The Regional League, featuring Serbian, Croatian, and Montenegrin clubs, has been put on hold as the three national federations and their clubs failed to reach an agreement on a competition format for the 2025/26 season.
However, the Serbian and Montenegrin federations and clubs formed a new Water Polo Regional League (Vaterpolo regionalna liga), suitable for the clubs of both countries. The doors for the Croatian Federation and clubs remain open for future editions of the new league, the presidents of the WP federations of Montenegro and Serbia emphasized yesterday, after signing the contract to launch the competition officially.
The Premier League, featuring five Serbian and three Montenegrin clubs, begins on Friday. After 14 rounds in a double round-robin format, totaling 60 games, the top four teams will advance to the Final Four.
Unlike the previous league, the medal winners in the new competition will receive monetary prizes: the champion will earn €50,000, the runner-up will receive €30,000, and the third-place team will get €20,000. Sponsors will cover the expenses for the officials.
The fact that tells a lot about the league’s quality is that all eight clubs in the Premier League will compete in the European Aquatics competitions this season, with half of them participating in the Champions League (the national champions, Radnicki and Jadran, along with the runners-up, Novi Beograd and Primorac).Four clubs have previously won European trophies, and three have triumphed in the Regional League, which featured Croatian teams. Most clubs are entering the league with stronger teams than in the previous season.
There is one clear frontrunner for the title; however, many quality teams are also in contention for the trophy and medals. Therefore, what can be predicted with certainty is that there will be many exciting matches.
The First League, which will include seven Serbian and two Montenegrin clubs, is set to commence on Saturday.
2025/26 Premier League preview
KVK Radnicki
Founded in 2016 (as a successor of VK Radnicki, founded in 2012)
Most significant achievements: 2013 Euro Cup winner (as VK Radnicki); 1x Champions League runner-up (as VK Radnicki in 2014), 2x Regional League champion (2021 and 2025), 2x Serbian champion, 3x Serbian Cup winner.
If a club has seven reigning Olympic champions and some other great stars on its roster, it’s undoubtedly a heavy favorite in any competition. It was easy to guess that Radnicki is the frontrunner mentioned above.
Strahinja Rasovic won three Regional Leagues (with Radnicki in 2021 and 2025 and with Novi Beograd in 2022) Photo by KVK Radnicki
Radnicki, guided by the head coach of the Olympic champions, Uros Stevanovic, reshaped its team last summer, resulting in clinching the Regional League and Serbian Championships trophies, as well as a silver medal in the Euro Cup. This year, a new group of water polo stars arrived in Kragujevac (Prlainovic, Randjelovic, Dedovic, V.Rasovic, Vlachopoulos).
However, a favorite doesn’t always win. A competition isn’t interesting if everyone in advance knows which participant is going to clinch the trophy.
Games against Radnicki are expected to be the biggest challenges for the remaining seven clubs in the league. On the other hand, the Radnicki water polo players will likely find it difficult to secure easy points in most matches, as all their opponents will be particularly motivated to perform at their best against them.
Jadran Herceg Novi
Founded in 1922.
Most significant achievements: 1x Champions League runner-up (2004); 2x Regional League winner (2010 and 2011); 19x national champion; 17x national Cup winner.
Last season, Jadran finished in first place in the Regional League regular season but failed to capitalize on a home-field advantage at the Final Four, ultimately securing third place. Later, it won its 19th national championship title (the 13th in Montenegro) after a dramatic playoff final against Primorac.
The team is a well-balanced combination of experienced and young players. There are many Montenegrin national players at Jadran. This summer’s significant addition was Francisco Valera, the world champion. Young players, including several European U18 champions, are increasingly assuming more significant roles.
Strehinja Gojkovic, the MVP of the European U18 Championships has significant role in Jadran Photo by V.Ilic/Jadran HN
Jadran aims to excel in all competitions, and it will likely pose the biggest threat to Radnicki.
Novi Beograd
Founded in 2015
Most significant achievements: 3x Champions League runner-up (2022, 2023, 2025); 2x Regional League winner (2022 and 2024); 3x Serbian champion; 2x Serbian Cup winner.
Novi Beograd made its debut in the Regional League and the Champions League, quickly establishing itself as one of the favorites in both competitions. Last year, the club shifted its focus, began rejuvenating the team and left the role of the favorite to the others. This new squad reached the Champions League final and won the Serbian Cup.
This season, the team is even younger than the one that competed in the Final Four in Malta last Juny. However, the club’s management, coaches, and players emphasize that their ambitions remain high. Novi Beograd aims to maintain its competitiveness in all leagues and cups.
Captain Milos Cuk triumphed in the Regional League playing for Mladost (2019 and 2020) and Novi Beograd (2024) Photo by VK Novi Beograd
The club has retained several players with international experience, who can step up and take responsibility during crucial moments. Novi Beograd is a serious contender for a spot in the Final Four tournament, where anything is possible since only three games determine the outcome.
Sabac
Founded in 1990.
Most significant achievements: 2019 Serbian champion; 2019 Serbian Cup winner
In 2015, a new indoor pool was opened in Sabac, providing a significant boost to the development of water polo in the city. Step by step, Sabac joined the circle of the best Serbian clubs and won the “double crown” in 2019. At the same time,the club has focused significantly on developing its water polo school, making it one of the best in Serbia and the Balkans. A bright future lies ahead for Sabac.
However, the present is also good in terms of the senior squad. Most of the players on Sabac’s senior team have been playing together for several years. The club has made slight changes to the roster from season to season. Sabac always has “an extra player” in the stands at home matches. There are not many water polo teams that have played in Sabac and haven’t experienced a loss in this city.
Primorac
Founded in 1922.
Most significant achievements: 2009 Champions League winner; 2009 European Super Cup winner; 1x Champions League runner-up (2010); 4x national champion; 5x national Cup winner.
One of the biggest surprises in Champions League history was Primorac’s triumph in 2009. However, in the following years, the club in Kotor experienced a prolonged trophy drought. A few years ago, Primorac turned over a new leaf, ending Jadran’s domination in domestic competitions. In 2022, Primorac won the Montenegrin Cup, and in 2024, the club clinched its first national championship in 16 years. During the 2025/26 season, Primorac won the Montenegrin Cup again but lost to Jadran in the playoffs final.
Djordjije Stanojevic (Primorac) Photo by VK Novi Beograd
With Primorac’s resurgence, Montenegro again has two strong clubs capable of achieving good results in both the Regional League and European cups. The Kotor-based team is one of the few clubs in the Regional League that have already started the season. Last weekend, they finished at the top of Group A in the Champions League Qualifiers by defeating Novi Beograd in a penalty shootout in a crucial match. The results from the Belgrade tournament are a significant boost for Primorac, indicating that the team will enter the battle for a spot in the Regional League Final Four with realistic chances.
Crvena Zvezda
Founded in 1945
Most significant achievements: 2013 Champions League winner; 2013 European Super Cup winner; 4x national champion; 4x national Cup winner.
Crvena Zvezda is aiming for its first appearance in the Regional League Final Four, but the club’s ambitions extend beyond merely reaching the semifinals. This summer, the “Red Whites” were very active in the transfer market, signing nine new players. Most of these additions are returning players who were key contributors at their previous clubs over the past few seasons.
With a roster featuring a long list of experienced and successful athletes, on the roster, there is a promising outlook. The opening week’s derby match in the Regional League features an encounter between Novi Beograd and Crvena Zvezda, scheduled for Friday. For the first time, Novi Beograd will enter the match not as the favorite against Crvena Zvezda. We’ll see if Crvena Zvezda can demonstrate its full strength at the start of the season, as everything should fall into place at the right time.
Partizan
Founded in 1946
Most significant successes: 7x European champion; 2x European Super Cup winner; 1x Euro Cup winner; 1x Cup Winners’ Cup winner; 29x national champion; 26x national Cup winner, etc.
Partizan has secured a special place in the history of water polo a long time ago. However, the club has faced several challenges in recent years. Fortunately, it seems that this prominent name in world water polo is beginning to find its footing again. Partizan has been overcoming a significant crisis and is now laying new foundations for a stable club.
Currently, the club’s priorities are focused on its water polo school. The first team is quite young and does not carry the burden of the favorites in the 2025/26 Regional League. This youth might actually work to Partizan’s advantage. Among the leading players are boys who are still part of Serbia’s junior and youth national teams, having won medals at both European and world championships in their respective age groups. This season presents them with an opportunity to prove their potential and demonstrate that they can become the pillars of a strong club in the future. Partizan aims to return to a winning tradition across all competitions when the time is right.
Buducnost Podgorica
Founded in 2018
Buducnost Podgorica is the club with the shortest history in the Premier League and has yet to win a trophy in a senior competition. However, the club didn’t have many chances to clinch a trophy as it didn’t have a senior team until last summer. In 2024, Buducnost made its debut in the Montenegrin Championships and Cup and in the A1 Regional League.
The Podgorica-based club started a new chapter of its history very well, winning 3rd place in its debut in the Montenegrin Championships, thus qualifying for the Euro Cup Group Stage. This year, the club’s ambitions have risen. The club signed a few reinforcements, including the Montenegrin veteran Darko Brguljan and the best scorer of the 2025 World Champion, Rauel D’Souza (Canada). Reaching the Final Four will be a difficult task, but the team from the Montenegrin capital can cause trouble for the favorites.
Premier League, Round 1, schedule
Friday, September 26
Novi Beograd – Crvena Zvezda at 19:00
Saturday, September 27
Sabac Elixir – Primorac at 19:00
Radnicki – Buducnost One at 20:00
Monday, September 29
Jadran M:tel HN – Partizan at 19:00
Visit the Premier League’s page on Total Waterpolo Arena for the live scores, schedule and standings
First League, Round 1, schedule
Saturday, September 27
Budva BDR – Cattaro at 18:30
NBG Vukovi – Vojvodina at 19:45
Nais – Valis Vega at 20:00
Sunday, September 28
Beograd – Stari Grad at 20:45
Zemun bye
Visit the First League’s page on Total Waterpolo Arena for the scores, schedule and standings
