CEV confirms EuroVolley Men matches are moved from Varna to Sofia

After the sensational success of their team at the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship held this past month in the Philippines, Bulgaria has been experiencing a real Volleyball mania, with the players and coaching staff receiving a thunderous welcome home by dozens of thousands of fans. To capitalise on this wave of unprecedented enthusiasm and media attention, all parties have agreed to move the CEV EuroVolley 2026 Men matches originally due to take place in Varna to the iconic Arena 8888 in Sofia. 

This decision will allow a massive number of fans to follow the Pool B matches as well as the subsequent 8th Finals and quarterfinals fixtures involving the top four sides from Pool D, which is due to be contested in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The move paves the way for the return of the marquee national team competition in European Volleyball to the Bulgarian capital city, which previously hosted European Olympic qualifiers as well. 

Aleksandar and Simeon Nikolov, together with their teammates, have captured the attention and imagination of a whole nation after progressing to the gold medal match of the FIVB World Championship. This incredibly talented, yet still very young team will be able to perform before a truly massive home crowd in the late summer of 2026. The fixtures in the pool stage are incredibly intriguing – since Poland, the reigning European champions and bronze medal winners from the last World Championship, were drawn into Pool B together with up-and-coming teams such as North Macedonia, Ukraine, Portugal, and Israel. 

“The decision to move the CEV EuroVolley 2026 Men from Varna to Sofia was extremely difficult. Varna is the Volleyball capital of Bulgaria, and we have enjoyed many years of excellent cooperation with the city and its passionate fans. As you know, Varna successfully hosted the CEV EuroVolley 2023 tournament,” says the President of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation, Lubomir Ganev. “However, after our team’s incredible achievement in becoming World Vice-Champions, we had to make the best possible choice for the players and for the Bulgarian audience. In Sofia, we have the opportunity to play in front of 12,000 fans - the full capacity of the venue in a Volleyball setup. The Mayor of Sofia and all members of the City Council are also highly motivated to partner with us and with the CEV to deliver a truly remarkable European Championship. I am sincerely grateful to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Sofia Municipal Council, and the CEV for their support and cooperation throughout this process.” 

Previously known as Arena Armeec, the state-of-the-art facility in downtown Sofia can host some 12,000 fans – and it did so multiple times in 2015 when fans of the ‘Lions’ regularly filled it to full capacity as Bulgaria made it all the way to the semis and medal matches, before finishing the continental competition in fourth place. Opened in 2011, the impressive arena has become a symbol of Bulgaria’s sporting ambition and hospitality. With a seating capacity of over 12,000 spectators for Volleyball, state-of-the-art facilities, and proven experience in hosting top international events, Arena 8888 Sofia guarantees an unforgettable atmosphere for athletes and fans alike.
 
Over the years, the hall has hosted many flagship events, including the 2015 EuroVolley Men, the 2018 FIVB Men’s World Championship, the 2012 FIVB World League Finals, and several FIVB Volleyball Nations League tournaments. The arena has also been home to world and European championships in many other sports, as well as major concerts and cultural spectacles, confirming its status as the beating heart of Bulgarian sport and entertainment.
 
In 2026, it will once again shine on the continental stage – this time as the home of the Men’s EuroVolley, where passion, performance, and national pride will unite under one roof.

As previously announced, tickets for all venues and stages of the CEV EuroVolley 2026 will go on sale this coming November 7, 2025 (click here for further details). Make sure you mark your calendars and secure your spot to witness an unprecedented Volleyball show!