More than 60 million spectators attended matches across Europe’s five major football leagues during the 2025-26 season, with average attendance rising by 2.4% year on year to 34,402 per match.
However, the figures reveal very different growth opportunities across the continent. While the Bundesliga and Premier League are operating close to full capacity, LaLiga, Ligue 1 and Serie A still have significant room to improve how they utilise their existing stadium infrastructure.
Bundesliga and Premier League approach full capacity
The Bundesliga reclaimed top spot for average attendance, attracting 42,308 spectators per match following a 9.4% year-on-year increase. The Premier League followed closely with an average of 41,636 fans per game, its highest figure over the period analysed.
Germany’s growth was driven largely by structural changes within the league. The promotion of Hamburger SV and 1. FC Köln, two of the country’s best-supported clubs, replaced Holstein Kiel and VfL Bochum. Hamburg averaged 56,947 spectators last season, while Köln attracted 49,918 on average, demonstrating that both clubs retain strong fan demand regardless of the division in which they compete.
In England, infrastructure was the main driver of growth. Everton’s move from Goodison Park to the new Hill Dickinson Stadium increased the club’s average attendance from 39,173 to 52,132 spectators per match.
The increase of almost 13,000 fans per game generated approximately 240,000 additional tickets over the course of the season, accounting for more than half of the Premier League’s total attendance growth in 2025-26. It provided a clear example of how additional stadium capacity can unlock demand that already exists within a club’s fan base.
As a result, both leagues are now operating close to the limits of their existing stadium inventory. The Bundesliga finished the season with an average occupancy rate of 97.4%, narrowly ahead of the Premier League’s 97.1%.
Despite the Bundesliga’s 9.4% attendance growth, its occupancy rate improved by less than one percentage point. In the Premier League, occupancy actually slipped slightly from 97.6% to 97.1%, despite average attendance increasing by more than 1,200 spectators per match.
The message is clear: without additional capacity, there is limited room for further growth.
LaLiga, Ligue 1 and Serie A still have capacity to unlock
The picture is different across the other major European leagues.
LaLiga finished the season with an average occupancy rate of 81.4%, compared with 75.6% in 2022-23, while average attendance reached 30,952 spectators per match, up 5.5% over four years.
Ligue 1 recorded the strongest growth over the same period, with average attendance increasing by 15.7%, from 23,677 to 27,396 spectators, although the league experienced a slight decline during the most recent season.
Serie A was the exception in 2025-26. After surpassing an average attendance of 30,800 in each of the previous two seasons, attendance fell by 3.1% to 29,892 spectators per match.
For LaLiga, Ligue 1 and Serie A, the challenge is therefore less about building additional capacity and more about improving the utilisation of the infrastructure already available.
Major stadium redevelopment projects can also temporarily affect attendance figures. Barcelona’s absence from Spotify Camp Nou during its redevelopment has limited the club’s capacity, while Real Madrid is already benefiting from a renovated Santiago Bernabéu that combines increased capacity with a significantly stronger premium and commercial offering.
Different markets, different growth strategies
The milestone of more than 60 million spectators across Europe’s five major leagues underlines the continued strength of live football as a business.
However, the opportunities for future growth vary significantly from one market to another.
For Bundesliga and Premier League clubs, future growth will increasingly depend on expanding or developing stadium infrastructure and creating higher-value premium inventory. With occupancy rates already approaching 100%, simply attracting more fans will become increasingly difficult without additional seats.
For LaLiga, Ligue 1 and Serie A, the opportunity lies elsewhere: increasing occupancy, improving the matchday experience and modernising stadium products to make better use of existing capacity.
The next phase of growth in European football attendance will ultimately depend on how effectively leagues and clubs manage, develop and monetise their stadium assets to sustain long-term value.