2026 European Volleyball Championship – Bulgaria as Host
In September 2026, Bulgaria will be one of four host countries for the biggest European men’s volleyball tournament – the European Volleyball Championship (EuroVolley 2026). The tournament will take place from September 10 to 27, 2026, bringing together 24 of the strongest national teams in Europe to compete for the continental title. The main hosts of the championship will be Italy, Finland, Romania, and Bulgaria.
Bulgaria as Host
Following the decision of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation, the capital Sofia was designated as Bulgaria’s main host city for EuroVolley 2026, replacing the initially planned Varna. The change was made due to high public interest and the desire to give more fans access to the national team’s matches.
All matches of the Bulgarian national team during the championship will be held at Arena 8888 (also known as Arena Sofia) – the largest indoor sports arena in the country. It has a capacity of over 12,000 spectators for volleyball and is a proven venue for major international competitions.
In Sofia, not only will all of Bulgaria’s group-stage matches be played, but also some of the knockout-round games – including Round of 16 matches and at least one quarterfinal.
Bulgarian National Team Schedule in Sofia
Bulgaria is in Group B for EuroVolley 2026 and will play matches against the national teams of:
- North Macedonia
- Portugal
- Ukraine
- Izrael
- Poland (European champions)
These matches are scheduled to take place between September 9 and 16, 2026, at Arena 8888 in Sofia.
Significance of the Event for Bulgaria
Hosting the European Volleyball Championship is one of Bulgaria’s most significant sporting events in 2026. Besides giving fans the chance to support the national team live, it also draws international attention and recognition to the country on the volleyball stage.
Public interest is high – thousands of tickets have already been sold, including for key matches such as Bulgaria vs. Poland, demonstrating strong support for the national team and volleyball in the country.
