The CAVB Men’s Club Championship will feature an expanded lineup of 32 teams for its 2026 edition in Kigali, up from the previous 24, organizers have announced.
The 47th edition of Africa’s premier club volleyball tournament is scheduled to run from April 20 to May 3, 2026.
In a statement, Confederation of African Volleyball said the new format will divide the 32 teams into eight groups of four, in a move aimed at broadening participation and enhancing competition across the continent.
Under the revised structure, classification matches for teams ranked 17th to 32nd will be scrapped. Final standings for those positions will instead be determined based on points accumulated during the group stage, in line with the 2024 competition regulations.
The knockout phase—including quarter-finals and semi-finals—will remain unchanged.
Kigali is hosting the continental showpiece for the second time, with matches set to be played at Petit Stade and BK Arena, underscoring Rwanda’s growing profile as a hub for major sporting events.
