Žilina and Kecskemét to host #EuroVolleyU16W in 2027!

Earlier this week, the CEV Board of Administration approved the application of the National Federations of Slovakia and Hungary to host the Final Round of next year’s #EuroVolleyU16W with matches involving 16 national teams due to take place in Žilina (SVK) and Kecskemét (HUN).

“I am very pleased with the fact that these two neighbouring National Federations are joining forces for the delivery of this age-group championship, thereby capitalising on previous such experiences from similar competitions and proving that Volleyball truly unites people beyond borders in a spirit of friendship, mutual support, and teamwork. We look forward to working together to provide the stars of tomorrow with a platform where to shine and showcase glimpses of their talent and class,” says CEV President Roko Sikirić. 

“I am truly delighted with the CEV decision to award us the organisation of the CEV U16 Volleyball European Championship 2027 Women together with Hungary. Since 2021, when Volleyball was going through a challenging period of stabilisation, we have submitted our first bid for a youth European Championship Final Round. Together with our Hungarian partners, we prepared a responsible, modern, and competitive project. We will act as the lead partner and host the final phase of the tournament, thereby welcoming Europe’s top talents of the upcoming generation,” said Marek Rojko, President of the Slovak Volleyball Federation (SVF) following the official decision.

The pool phase matches will take place in Žilina and Kecskemét, while the final stage of the competition – semi-finals and medal matches – will be held in Slovakia.

“We will stage the 2027 European Championship in the new sports hall of the University of Žilina, which confirms our long-term joint efforts to support the development of modern indoor sports infrastructure. Together with the VA UNIZA club, the City of Žilina and the University of Žilina, we will ensure the best possible conditions for the organisation of this prestigious event. Our partners, institutions, and the entire Volleyball community can see the level of trust and stability that Volleyball enjoys in Slovakia, even in these challenging times. Thanks to the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport and the Sports Support Fund, we are able to prepare such an international event in a rational and systematic way. This successful bid is also part of a broader strategic project for a potential bid to host the 2028 EuroVolley Women. The preparatory process has already started and we aim to finalise it within the next four months for approval by the SVF Conference in 2026,” added Rojko.

Following the successful co-organisation of youth European Championships in 2016 (U19 Women in Nitra and Győr), 2017 (U19 Men in Púchov and Győr) and 2021 (U16 Women in Nyiregyhaza and Humenne), as well as of the historic CEV EuroVolley 2019 Women, Slovakia and Hungary will once again join forces to deliver another continental event.

Gabriella Vatai, President of the Hungarian Volleyball Federation, said: “We received the decision with great joy and pride, as it confirms that our shared professional vision and the close cooperation established with the Slovak Volleyball Federation have been recognised at the international level. As we emphasised during the candidacy process, we regularly undertake the organisation of youth international events, as we firmly believe that the future of our sport lies in the younger generations. The opportunity to host the final stage of the European Championship we have now been awarded represents another important success in international sports diplomacy for both Hungarian and Slovak Volleyball. We are convinced that the 2027 tournament will not only be a high-level sporting event, but also an inspiring experience for the next generations.”