2026 National Champions in Europe

It’s that time of the year again. Time for another anthology of national champions in European baseball, the 10th edition of what started in 2017.

Austria:
A four-peat in Austria. The Diving Ducks Wiener Neustadt clinched the Austrian title for the fourth time in a row. Against the Traiskirchen Grasshoppers, the Ducks were with their back against the wall. Trailing 2-1 in games in this best-of-five series, the Ducks bounced back in game four, securing a decisive fifth game.
That fifth game was very close but Wiener Neustadt stayed just at the right side of the score (6-5) to clinch its fifth overall title.

Belarus:
Once again, Minsk baseball won the Belarus baseball championship. In a best-of-five, they swept Brest Zburs (Bisons) (16:6, 22:2, 6:2) for their quadrillionth championship. Below you can see the players “celebrate.” Apparently, winning the championship every year becomes a normal thing.

Belgium:
A rare feat in Belgium this year. Hoboken Pioneers won the Belgian title by beating Borgerhout Squirrels 3-2 in the championship game of the Championship Tournament. But the way they did it was very remarkable. The Pioneers went 28-0 in the regular season and 3-0 in the championship tournament, staying unbeaten for the season. It was Hobokens 11th overall championship.

Bulgaria:
A novelty in Bulgaria. An outsider made it to the championship series. Of course Sofia Blues made it to the finals but instead of Blagoevgrad Buffaloes, NSA Lions, who ousted Blagoevgrad in the semi-finals, earned a spot in the finals this year. The result wasn’t any different than previous years as Sofia Blues won their ninth consecutive and tenth overall Bulgarian championship, sweeping the Lions in a best-of-five.

Croatia:
Another year, another championship series between Olimpija Karlovac and Nada Split, the eternal rivals. But for the first time since 2019 Nada Split won the championship by sweeping Olimpija Karlovac 4-0 (3-2, 5-0, 7-4, and 10-5). It was Nada Splits 9th overall Croatian title.

Czechia:
For the first time in years, record holder Draci Brno, didn’t reach the championship series. That honor was for Hrosi (hippos) Brno and Kotlarka Prague. This was a helluva series where it all came down to the final, seventh, game in which Hrosi Brno bested Kotlarka Prague 8-6. It is Hrosi Brno’s first championship in the Extra Liga.

Denmark:
An anticlimax in Denmark. On Saturday, September 19, the championship game between Århus Aros and the Urban Achievers from Copenhagen should be played. But… Århus forfeited, resulting in another championship for the Urban Achievers.

Finland:
This year’s Finnish championship series was rerun of last year in which the Tampere Tigers swept Puumat from Helsinki. In this year’s best of five series, it all came down to the decisive fifth game in which Tampere didn’t stand a chance and lost 3 – 14 to Puumat Helsinki. It was the first time since 1999 that Puumat won the Finnish championship, its 10th overall.

France:
In a best-of-five series, reigning champions Rouen Huskies took on Savigny-sur-Orge Lions. After the Lions won the first two games, the Huskies were on the verge of tying the series in the fourth game as they had a 5-0 lead at the start of the bottom of the 6th inning. But from there, Savigny woke up and scored 6 runs in the remaining 4 at-bats to clinch their 6th overall championship.

Germany:
In a best-of-five championship series, the Bonn Capitals took on the Guggenberger Legionäre (Legionairs) from Regensburg. For the second year in a row, Regensburg made it to the championship series and wasn’t able to win it all. Bonn Capitals won 3-1 (4-1, 4-2, 5-9, and 7-4) in games, to clinch their 4th overall German championship.

Great Britain:
Another year, another consecutive championship for the London Mets, who swept the Essex Arrows in a best-of-three championship series. It is their 10th consecutive championship, and its 13th overall.

Hungary:
The 2026 Hungarian championship series was a repeat of last year. The Obuda Warriors and the Rascals faced each other in a best-of-three series in which the latter was swept by the Warriors.

Ireland:
The championship series in Ireland was a repeat of last year. The Greystones Mariners took on the Dublin Spartans in a best-of-three series. After both teams won a game each, it all came down the third game that was won 5-4 by the Mariners, for their 6th overall championship.

Italy:
A new champion in Italy. Even though the same teams as last year faced each other in the Italian Championship Series, Italy has a new champion. In a best-of-seven series, Parmaclima beat San Marino 4 – 1 in games, out scoring their opponent 46 – 25. It was Parmaclima’s 12th overall championship.

Lithuania:
Kaunas Lithuanica three-peated as Lithuanian champions as they finished on top of the standings with a one-game lead over BK Vilnius in the championship round. Kaunas Lithuanica finished the first part of the season unbeaten with a 12-0 record.

Netherlands:
Another year, another championship for Curaçao Neptunus. In a best-of-seven series, Neptunus swept Amsterdam Pirates. It was Neptunus’ 22nd overall championship.

Norway:
Every year, the Norwegian championship is decided in just one game. Just like last year, Vålerenga Baseball faced the Kristiansand Suns. From the first inning, Vålerenga took a 2-0 lead deep into the game, adding one run in the eighth, before Kristiansand scored twice in the ninth. But Kristiansand’s offensive aspirations stranded, so Vålerenga clinched their second Norwegian title.

Poland:
For the change, a different champion in Poland. Not Stal Kutno, not Silesia Rybnik. This year, Barons Wroclaw bested Stal Kutno 3-1 (1-3, 8-3, 7-4, and 10-4) in a best-of-five series to win its first championship since 2020 and its second overall.

Portugal:
The Portuguese championship series was played between C.D. Feirense and Crusaders Cascais. C.D. Feirense swept their opponent 2-0. Crusaders Cascais didn’t stand a chance as they were swept aside 21-4 and 16-2.

Russia:
RusStar Sharks repeated as the Russian champions. In a best-of-five series, RusStar beat Muscovite 3-1. After losing game 1, 10-0, RusStar bounced back and won the next three games (9-4, 14-5, and 4-2). It was RusStars 6th overall championship.

Serbia:
The usual suspects in the Serbian championship series: Beograd 96 and Novi Sad Baseball. After winning the Serbian cup, Novi Sad swept Beograd 96 3-0 to win their first-ever Serbian baseball championship.

Slovakia:
Another championship Series between Angels Trnava and Apollo Bratislava. Trnava pulled off a surprising win in game one, but didn’t stand a chance in the following 3 games: 6-1, 1-7, 0-8, ,and 1-9. It was the 15th overall championship for Apollo Bratislava.

Spain:
The Tenerife Marlins won the Spanish championship by sweeping its arch rivals Astros Valencia 3-0. It was the Marlins’ 16th overall championship.

Sweden:
The Rättvik Butchers faced a different opponent than last year. Last years opponent, Sundbyberg Heat, was beaten by Karlskoga Bats in the semi-final. After Karlskoga beat Rättvik with a slim 3-2 margin in game 1, the Bats were no match for the Butchers in the following 3 games: 10-4, 14-4, and 9-1. For the Butchers, this was their seventh overall Swedish championship and their fifth in a row.

Switzerland:
In a best-of-five series, last years finalists faced each other again. It came down to the decisive fifth game in which Therwill Flyers beat the Zurich Barracudas 4-1 to three-peat and to clinch its 18th Swiss championship.

Ukraine:
After last years loss against their crosstown rivals, BioTexCom KNTU made it to the championship series again. Their opponent was Kiev baseball. In a best-of-three series, BioTexCom KNTU swept their opponent 9-2, 14-0 for their 31st championship.