The 2026 Esiliiga is the 36th season of the Esiliiga. The season began on 5 March 2026 and is set to conclude on 8 November 2026.
Teams The league consisted of ten teams; seven teams remaining from the previous season, two teams promoted from the Esiliiga B, and one team relegated from the Meistriliiga.
The promoted teams were the 2025 Esiliiga B champions Maardu Linnameeskond and runners-up Nõmme United U21. They replaced the 2025 Esiliiga bottom two teams Tallinna Kalev U21 and Tammeka U21.
The relegated team was the 2025 Meistriliiga bottom-placed team Tallinna Kalev. They replaced the 2025 Esiliiga champions Nõmme United.
Stadiums and locations
TeamLocationStadiumCapacityElvaOtepääTehvandi StadiumFCI Levadia U21TallinnMaarjamäe StadiumFlora U21Lilleküla Training Ground IMaardu LinnameeskondMaarduMaardu LinnastaadionNõmme Kalju U21TallinnHiiu StadiumNõmme United U21Männiku StadiumTallinnLasnamäe Sports Complex StadiumTallinna KalevSportland ArenaViimsiHaabneemeViimsi StadiumWelcoTartuHolm Park
Personnel and kits TeamManagerCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsorElva Kaido Koppel Jasper ReilsonNikeUnibet, SportlandFCI Levadia U21 Sergei Mošnikov Romeo AanMacronViimsi KeevitusFlora U21 Ats Sillaste Joosep PaltsNikeZondacryptoMaardu Linnameeskond Aleksandr KulinitšGivovaNoneNõmme Kalju U21 Erik Šteinberg Igor SubbotinAdidasNoneNõmme United U21 Eero Maling Mark Villem MarmeiAdidasTonyBetTallinn Andrei Kalimullin Vladimir AvilovAdidasNoneTallinna Kalev Randin Rande Vadim MihhailovMacronNoneViimsi Andres Oper Arli Salm Karl Erich KaljuvereJomaAssa Abloy, PenosilWelco Alo Bärengrub Taijo TenisteAdidasHolm Bank
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in the tableIncoming managerDate of appointmentWelco Jaanus ReitelMutual consent9 November 2025Pre-season Alo Bärengrub22 December 2025FCI Levadia U21 Santi GarcíaEnd of contract4 December 2025 Dmitri Kruglov11 December 2025Viimsi Ivo LehtmetsResigned5 December 2025 Andres Oper Arli Salm8 December 2025Flora U21 Taavi ViikSigned by Vaprus19 December 2025 Ats Sillaste2 January 2026Tallinna Kalev Alo BärengrubSigned by Welco22 December 2025 Ivan Stojković22 December 2025Nõmme United U21 Risto SarapikResigned14 January 2026 Eero Maling16 January 2026Tallinna Kalev Ivan Stojković26 April 20266th Randin Rande26 April 2026FCI Levadia U21 Dmitri KruglovContract terminated2 June 202610th Sergei Mošnikov2 June 2026Maardu Linnameeskond Deniss KovtunSacked10 September 20265th
League table
Results
Esiliiga play-off The eighth-placed team will face the third-placed team of the 2026 Esiliiga B in a two-legged play-off for the final place in the 2027 Esiliiga.
Awards Monthly awards MonthPlayer of the MonthManager of the MonthPlayerClubManagerClubMarch Kenlou LaasnerWelco Alo BärengrubWelcoApril Marten KukkonenFlora U21 Ats SillasteFlora U21May Moussa Félix SambeFCI Levadia U21 Andres Oper Arli SalmViimsiJune/July Kenlou LaasnerWelco Sergei MošnikovFCI Levadia U21August Dinārs EkhartsViimsi Deniss KovtunMaardu Linnameeskond
See also 2026 Meistriliiga 2026 Esiliiga B 2025–26 Estonian Cup 2026–27 Estonian Cup
References