2026 CEV Women's European Volleyball Championship begins

The 2026 CEV Women's European Volleyball Championship has commenced, hosted across Turkey, the Czech Republic, Azerbaijan, and Sweden. The tournament features 24 national teams competing from August 21 to September 6.

Defending champion Turkey opened their campaign in Istanbul with a dominant 3-0 victory over Latvia at the Sinan Erdem Sports Hall. Led by head coach Daniele Santarelli, the Turkish team aims to secure consecutive European titles. Their upcoming group stage matches include opponents such as Slovenia, Hungary, Germany, and Poland.

In other tournament action, the Italian national team began their journey in Pool D in Gothenburg, Sweden, facing Croatia. Meanwhile, the Latvian team, returning to the final tournament after 29 years, faced a challenging start against the reigning champions, Turkey.

Vodafone has joined as the technology sponsor, utilizing 5G technology to provide real-time statistics, such as spike speed and player graphics, to fans and broadcasters. The tournament's final stages, including the semifinals and finals, are scheduled to take place in Istanbul.