Italy completes pool of CEV EuroVolley 2026 Men co-organisers

After the truly resounding and unprecedented success of the 2023 edition, whose economic and social impact has been estimated at some € 234 million (click here for further info), the CEV EuroVolley Men will return to Italy in 2026. Therefore, the reigning world champions will enjoy the opportunity to contest the continental championship on home soil for the second straight edition – with Italy joining forces with the previously confirmed co-organisers (Bulgaria, Finland, and Romania) to deliver the event all the way up until the medal matches. 

The CEV EuroVolley 2023 was such an enormous success that the Italian Volleyball Federation, with the full support of their national authorities, has decided to go for a repeat of the experience – thereby providing tens of thousands of fans from across the country and from abroad as well with yet another special opportunity to witness elite Volleyball and share an unforgettable event experience. 

“The decision to entrust the Italian Volleyball Federation with the delivery of this prestigious and large-scale event is testament to our continued successful cooperation and, at the same time, to their unwavering commitment to the advancement of our sport, which has made the Italian Volleyball Federation a leading actor in promoting and spreading the love for Volleyball across the globe,” says CEV President Aleksandar Boričić. “By appointing Italy as the co-organiser of the CEV EuroVolley 2026 Men, we wish to capitalise on the valuable legacy from the 2023 edition and take it to the next level.” 

“It has been a few very intense and gratifying days for us. Last week, we had the opportunity to meet with several ministers who had financially supported last year’s EuroVolley – which has been regarded unanimously as a resounding success. It is obvious that after sharing our forecasts at the National Olympic Committee this past summer and the follow-up report at the Ministry for Sport and Youth this past week, we have proven our diligence in taking on such a unique journey. With the support of the CEV, we did fulfil a dream – by delivering two continental championships across as many as nine cities, something which has gone down in the history books of our sport. With the very same spirit of cooperation, we are now ready to dive into this new, exciting adventure, whereby we will be trying to leave a further legacy for the growth of the sport,” said Italian Volleyball Federation President, Giuseppe Manfredi. 

Italy did host the very first men’s European Championship in 1948. Ever since the establishment of the CEV in 1973, the country has delivered the 2005 and 2015 editions (together with Serbia & Montenegro and Bulgaria, respectively) as well as last year’s highly successful event – with matches contested in Bologna, Perugia, Ancona, Bari, and Rome – next to those delivered by the other co-organisers Bulgaria, Israel, and North Macedonia. 

As it has happened since 2019, the continental championship will feature 24 teams – the four co-organisers plus eight directly qualified according to the final standing of the 2023 edition (Poland, Slovenia, France, the Netherlands, Serbia, Ukraine, Germany, and Portugal) plus another 12 who will be punching their ticket via the EuroVolley qualifiers scheduled for the summer of 2024 and 2025. The eventual winners of CEV EuroVolley 2026 will qualify for the Volleyball competition of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.