The format was changed from previous season in that the league was expanded from 12 to 16 clubs.
Due to the expansion, no teams were directly relegated following the 2008–09 season.
These were champions Istra 1961, runners-up Karlovac, third-placed Lokomotiva and fifth-placed Međimurje.
Fourth-placed team Slavonac CO had to step back from promotion after they were not able to find a suitable ground.
Below is the list of all the stadiums which are licensed to be used in the Prva HNL, along with their home clubs and the promoted clubs who secured rights to use them as "guests" until their own grounds have sufficiently been upgraded to host top-level matches.