World’s Beach Volleyball elite to convene in Stare Jablonki for EuroBeachVolley 

A good share of the world’s Beach Volleyball elite will come together in a few weeks in Stare Jablonki, Poland, for the 2026 edition of the CEV EuroBeachVolley. The confirmed entry lists include a variety of Olympic, World, and European champions and medallists across both genders – so the fans will be treated to Beach Volleyball of the finest level come August 12-16! Overall, teams from 19 countries will compete in Stare Jablonki – the very same place where an array of major events, including the 2013 World Championships, did previously take place with much success. 

In the women’s competition, the list of medal contenders includes two-time European (2019 and 2022) and reigning World champions Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova of Latvia. Switzerland has always been a major force to reckon with – and following her return from maternity leave, two-time EuroBeachVolley winner Nina Brunner and her partner Tanja Hüberli reunite after missing the 2024 and 2025 editions. Also returning from having a daughter, Joana Mäder (Heidrich) is a former European champion too – even though she and her 2020 partner Anouk Vergé-Dépré have gone separate ways for quite some time now and they will contest the event in Poland with Leona Kernen and sister Zoé, respectively. Last year, Ukraine’s Tetiana Lazarenko claimed an unprecedented European title in Düsseldorf with Maryna Hladun. Lazarenko will compete in Stare Jablonki alongside Sofiia Kurnikova. Germany’s Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann won gold in 2024 in The Hague before finishing third on home soil last year. Poland with five teams has the largest contingent in the competition – followed by Germany with four and another four countries – Switzerland, Lithuania, Czechia, and Ukraine – with three apiece. A number of young, promising players will represent Poland on home soil together with Katarzyna Kropidlowska, formerly known as Kociolek, a silver medal winner in Moscow back in 2019. Fresh from competing at the Nations Cup Final in Budapest, Hungary’s Lilla Villam/Stefania Flora Kun will enjoy yet another unprecedented opportunity after receiving a wildcard to compete in Stare Jablonki. 

The men’s event is filled with superstars including the full podium from last year’s World Championships held in Adelaide, Australia, starting with reigning Olympic and World champions David Ahman and Jonatan Hellvig of Sweden. Their younger compatriots and training partners Jacob Hölting Nilsson and Elmer Andersson are the top-seeded team in the competition – with the top three completed by five-time EuroBeachVolley winners and titleholders Anders Mol and Christian Sørum of Norway. Last year’s sensational World Championship bronze medallists Téo Rotar and Arnaud Gauthier-Rat of France will compete in Stare Jablonki as well – as will 2024 European champions and recently crowned Nations Cup winners Martins Plavins and Kristians Fokerots of Latvia. For someone like Alexander Brouwer, returning to Stare Jablonki will be somehow special since this is where his career skyrocketed by securing a truly unexpected World title with former partner Robert Meeuwsen. Brouwer currently plays with another outstanding blocker, 204 cm tall Stefan Boermans. Poland will be represented by five teams in the men’s competition as well – with star names such as Bartosz Losiak and Piotr Kantor, former bronze medal winners in 2021 now playing together with Michal Bryl and Filip Lejawa, respectively. The entries also include a few more stellar names – such as Olympic silver medallist Nils Ehlers of Germany, now playing with youngster Lui Wüst, and 2023 World champions Ondrej Perusic and David Schweiner of Czechia, who have now gone separate ways. With Poland fielding five teams, the next largest contingents are those of France, Austria, Germany, Czechia, and Switzerland – with three duos apiece. 

The Drawing of Lots scheduled for tomorrow at 12:00 in Warsaw will set the stage for a world-class competition, allocating the 32 participating teams in each gender across eight pools for a mouth-watering opening stage of the continental championship. The event will be streamed live on the official CEV YouTube channel. 

Click here for the complete men’s entries. 

Click here for the complete women’s entries.