The excitement is mounting for the CEV EuroVolley 2026 Men`s Draw, scheduled to occur this Saturday at the historic Castello Normanno-Svevo in Bari, Italy, commencing at 20:45 CEST. This pivotal event will determine the pool stages for what is anticipated to be one of the most fiercely contested editions of the CEV EuroVolley Men, hosted across four nations: Italy, Bulgaria, Finland, and Romania.
Italy, as a primary host, will feature matches in Naples, Turin, and Modena, with the final rounds culminating in Milan`s prominent Arena Santa Giulia. Naples is set to make its EuroVolley debut with a spectacular open-air opening ceremony at Piazza del Plebiscito on September 10, 2026, promising a vibrant and memorable start to the continental volleyball spectacle.
The other co-hosting countries—Bulgaria (Varna), Finland (Tampere), and Romania (Cluj-Napoca)—each contribute their rich volleyball heritage, ensuring enthusiastic atmospheres throughout the preliminary pool phase and beyond.
Italy will also host four Round of 16 matches and two quarter-final matches at the significant Palavela venue in Turin. (The remaining fixtures at these stages will be held in Varna, Bulgaria). Palavela previously hosted the CEV EuroVolley Men in 2015. Notably, this marks EuroVolley`s return to Turin just three years after the women`s tournament was held there, albeit at a different location. The matches in Turin hold particular importance, as teams advancing from this phase will remain in contention for medal positions.
Beyond the four host nations, the roster of participants includes the reigning champions, Poland, alongside volleyball powerhouses such as Slovenia, France, and Serbia. Other formidable teams are the Netherlands, Ukraine, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Czechia, Türkiye, Greece, Israel, Switzerland, Estonia, Slovakia, Denmark, Sweden, Latvia, and North Macedonia.
The Saturday Drawing of Lots is expected to be a major highlight, with a live broadcast available on the European Volleyball YouTube channel. Star players, federation officials, and fans eagerly await the formation of the groups. The four host countries will lead their respective groups and, in line with tournament regulations, have already chosen one additional team to join their pools, intensifying the strategic intrigue.
