The Swedish men's handball champions (Swedish: Svenska mästare i handboll för herrar) have been determined by three different competitions. From 1931–32 until 1951–52, the title was decided by a straight knockout tournament known as Svenska mästerskapet ("the Swedish Championship").[1] After 1934–35, it was played parallel to the highest league, Allsvenskan. The tournament was contested by the winners of the Distriktsmästerskap ("Provincial Championships") until 1945–46. After that it was contested by all teams from the top division, all Provincial Champions and invited teams from lower leagues.[2] From 1952–53 until 1966–67, the title of Swedish Champions was awarded to the winners of Allsvenskan. Since 1967–68, the Swedish Champions have been determined by a playoffs competition between the highest-placed teams in the top league.[1] Until 2003–04, all playoff rounds were decided by a series of home and away matches. Between 2004–05 and 2017–18 the final was played as a single match at a predetermined venue.[3] Since 2018–19, the final is again played as a series.[4] The league changed its name to Elitserien in 1990–91 and to Handbollsligan in 2016–17.
Redbergslid have won the most Swedish Championships with 20, followed by Drott at 11. These two clubs completely dominated Swedish men's handball from 1983–84 to 2002–03, winning all titles but one. They are followed by Kristianstad at 9 titles and four clubs at 7 titles: Heim, Hellas, Majorna and Sävehof. Majorna have won the title the most times in a row, winning it five times from 1942 to 1946. Västerås IK and AIK are the only teams to have won the championship (in its pre-1952 knockout format) while playing outside the top flight. Drott have been runners-up 12 times, more than any other team. Teams from the Gothenburg area (Redbergslid, Heim, Majorna and Sävehof) have won 41 of 91 titles. Since 1978, clubs from southern and western Götaland have won 42 of 45 titles, the other three being won by Stockholm club Hammarby. The current champions are IFK Kristianstad.
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