Get set for the return of the Revierderby between Borussia Dortmund and Schalke
With Schalke back in the Bundesliga after three years away, the 2026/27 season marks the long-awaited return of one of the world’s biggest games, as the Revierderby against Borussia Dortmund takes pride of place on the fixture list once again.
The dates of the derby were revealed ahead of the full fixture list as part of our City Challenge. Fans will have to wait until Matchday 12 (4-6 December 2026) for the first Revierderby in Gelsenkirchen. The return fixture in Dortmund will then be on Matchday 29 (9-11 April 2027).
The last Revierderby was on 11 March 2023, when Dortmund twice went ahead at the Veltins-Arena through Nico Schlotterbeck and Raphaël Guerreiro, but Marius Bülter and Kenan Karaman hit back each time for Schalke to earn a draw.
Watch: Highlights of the most recent Revierderby
It was yet another pulsating derby in Germany’s industrial heartland, keeping fans of the Royal Blues, Black and Yellows supporters, and neutrals on the edge of their seat.
Alas, from a Schalke perspective, that point did little to help their cause. Although they managed to climb out of the bottom three four games from the end of the season, the Gelsenkirchen club succumbed to their fifth Bundesliga relegation - just 12 months on from their most recent return to the big time.
Watch: Our Bundesliga Original Series delving into football in the Ruhr Valley
There was no immediate bounce back this time, with Schalke finishing 10th and then 14th in Bundesliga 2 before finally claiming top spot and promotion under Miron Muslić last season.
“The whole region is already waiting for Bundesliga fixtures. There’s nothing greater than playing at 3.30pm on a Saturday,” said club captain and Bundesliga 2 Player of the Season Karaman after everything was wrapped up.
Watch: Schalke back where they belong
Two of those Saturday afternoon fixtures tend to be reserved for the Revierderby, which fans from both sides will be looking out for as the 2026/27 fixtures are announced.
That includes Dortmund coach Niko Kovač, who expressed his pleasure at Schalke’s return and their development under Muslić: “Schalke belong in the Bundesliga. I warmly congratulate them, including my coaching colleague. Next season we’ve got the Revierderby.”
The first derby of 2026/27 will be the 101st in the Bundesliga. BVB hold the slight edge in this historically tight fixture with 37 wins to 32, plus 31 draws. But the so-called ‘mother of all derbies’ is not built on stats. It’s all about moments that supporters and even neutrals remember years on from the event.
Undoubtedly one of the most iconic from the modern era was the draw in 2017, when Dortmund took a 4-0 lead in the first half at Signal Iduna Park, only for Schalke to hit back in the second with four of their own, culminating in Naldo’s header and celebrations in added time.
Watch: Highlights from the unforgettable 2017 derby
Or you can go back to 1970 and the time that Schalke’s president borrowed lions from the local zoo to greet the teams, just a few months on from an equally infamous incident when a dog bit Schalke goalkeeper Friedel Rausch on the backside.
Watch: Lions on derby day in Gelsenkirchen
The Revierderby has produced huge moments throughout the Bundesliga’s history. It’s the sort of fixture where the form book very much goes out of the window.
Dortmund may be the favourites on paper going into this season as potential title contenders, while Schalke have the boost of promotion behind them but need to find their feet back in the top flight. Absolutely anything can happen in these two games.
The Revierderby is back. Mark those calendars and make sure you don’t miss it!
