The FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2026 is set to be the biggest edition of the tournament yet, bringing together the world’s top men’s and women’s national volleyball teams for nearly two months of elite international competition. Organised by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) and Volleyball World, the tournament will feature 18 teams in both the men’s and women’s competitions, continuing the expanded format introduced in 2025.
With matches scheduled across 17 host cities in 12 countries, record prize money on offer, and several of the world’s strongest volleyball nations in action, VNL 2026 promises to be one of the most significant events on the international volleyball calendar.
FIVB Volleyball Nations League 2026 Schedule
The Women’s Volleyball Nations League 2026 will begin on June 3 and conclude with the Finals on July 26. The Men’s Volleyball Nations League 2026 starts on June 10 and runs until August 2.
Women’s VNL 2026
- Preliminary Phase: June 3 – July 12, 2026
- Finals: July 22 – July 26, 2026
- Finals Venue: Macau East Asian Games Dome, Macau, China
Men’s VNL 2026
- Preliminary Phase: June 10 – July 19, 2026
- Finals: July 29 – August 2, 2026
- Finals Venue: Beilun Gymnasium, Ningbo, China
Notably, China will host both the men’s and women’s Finals, highlighting the country’s growing role in international volleyball.
VNL 2026 Format
The competition will once again feature 18 national teams in both the men’s and women’s divisions.
During the Preliminary Phase, each team will play 12 matches across three competition weeks hosted in different countries. Teams earn points based on match results, with the overall standings determining qualification for the Finals.
At the conclusion of the Preliminary Phase:
- The top eight teams qualify for the Finals.
- The Finals will follow a knockout format consisting of quarter-finals, semi-finals, and medal matches.
- The lowest-ranked team is relegated and replaced by the highest-ranked eligible non-VNL team for the following season.
The expanded 18-team format ensures greater global representation and provides more nations with opportunities to compete against the world’s elite volleyball programs.
Host Cities for Volleyball Nations League 2026
Volleyball World has confirmed that VNL 2026 will be played across 17 host cities spanning North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.
Women’s Host Cities
- Quebec City, Canada
- Brasília, Brazil
- Nanjing, China
- Ankara, Türkiye
- Pasig City, Philippines
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Belgrade, Serbia
- Hong Kong, China
- Kansai (Osaka), Japan
- Macau, China (Finals)
Men’s Host Cities
- Ottawa, Canada
- Brasília, Brazil
- Linyi, China
- Orléans, France
- Gliwice, Poland
- Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Belgrade, Serbia
- Chicago, United States
- Kansai (Osaka), Japan
- Ningbo, China (Finals)
The tournament’s extensive international footprint reflects volleyball’s rapidly growing popularity worldwide and allows fans across multiple continents to experience world-class action firsthand.
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New Teams and Players to Watch
One of the biggest stories heading into VNL 2026 is the debut of Ukraine in the Women’s Volleyball Nations League. Their inclusion marks a significant milestone for Ukrainian volleyball and adds another competitive nation to the expanded field.
In the men’s competition, Belgium enters the tournament following the Netherlands’ relegation from the previous season.
Fans can also expect strong performances from established volleyball powerhouses, including Italy, Brazil, Poland, France, Japan, Türkiye, China, and the United States.
Women’s Title Contenders
- Italy
- Brazil
- Türkiye
- Japan
- United States
- China
Men’s Title Contenders
- Poland
- France
- Italy
- Brazil
- Japan
- United States
Record Prize Money and Gender Equality
The FIVB and Volleyball World have reinforced their commitment to gender equality by maintaining equal prize money for both the men’s and women’s competitions. The champions of each tournament will receive $1 million (approximately ₹8.6 crore), while the runners-up will earn $500,000 (around ₹4.3 crore). Third-place teams will take home $300,000 (approximately ₹2.6 crore).
Prize money is also awarded during the Preliminary Phase, with teams earning financial rewards for every match played. This ensures that every fixture carries significance and further strengthens the Volleyball Nations League’s status as one of the most lucrative annual events in international volleyball.
Key Matchups to Watch
The opening week already features several exciting encounters. In the women’s competition, Canada will host matches in Quebec City featuring teams such as Japan, Germany, France, and Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Brasília will welcome a highly competitive pool featuring Italy, Türkiye, the Dominican Republic, Bulgaria, and the Netherlands.
On the men’s side, top-ranked Poland will begin its campaign in Linyi, China, while Ottawa hosts another strong pool featuring several of the world’s leading volleyball nations. With the Finals scheduled in Macau and Ningbo later this summer, the opening weeks of VNL 2026 are expected to set the tone for what promises to be a highly competitive season featuring the world’s best volleyball teams.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Women’s Volleyball Nations League 2026 begins on June 3, 2026, while the Men’s Volleyball Nations League 2026 starts on June 10, 2026.
The Women’s VNL 2026 Finals will take place in Macau, China, while the Men’s VNL 2026 Finals will be held in Ningbo, China.
A total of 18 teams will compete in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, continuing the expanded VNL format.
The champions of both the men’s and women’s tournaments will receive $1 million (≈ ₹8.6 crore) in prize money. The runners-up will earn $500,000 (≈ ₹4.3 crore), while the third-place teams will take home $300,000 (≈ ₹2.6 crore).
