Fans to expect high-quality competition in CEV Cup and Challenge Cup 2027

Apart from the elite CEV Champions League Volley, Wednesday’s draw held at the iconic Broadcasting Centre Europe (BCE) involved also the CEV Cup and CEV Challenge Cup – with more than 200 teams altogether registered for participation across the three European competitions for the 2026/2027 season. Two of the 2026 winners remain in contention for back-to-back titles – Italy’s Gas Sales Bluenergy PIACENZA in the #CEVCupM, and Megabox group VALLEFOGLIA in the women’s Challenge Cup. 

The women’s CEV Cup will crown a new champion in the spring of 2027 since 2026 gold medallists Galatasaray Daikin ISTANBUL of Türkiye have received a wildcard to contest the group stage of the elite #CLVolleyW. The competition will start with the 16th Finals – where 16 teams were previously seeded as per the latest relevant European Ranking, and which will feature also the losers from the CEV Champions League early rounds. 

In the men’s CEV Cup, there is an additional round – the 32nd Finals – involving five teams plus a bye. The three winners will progress to the 16th Finals where another 16 teams had been previously seeded, always in compliance with the relevant ranking. 2026 winners PIACENZA will be playing one of the teams progressing from the 32nd Finals to start their title defence. 

As in previous years, in the quarterfinals the four remaining teams from those contesting the CEV Cup will be joined by the third-placed teams from the #CLVolley pool stage failing to progress to the knockout stage of that competition. 

In the CEV Challenge Cup, the large majority of the participating teams will start their journey from the 32nd Finals, playing home and away matches whose winners will progress to the 16th Finals where nine women’s and 11 men’s teams had been seeded. From there, their journey will continue to the 8th Finals and all the way through to the Finals scheduled for the spring of 2027. With Allianz MILANO failing to qualify for the European Cups altogether, a new champion will emerge in the #CEVChallengeCupM. On the other hand, Megabox group VALLEFOGLIA will be trying to retain the title which they sensationally claimed earlier this year in what was their first-ever appearance in the CEV European Cups. 

You can watch the full draw here: