Champions League final stadiums: All the iconic venues to ever host Europe’s premier club match

As the largest club tournament in Europe and the world, the Champions League has seen its fair share of classics over the years. And of course, none of this would have been possible without the iconic Champions League stadiums being used to host such intense matches.

While we all appreciate the quality of the teams, players, and exquisite football that the competition's final has shown in the past, we're focusing on the stadiums that have hosted them.

Most importantly, apart from the group stages and knockout out matches in the UEFA Champions League, the venues hosting the finals are closely scrutinized. Football fans are always curious to see which stadium will be handed the ultimate test.

Champions League final stadiums overview

So, with so many stadiums to choose from in Europe, we have a feeling that you will have some fond memories of some of the games and stadiums we’ll be talking about, so let’s dive right in.

Estadio da Luz – Portugal

The Estadio da Luz hosted the 2019/2020 Champions League final between Bayern Munich and PSG, and also the 2013/14 final between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

The stadium itself is pretty well equipped for an event of this magnitude too, which is probably why it has been picked twice. Having been built in 2003 for a total of €162 million, it’s an excellent purpose-built venue that supports almost 65,000 spectators at full capacity.

The two finals that this stadium hosted in the last 10 years have been quite different. In the 2013/2014 final, Real Madrid destroyed Atletico Madrid by 4-1, even though the game went to extra-time. This was a game full of intensity, and it was played in front of around 61,000 fans.

This stood in stark contrast to when in 2020, the Champions League Final was played behind closed doors due to the Covid pandemic. Those watching at home saw Bayern Munich ultimately emerge as the winners with a narrow 1-0 victory over PSG.

Metropolitano Stadium – Spain

The 2018/2019 final was the only time in the last 10 years that two English teams competed for this trophy. Of course, this game was played between Tottenham and Liverpool, with 63,000+ spectators in attendance at the Metropolitano Stadium.

Although this final consisted of two English teams, the stadium is the home of Atletico Madrid. And in our opinion, out of the several Champions League final stadiums we’ve mentioned here, this one has one of the best atmospheres when the capacity reaches almost 100%.

This stadium has a rather unique history too, as it was completely closed from 2004 to 2017, before being renovated for the cost of around €240 million. It would seem that the renovations caught the right people's attention too, as it hosted this magnificent spectacle just two years later.

NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium – Ukraine

Ukraine has had its fair share of turbulence over the years, although for the 2017/2018 final, the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium was selected to host the Champions League final. While the stadium allowed for a maximum capacity of just over 70,000, it supported over 100,000 fans back in 1977 when Bayern Munich played Dynamo Kyiv.

In 2018, Real Madrid managed to dispatch Liverpool by a score of 3-1. Of course, this was the infamous game where Ramos took the in-form Mo Salah out of the game by dragging him to the ground by the shoulder. Intentional or not, this has been a huge topic of discussion ever since the game, and it’s one of the most-talked-about Champions League moments of the last decade.

The match is also famous for all a couple of the goals scored by Real Madrid on the night. The first one, scored by Karim Benzema, was one of the most freakish goals in UCL final history while the second, scored by Gareth Bale, was a breathtaking overhead kick that is regarded by many as the best UCL final goal of all time.

Principality Stadium – Wales

Depending on which team you were rooting for in the 2016/2017 final, you would have felt absolute ecstasy or despair following the conclusion of this one. Real Madrid fans saw Los Blancos mount the first successful title defence since 1990 while Juventus fans saw their side lose their fifth consecutive Champions League final since lifting the coveted trophy back in 1996.

While Mario Mandzukic did score one of the best goals ever seen in a Champions League final, it still wasn’t enough to knock Real Madrid their game. The stadium too was the perfect fit for this game. The Welsh venue saw more than 65,000 pour through the doors for this game, and it was the very first time that a Champions League final was played with a closed roof.

San Siro – Italy

The 2015/2016 final marked the start of a historic Real Madrid run, although we didn’t know it at the time. When Real Madrid managed to wriggle past Atletico Madrid at San Siro, the stage was set for the hat-trick of Champions League trophies that the club lifted.

This drama-filled cross-city clash saw Real Madrid win by 5-3 on penalties, and with almost 72,000 fans in attendance, we can only imagine the nerves when taking those final shots. With that said, it must have been magical at the same time, to win at one of the biggest football stadiums in the whole of Europe!

Olympiastadion – Germany

Apologies if you are a Juventus fan, but the team was eventually outclassed in the 2014/2015 final, losing to Barcelona by a 3-1 scoreline. This game was played at the Olympiastadion in Germany, and with goals from Alvaro Morata, Luis Suarez and Neymar, Barcelona managed to destroy the Italian squad with fierce and skilful play ultimately. The  70,000+ strong crowd made it one of the best-attended finals over the last 10 years.

We must say, the Olympiastadion was a great pick over the other Champions League final stadiums that could have hosted the game. This was backed up by the fans' noise, the pitch's quality, and the event's general organisation too. It was just magnificent, and we wouldn’t be surprised if the stadium is picked to host such an event in the future.

Wembley Stadium – England

Wembley has played host to the Champions League final on eight occasions, more than any other venue. The best club side of all time, the 2009 Barcelona team, had their crowning moment at the venue when they beat Man Utd 3-1 thanks to goals from Pedro, Messi and Villa.

Two years later, the final was held here again when Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund faced off. When you match up two sides from the same country it always makes for a special game, and this one lived up to expectations. It wasn’t a super high-scoring game, as Bayern ultimately won the game 2-1, but it was full of flair and drama.

The most recent Champions League final at Wembley was between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. Unfortunately, the Yellow and Blacks lost out again.

Allianz Arena – Germany

This was the only final in the last decade where one team had the chance to play at their home stadium. During the 2011/2012 final, Bayern Munich made the final and received the honour of playing in front of home fans at the Allianz Stadium.

In this contest, Bayern Munich played the in-form Chelsea, and while the game went right down to the wire with penalties needed to find a winner, Chelsea ultimately won the game. The Allianz Arena recorded 62,500 attendees for this game, which made the atmosphere electric, especially since there was a German team involved.

And when we look back at some of our favourite Champions League final moments, we cannot ignore Didier Drogba’s chipped penalty during the shootout. Not only was this incredibly daring, but to have the courage and the audacity to do that in the first place was nothing short of legendary.

Santiago Bernabeu – Spain

Since Wembley hosted the 2010/2011 final, we will run through a bonus game here, highlighting the 2009/2010 final between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich. This stadium has been entertaining football fans since 1947, and with it being the home of Real Madrid, it’s a stadium that is just perfect for a Champions League final.

This game saw an impressive number of fans flock to the ground to watch the clash too, with more than 73,000 being the official count. As it happens, Inter Milan managed to beat Bayern Munich in this one by 2-0, which naturally boosted the already inflated ego of Jose Mourinho!

This is one of the reasons why we loved this final so much, however, as it was quite amazing to see Mourinho demonstrate his managerial abilities to achieve such success with Inter Milan. This was all done despite Bayern Munich being the overwhelming favourites.

Recent Champions League Finals

Here is a list of the recent UCL finals, where they were played, the season and who won.

Champions League Final Stadiums – Key Records

Record for hosting most finals

Out of the various Champions League finals stadiums we’ve discussed here, there is one that holds the title of the very best, and that Stadium is Wembley. Historically, this stadium has paved the way for the highest attendance figures for Champions League finals, and it has hosted the finals a total of 7 times!

Then again, when you consider the size and stature of a stadium like Wembley, it’s hard for other stadiums in Europe to even compete, and we anticipate that Wembley will host many more finals in the future.

The club with the most Champions League titles

Surprise-surprise, the club with the most Champions League victories of all time is Real Madrid. These guys have won the Champions League an incredible 13 times, with the nearest team being Inter Milan, who has just 7 in comparison.

Perhaps more impressively, 4 of Madrid’s titles have also come in the last decade, largely thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo and others. However, since the previous title came in 2018, you could say that Real Madrid is now on a drought of Champions League success by their standards!

Who will host the 2025/26 Champions League final?

Puskas Aana in Budapest, Hungary will host the 2025/26 Champions League final, as announced by UEFA. This event will mark the 71st season of the Champions League, organized by the Union of European Football Associations, and will also be the 34th season of the tournament.

The date for the 2025/26 UCL final is set for 30 May 2026. However, this date may change depending on how the European football season unfolds, among other factors.

The Puskas Arena is one of the most iconic football stadiums in Europe, with a capacity of 67,000, it meets all FIFA and UEFA requirements. The Puskas Arena was built to replace the Ferenc Puskas Stadium, which was demolished in 2016. Both stadiums are named after Hungary's national football hero, Ferenc Puskás.

Apart from the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League finals, Puskas Arena has hosted some of the biggest football finals, including the 2020 UEFA Super Cup final, 2020/21 European Championship, Champions League and Europa League matches. In 2023, Puskas Arena hosted the Europa League final between Sevilla and Roma.

The new Champions League format is already taking shape with 36 teams competing for a place in the playoffs in the 2024/25 season. The  2024/25 UCL final will be at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.