Anticipation is at an all-time high for the CEV EuroVolley 2026 Women`s drawing of lots, set to take place this Saturday, 20:45 CEST, at the historic Castello Normanno-Svevo in Bari. This pivotal event officially kicks off the preparations for Europe`s leading volleyball tournament, as both participating teams and eager fans look forward to discovering the composition of the preliminary pools that will shape the path to glory.
The 2026 championship promises an electrifying atmosphere, hosted across four distinct nations: Türkiye, Czechia, Azerbaijan, and Sweden. Each host country is set to infuse its unique cultural essence into this premium European competition. With Istanbul designated as the venue for the final rounds, the quest for the European title will see teams navigate through preliminary stages held in Brno, Baku, and Gothenburg, with the continent`s top volleyball talents vying for advancement to the medal matches.
A total of twenty-four national teams have successfully qualified for the tournament. This impressive roster includes the four host nations, alongside reigning world and Olympic champions, Italy. The elite field is further bolstered by volleyball powerhouses such as Poland, France, Serbia, and the Netherlands. Other strong contenders completing the line-up are Bulgaria, Ukraine, Slovakia, Germany, Belgium, Romania, Slovenia, Hungary, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Austria, Portugal, Montenegro, and Latvia.
Every qualified team approaches the draw with a singular focus: securing a favorable pool to optimize their chances of progressing to the decisive final stages in Istanbul. Türkiye`s capital will host the concluding rounds for the third time in 23 years, having previously staged the medal matches in 2003 and 2019. The live-streamed draw, accessible on the European Volleyball YouTube channel, will feature the hosts initially selecting an accompanying team for their respective pools, followed by the allocation of the remaining nations into the various groups.
Finley Blackwood