Bulgarian volleyball enters 2026 with an impressive presence at the continental level. A total of five national teams will represent our country at European Championships – for both youth and senior men's and women's categories. This is a clear indicator of the depth of the academy and sustainable development in recent years.
Only in the U22 women's category will we not have representatives at a European Championship.

U18 Girls: Convincing Finish and a Ticket to the Finals

The most recent success came from Atanas Petrov's team, which yesterday qualified for the European Championship after a strong performance in the second qualification tournament in Sofia. In the decisive match, the Bulgarian girls defeated Greece 3:0 (27:25, 25:20, 25:18) and sealed their participation in the finals.
The championship will take place from July 1 to 12, 2026, in Latvia and Lithuania, where Bulgaria will be among the top 16 teams.

U18 Boys: Character and a Victorious Final against Serbia

Miroslav Zhivkov's boys also secured a spot at EuroVolley 2026 after an excellent performance in the qualification in Podgorica. Bulgaria went through a tough path – a 3:1 victory over Greece, a 2:3 loss to Serbia in the groups, but a decisive response in the eliminations.
In the semifinals, our team prevailed over Montenegro 3:0, and in the final, they took revenge against Serbia – 3:1, to win the tournament.
The finals will be held in Italy (Porto San Giorgio and Cisterna di Latina) between July 7 and 18.

U22 Men: Dominance in Samokov and a New Staff for the Finals

Another Bulgarian team will be on the European stage – the men under 22 years old. In the qualification in Samokov in 2025, the Bulgarians showed clear superiority against Spain, the Netherlands, and Norway.
At the final tournament in Albufeira, Portugal (June 29 – July 4, 2026), the team will be led by Daniel Peev with assistant Georgi Petrov.

Men and Women: The Elite Also on the European Map

In addition to the youth formations, our senior men's and women's national teams will also participate in the European Championships in 2026.
Thus, Bulgaria will have full coverage – from young talents to the highest level, which rarely happens on such a scale.
Accumulating international experience in different age groups creates prerequisites for a smoother transition to the men's and women's national teams. And in the context of hosting Euro 2026, the pressure and expectations will be even greater.
Bulgarian volleyball is entering a crucial period – with enough talent, but also with the need for this potential to be converted into results.