The news was announced on the official CEV website through a special article by Federico Ferraro. It became clear that Naples, Modena, Turin, and Milan will host the "Italian" part of the Men's European Volleyball Championship in 2026. The competition will start on September 10 in Naples and will conclude with a final in Milan on September 27, 2026, when the new European champion will be crowned. He will directly qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Unique Opening in Naples
Following the tradition of spectacular open-air matches, the first match will take place in Piazza del Plebiscito in the center of Naples. A specially constructed arena will kick off the competition in Pool A.
After that, the matches of this group will continue in Modena ", a city with legendary status in Italian volleyball. The PalaPanini hall will host a series of elite matches, continuing its history as a true "temple of volleyball".
Key Matches in Turin
Four Round of 16 matches and two Quarterfinals will be played in Palavela, Turin ", a hall modernized for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, which has already proven its capacity for such events. These will be matches of great significance, as they will determine which teams will continue the battle for medals.
Grand Final in Milan
The semifinals and medal matches will be held in the new Arena Santa Giulia in Milan ", a futuristic facility currently under construction for the "Milan
Cortina 2026" Olympic Games. The triumphant final of EuroVolley 2026 will also be held there.
Bulgaria Also Among the Hosts
In addition to Italy, Bulgaria, Finland, and Romania will also host separate stages of the championship. The Bulgarian public will once again see the biggest stars of European volleyball, with Varna being among the cities where key elimination matches will be played.
The Voices of the Organizers
CEV President, Rocco Siciric, stated:
"With its rich experience in organizing major volleyball events and with four exceptionally emblematic cities, Italy is the ideal partner to host CEV EuroVolley 2026. I am convinced that we will create an unforgettable experience for players and fans."
The President of the Italian Federation, Giuseppe Manfredi, added:
"After the success in 2023, when we hosted both men's and women's events, we are once again ready to welcome the best of European volleyball. With the four chosen cities, we combine history, tradition, and modernity."
Historical Continuity
Italy has organized the CEV EuroVolley Men five times: in 1948 (the first edition), 1971, 2005, 2015, and 2023. Now the "Squadra Azzurra" will have the opportunity to host the championship for the sixth time and once again demonstrate its leading status on the continent.
