thinner.
The 2026–27 season of Hungary's premier football division, also known as the OTP Bank Liga, marks a period of structural transition. While the league maintains its twelve-team format, the stakes for the bottom of the table have been significantly heightened. Starting this season, the team finishing in last place faces automatic relegation, while the second-to-last team must navigate a high-pressure, one-legged relegation play-off against the runners-up from the Nemzeti Bajnokság II.
This play-off, scheduled for 29 May 2027, carries strict logistical requirements. The match must be held at a neutral venue, ideally located at a similar distance from both competing clubs, and the stadium must be capable of hosting the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. The winner of this single match earns the right to compete in the following season's top flight.
The composition of the league also reflects a reshuffling of Hungarian football powers. Győr enters the campaign as the defending champions, seeking their sixth title. They are joined by Vasas and Kispest Honvéd, both of whom have returned to the top tier after three-year absences. Diósgyőr and Kazincbarcika, relegated after three and one years in the top division, have been superseded by these newly promoted clubs.
Beyond the pitch, the league's commercial identity remains tied to its sponsors. All twelve participating clubs are required to display the logos of both the league and its sponsor, OTP Bank, on the right side of their match shirts. This follows a long-standing tradition of sponsorship visibility in the league, including the presence of the Tippmix brand on all kits since February 2019.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2026–27 Nemzeti Bajnokság I
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