The city of Ruse officially joined the race to host matches from the Men's Volleyball Nations League in 2026. The proposal was made during yesterday's session of the Municipal Council by Prof. Velizar Pavlov and received the full support of Mayor Pencho Milkov. The news was reported by the websiterusemedia.com
Arena Ruse - a hall with potential for world-class volleyball
Prof. Pavlov presented to the councilors his study, according to which 'Arena Ruse' ranks second in Bulgaria in terms of characteristics and infrastructural capabilities - right after Sofia's 'Arena 8888'. This, according to him, gives the city real chances to host matches from the most prestigious international tournament for national teams.
'The Nations League encourages holding matches in different cities and venues to promote volleyball to a wider audience. Ruse has all the prerequisites to fit into this concept,' emphasized Prof. Pavlov.
Bulgaria to host again - this time possibly for the Nations League too
In 2026, our country will host the Men's European Volleyball Championship, with matches to be held in Varna. However, no city has yet been chosen to host the Nations League 2026. So far, Burgas and Plovdiv have expressed interest, and now Ruse is preparing to join the race.
Support from local authorities and anticipation of a decision
Mayor Pencho Milkov expressed his unequivocal support for the initiative and announced that the municipality would send an official proposal to the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation (BVF). He recalled that the president of the BVF - Lyubomir Ganev - is a native of Ruse, which could be an additional plus in the process.
'Hosting such a prestigious tournament requires a serious financial commitment, so it is important that the decision is supported by the Municipal Council,' Milkov emphasized.
Prospects for the city and Bulgarian volleyball
If Ruse's bid is approved, the city will become part of the most elite world stage in volleyball. This would bring not only economic and tourism benefits to the region but also a strong impetus for the development and popularization of the sport among young people.
📌 The decision on whether Ruse will host part of the Nations League matches is expected to become clear in the first half of 2026, when FIVB and BVF will finalize the competition calendar.
