The CEV EuroVolley Men will return to Bulgaria in 2026 with the Balkan country due to co-host matches of the premier competition for men’s national team up until the quarterfinals included – just as it did in 2023. Bulgaria has established itself as a real Volleyball hotspot and local as well as international fans can look forward to yet another majestic showdown featuring the top teams from across the continent in about two and a half years’ time. As it happened last year, Bulgaria will be co-hosting one pool, four 8th Final matches and two quarterfinals.
The success story written by the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation and their partners already includes a series of memorable chapters – such as the 2015 edition of EuroVolley Men when Team France were crowned European champions for the very first time in history in front of a sellout crowd at the iconic Arena Armeec in Sofia. Only three years later, Bulgaria co-hosted the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship together with Italy – and in 2021, despite the many constraints brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, CEV EuroVolley Women matches were held with much success in the city of Plovdiv.
Bulgaria joined forces with Italy, North Macedonia, and Israel to deliver a record-breaking 2023 edition of CEV EuroVolley Men and this elite competition will return to the Balkan country in 2026 too, thereby providing the ‘Lions’ with the home-court advantage and international fans with a taste of what Bulgaria has to offer to Volleyball enthusiasts and tourists alike.
“We are delighted to see that Bulgaria seems to have caught the EuroVolley fever and that the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation wishes to host more such high-profile events. We are sure that our flagship championship lies in very good hands and that the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation will help us deliver a high-quality competition in a sustainable way, with a focus on fan engagement.”
Aleksandar Boričić
CEV President
“I am extremely proud and happy about the fact that we will co-host EuroVolley 2026. This tournament is special for everyone. For the first time, the European champion will automatically win a quota for the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028. That is why the governing council of our federation expressed their confidence in the proven Italian coach Gianlorenzo Blengini. His contract is long-term, and he will only work with our national team. On behalf of the federation, I can promise that all teams coming to Bulgaria will feel like they are visiting friends. In the last nine years, we have gained a lot of experience in organising major tournaments, and that is why we had the courage to apply again. Work starts today. We will still talk with the state and the municipalities, and together we will determine which city is most suitable to host. I am glad that Romania will also be one of the hosts. Last year, this was the case with North Macedonia. All this shows the good work of the Balkan Volleyball Association. We want our region to become one of the strongest in our sport!” says the President of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation, Mr Lubomir Ganev.
As stated by Mr Ganev, Bulgaria joins another already confirmed co-host for the CEV EuroVolley 2026 Men – Romania, with their Balkan neighbour due to deliver the matches scheduled for one of the four preliminary pools. The remaining co-organisers of Europe’s prime competition for men’s national teams will be announced in due course.
Source: CEV