Budapest ready for sandy showdown: Drawing of Lots finalises pools for #BeachNationsCup Final
The stage is officially set for an unforgettable showcase of elite beach volleyball in the heart of the Hungarian capital! On the eve of the tournament, the Drawing of Lots (DoL) for the highly anticipated CEV Beach Volley Nations Cup Final 2026 has concluded, mapping out the route to continental glory for Europe's top national teams.
Women’s Pools
Pool A
Italy
Latvia
Czechia
Norway
Pool B
Hungary
Ukraine
The Netherlands
Slovenia
Men’s Pools
Pool A
Norway
Latvia
Israel
Portugal
Pool B
Hungary
The Netherlands
Italy
Türkiye
From July 16 to 19, the iconic Városliget (City Park) - nestled beautifully near Heroes' Square in downtown Budapest - will be transformed into a vibrant beach volleyball oasis. Eight nations per gender are set to clash in this unique, crowd-pleasing country-vs-country battle for the ultimate European crown.
The unique Nations Cup format
Inspired by tennis’s Davis Cup, the CEV Beach Volley Nations Cup tests the depth of Europe's top National Federations (NFs). Nations do not just field a single duo; they are represented by two distinct pairs who compete as a unified national team.
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Pool Play: The eight NFs are split into two pools of four. They will compete in a double-header country-vs-country format.
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The Single Elimination Bracket:
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The pool winners earn a direct ticket to the semi-finals.
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The second and third-placed nations face off in a crossover quarter-final to claim the remaining semifinal spots.
The Golden Set: If a country-vs-country tie finishes in a 1-1 deadlock, a high-stakes, 15-point Golden Set will determine the winner. Head coaches and delegation leaders can strategically mix and match players from both pairs for this ultimate tie-breaker.
Schedule of Play
Budapest is prepared for four consecutive days of dramatic, world-class beach volleyball action. Here is the official layout of the battle on the Hungarian sand:
Thursday, 16 July
Pool Phase - 10:00 - 19:00
Friday, 17 July
Pool Phase & Women's Quarterfinals - 09:30 - 19:30
Saturday, 18 July
Men's Quarterfinals & Women's Semifinals - 09:30-19:00
Sunday, 19 July
Men's Semifinals & Women's and Men's Finals - 10:00 - 19:30