This past weekend, Albanian Volleyball Federation (FSHV) in Tirana, Albania, made a grand celebration marking the 80th anniversary since the establishment of the Federation.
The festivities were organised to honour eight decades of continuous development and contribution to volleyball in Albania and the wider Balkan region. Among the distinguished guests were leaders and officials from the international volleyball community, along with national authorities and partners from across Europe.
The ceremony was highlighted by a keynote address from CEV President Roko Sikirić and BVA dignitaries, who paid tribute to the Federation’s achievements, its role in nurturing young talent, and its commitment to promoting volleyball at all levels. The celebration also reflected on Albania’s successful organisation of regional and age-group competitions in recent years, including events delivered in partnership with neighbouring countries.
Representing the Balkan Volleyball family, representatives of volleyball federations Montenegro, North Macedonia and Kosovo attended galla ceremony.
Their presence underscored the strong unity and collaboration among Balkan federations, as well as shared dedication to the sport’s growth throughout the region.
During the event, FSHV President Erlind Pëllumbi received special recognition for his leadership, and all guests reaffirmed their commitment to supporting volleyball development across the Balkans and beyond.
The Balkan Volleyball Association congratulates the Albanian Volleyball Federation on this remarkable milestone and looks forward to many more years of cooperation, achievement, and progress in the sport.
The first round of the U18 Women’s Zonal Qualifiers for the 2026 CEV European Championship will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria, from 13 to 17 January 2026, bringing together some of the most promising young volleyball talents from the Balkan zone.
Organised by the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation, the tournament will be held at the Hristo Botev Hall, with seven national teams competing for a place in the next stage of the qualification process: Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Serbia, Kosovo, Türkiye and Montenegro.
Competition Format and Pools
The teams have been divided into two pools. Pool A consists of Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo and Montenegro, while Pool B features Türkiye, Serbia and Romania. Following the pool phase, teams will advance to crossover semifinals, classification matches and the final, which is scheduled for 17 January.
Due to the different number of teams in each pool, additional classification matches will be played to determine the overall standings, including a match for 5th place on 16 January.
Match Schedule Highlights
The tournament will open on 13 January, with Greece facing Montenegro, followed by Bulgaria vs. Kosovo and Romania vs. Türkiye. The pool phase will continue through 15 January, while the decisive crossover matches and semifinals are scheduled for 16 January. The final match, which will crown the tournament winner, will be played on 17 January at 15:30 local time.
High Stakes on the Road to the European Championship
The importance of this tournament goes far beyond the trophy. The team finishing first in the final standings will qualify directly for the CEV U18 Women’s European Championship 2026, which will be hosted by Latvia and Lithuania. Meanwhile, the next four teams in the overall ranking will continue their European journey in the second round of qualifications, keeping their hopes of continental participation alive.
With qualification on the line and Europe’s biggest youth stage within reach, the Sofia tournament promises high-level competition, intense matches and a valuable international experience for the next generation of Balkan volleyball stars.
1st Round Zonal Qualifications U18 Women European Championship 2026
The first round of the Zonal qualifiers for the U18 Men’s European Volleyball Championship has concluded in Podgorica, with Bulgaria emerging as the tournament winners.
In the final match, Bulgaria defeated Serbia to claim direct qualification for the European Championship. Despite the loss, Serbia advanced to the second round of qualification, where they will continue their campaign for a place at the continental tournament.
Alongside Serbia, the national teams of Türkiye, Montenegro, and Romania also secured progression to the second round of qualifiers and will continue their pursuit of qualification through the next phase of the competition.
Meanwhile, Greece and Kosovo ended their participation in the qualification process after the completion of the first round.
The second round of qualifiers will determine the remaining teams to join Bulgaria at the U18 European Championship.
MONTENEGRO – TÜRKIYE 1:3 (23-25, 25-15, 23-25, 21-25)
BULGARIA – SERBIA 3:1 (25-21, 25-27, 25-23, 25-13)