Publication date: 28 Jul 2025
The FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League is one of the main international tournaments for women’s national teams. Furthermore, under the auspices of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), it gathers the strongest teams from around the world each year. Additionally, it serves as an important preparation stage for the Olympic Games and World Championships.
The Women’s Nations League has been taking place annually since 2018. It replaced the former World Grand Prix tournament. 16 national teams participate in the competition. These teams are divided into two categories: “core participants” and “challengers.”
Each team plays 12 matches during the group stage (in several host countries). Based on these results, the best 8 teams advance to the final stage.
The Nations League is not just a battle for the title, but also an important test of squad composition, players’ form, and tactical decisions. Furthermore, the tournament is actively used in sports betting and attracts the attention of fans all over the world.
2026 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League
In 2026, the final stage of the Women’s Volleyball Nations League will be held in the Philippines — the city of Cebu. Matches will be held in the new multifunctional SM Seaside Arena, designed for 16 thousand spectators. The tournament, as in previous years, is scheduled for the summer period — approximately from May to July, but the exact dates will be announced later.
The competition format remains the same: 18 teams will play three weeks of group stage games, after which the eight best teams will advance to the playoffs. Nations League is one of the main tournaments of the international calendar, which annually brings together the strongest teams in the world. Holding the final in Southeast Asia speaks of the growing interest in volleyball in the region and the FIVB’s desire to expand the geography of its events. For the Philippines, this is a significant event and an important step in the development of sports and infrastructure.
Tournament History
The Women’s Volleyball Nations League was first introduced in 2018. It served as a modernized version of the previous Grand Prix. Since then, the tournament has been held annually. Consequently, it has become an integral part of the volleyball calendar.
Interesting facts
- The inaugural winner was Team USA, which went on to claim the tournament three times (in 2018, 2019, and 2021).
- The tournament is conducted in a multi-stage format where teams constantly move between different host cities.
- FIVB actively integrates digital technologies, including player tracking, video replays, and real-time analytics..
The most spectacular game:
The USA vs Brazil final match in 2021 set a viewership record on FIVB platforms, surpassing 2 million online viewers.
Winners of the Women’s Nations League over the past 3 years
| Year | Venue | Winning team |
| 2025 | Lodz (Poland) | Italy |
| 2024 | Bangkok (Thailand) | Italy |
| 2023 | Arlington (USA) | Turkey |
These teams confidently hold their positions in the world rankings. Moreover, they are among the favorites to win in 2026.
2027 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League
The next edition of the FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League will take place in 2027. However, exact dates and host cities have not yet been announced. Meanwhile, FIVB has already revealed plans for expansion and increased commercialization of the tournament.
Keep an eye on the dates of volleyball tournaments and other events in our Sporting Events Calendar.
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