Women’s Volleyball Nations League heads to Cebu in 2026

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The Women's VNL, which gathers some of the world’s top volleyball teams, returns to the Philippines for the first time since 2022

MANILA, Philippines – After a four-year hiatus, the Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) will return to the country starting next year.

The SM Seaside Arena in Cebu, which is set to open late this year, will host the event, as announced by Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) president Ramon Suzara.

VNL gathers the world’s top volleyball teams, including some Olympic standouts. 

“For the next two years, the VNL will come back, hopefully in Cebu… as agreed with (SM Prime Holdings chairman) Hans Sy,” said Suzara on Tuesday, April 22.

“This is a big thing for us… we will go to Cebu because they are building a new arena there, and you know the fans in Cebu are really crazy, so they’re very hungry for volleyball.”

The annual Women’s VNL was last hosted by the Philippines at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in 2022, during a time when pandemic restrictions were still in place.

Since then, the country had hosted the Men’s VNL from 2022 to 2024. It will culminate with the staging of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship in Manila this September.

Unlike the men’s tournament, the Alas Pilipinas Women will not gain an automatic qualifying spot, which is allotted only to the world’s top 16 squads.

Aside from the men’s and women’s world championships, the Asian continent will host six other volleyball tournaments such as the Women’s U21 World Championship in Indonesia, and the men’s U21 counterpart in China.

Uzbekistan will also host the Boys’ U19 World Championship, while Australia will hold the Men’s and Women’s World Beach Volleyball Championship.

Currently, the Philippines, through the PVL, is hosting the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig, with Creamline, Petro Gazz, and PLDT representing the country.

“I think Asia has the best organizers in the world, I’ve been been to many countries as a technical delegate before, but Asians are the best organizers in the world,” said Suzara.  

AVC secretary general Hugh Graham said the FIVB wants to tap into the underdeveloped Asian market.

“We already have powerhouses, the likes of China and Korea and Japan, Thailand, hopefully Philippines as well, with this sort of event growing here as well within the club structure,” said Graham.

“We can only do it if we are together as one, as [FIVB president Fabio Acevedo] says. If I may be, the president says, together as one, we can achieve anything. We want to follow suit by saying that we can do it, but we need the help of all 65 members.” – Rappler.com