Anticipation is rapidly growing for the CEV EuroVolley 2026 Men`s Draw, scheduled for this Saturday at the historic Castello Normanno-Svevo in Bari, Italy, commencing at 20:45 CEST. This crucial event will finalize the pool compositions for what is anticipated to be one of the most competitive editions of the CEV EuroVolley Men, hosted across four nations: Italy, Bulgaria, Finland, and Romania.
Italy will take the lead as one of the host nations, with games set to be played in Naples, Turin, Modena, and the final rounds hosted at Milan`s notable Arena Santa Giulia. Naples is poised to make its EuroVolley debut with a grand open-air opening match at Piazza del Plebiscito on September 10, 2026, promising an exceptional and celebratory launch for the prestigious continental volleyball event. The remaining co-hosts – Bulgaria (Varna), Finland (Tampere), and Romania (Cluj-Napoca) – each contribute their distinct and rich volleyball heritage, ensuring vibrant atmospheres throughout the preliminary stages and into the knockout rounds.
Four of the eighth-final matches and two quarterfinal clashes, scheduled for Italy (with the remaining fixtures taking place in Varna, Bulgaria), will unfold at another distinguished venue: Palavela in Turin. This same arena previously hosted the CEV EuroVolley Men in 2015. Furthermore, EuroVolley makes its return to Turin merely three years after the women`s tournament was held in the city, though at a different location. The games in Turin will hold particular importance, as teams advancing from this phase will solidify their position in the quest for medals.
Beyond the four host nations, the roster of participants includes the reigning champions, Poland, alongside formidable volleyball nations such as Slovenia, France, and Serbia. Other confirmed teams are the Netherlands, Ukraine, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Czechia, Türkiye, Greece, Israel, Switzerland, Estonia, Slovakia, Denmark, Sweden, Latvia, and North Macedonia. Saturday`s Drawing of Lots is set to be a significant occasion, broadcast live on the European Volleyball YouTube channel, where prominent players, federation representatives, and fans eagerly await the formation of the pools. The four host countries will automatically lead their respective groups and, as per tournament rules, have already pre-selected one team to join their pools, intensifying the excitement.
