World ParaVolley is pleased to confirm the official pools and competition format for both the Men’s and Women’s tournaments at the 2026 WPV Sitting Volleyball World Championships, taking place in Hangzhou, China, from 10–17 July 2026.
A total of 16 teams per gender will compete in the world’s premier sitting volleyball event, setting the stage for an exciting and highly competitive championship week.
Competition Format (Men & Women)
The tournament will follow a structured five-phase format:
Phase 1 – Preliminary Round
Teams are divided into four pools of four teams (Pools A, B, C, and D) and will compete in a round-robin format to determine their rankings. Host teams are seeded number one, with remaining teams allocated based on WPV World Ranking.
Phase 2 – Round of 16
• 1st-ranked teams play 4th-ranked teams
• 2nd-ranked teams play 3rd-ranked teams
Phase 3 – Quarterfinals
Phase 4 – Semifinals
Phase 5 – Bronze and Gold Medal Finals
In addition, teams eliminated in the knockout stages will continue competing in placement matches to determine final rankings from 1st to 16th place, ensuring a full competition experience for all participating nations.
Global Stage in Hangzhou
Hosted at the World ParaVolley Development Centre in Hangzhou, the 2026 edition promises world-class facilities, high-performance competition, and a strong showcase of the sport’s global growth.
With pools now confirmed, the countdown officially begins as teams prepare for one of the most important events in the international sitting volleyball calendar.
Further competition details, schedules, and updates will be shared in the lead-up to July.
