The month of May promises to be an equally busy period in the handball calendar, with a wide range of competitions spanning all age categories and continents, providing drama in every step of the way: from decisive qualification battles to younger age category events shaping the future of the sport worldwide.

The road to Germany 2027 takes centre stage in May, as the European Qualification Phase 3 for the 2027 IHF Men's World Championship reaches its climax between 11 and 17 May. 

Ten European berths are up for grabs as 20 nations go head-to-head in home-and-away ties across the continent, each determined to join the six European teams - Germany, Denmark, Croatia, Iceland, Portugal and Sweden - who have already secured their places at the EHF EURO 2026. 

The Phase 3 pairings promise high drama and decisive moments, with traditional handball powerhouses facing crucial double-headers that will define the continent's presence at the 2027 World Championship. Powerhouses like France, Spain or Norway will aim to secure safe passage, while more balanced doubleheaders like the ones between Netherlands and Greece and the one between Switzerland and Italy can also provide surprises.

In the Americas, the NACHC Men's Championship will be held from 12 to 16 May in Moline, United States, crowning the top men's national teams in North America and the Caribbean while also providing crucial competitive preparation ahead of the 2027 World Championship cycle. The winner of the competition, which will see USA, Canada, Greenland and Mexico, playing will qualify for the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship.

The IHF's global development programme remains active in May, with the Men's IHF Trophy Africa Zone V taking place from 4 to 8 May in Ethiopia, followed by the Men's IHF Trophy Africa Zone II from 12 to 16 May in Mali.  Both events form part of the IHF Trophy pathway, offering member federations in Africa structured international competition and a route towards the continental phase. The Men's IHF Trophy Africa Zone VII is scheduled between 27 and 31 May.

The month opens in style with the draw for the 2026 IHF Men's and Women's Beach Handball World Championships, scheduled for 2 May in Zagreb, Croatia.  The draw will be streamed live on the IHF YouTube channel and will set the group stage fixtures for 32 nations competing at Jarun Lake from 23 to 28 June - 16 in the men’s competition and 16 in the women’s competition.  

One week later, on 8 May, the draw for the 2026 IHF Women's U18 World Championship will also take place at the IHF House in Basel, as the countdown begins for the first-ever edition of the competition to be staged in Romania.

Asia makes its mark on the May calendar with two major competitions in Kazakhstan. The 1st Asian Women's U16 Handball Championship and the 8th Asian Women's Club League Handball Championship will both run from 7 to 16 May, with the U16 event marking a historic first edition for this age category at continental level. The event serves as qualification event for the 1st IHF Women's U16 World Championship. The Men's IHF Trophy Asia Zone III will also take place from 17 to 21 May in Pakistan.

At club level, the EHF Finals Women 2026 will bring the curtain down on the EHF European League Women 2025/26 season with the final weekend on 16–17 May in Dijon, France, featuring one French, one Hungarian, one German and one Danish side competing for the title. JDA Bourgogne Dijon Handball, MOL Esztergom, Thüringer HC and Viborg HK are the teams fighting for the title. The EHF Finals Men 2026 will also take place at the end of the month, with the participating teams decided next week. The competition is scheduled in Hamburg, Germany, on 30 and 31 May.

The month closes with two prestigious African club competitions. The 33rd Men's and Women's African Super Cup is scheduled for 25–26 May, followed immediately by the 42nd Men's and Women's African Cup Winners' Club Championship from 28 May to 6 June.