site.btaBulgaria to Co-host 2026 Men's European Volleyball Championship

Bulgaria will co-host the 2026 Men's European Volleyball Championship, the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) said Monday. The championship will take place in four countries, only two of which are known at the moment: Bulgaria and Romania.

Bulgaria will host matches of the premier competition for men’s national team up until the quarterfinals included, just as the country did in 2023. Back then, the matches were held in Varna (on the Black Sea).

CEV President Aleksandar Boričić said: “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."

Bulgarian Volleyball Federation President Lubomir Ganev is quoted as saying 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!” he said.