Vietnamese volleyball undergoes a 'historic' transformation, promising exceptionally thrilling matchups.

The 2026 National Club Volleyball Championship is expected to introduce a new appearance when the Vietnam Volleyball Federation (VFV) resolves to adjust the competition structure towards modernization, equity, and increased competitiveness.

These changes are designed not only to elevate professional quality but also to generate greater appeal for domestic fans.

On March 21 in Hanoi, VFV held a draw ceremony for group divisions, simultaneously announcing the main sponsor for the new season as well as introducing the 2026 National Women's Volleyball Team. This significant event marks the commencement of a season noted for numerous noteworthy improvements.

Speaking at the ceremony, VFV General Secretary Lê Trí Trường emphasized the tournament's unique role: it is the highest-level platform in the domestic volleyball competition system, serving as a crucial benchmark for assessing club capabilities and selecting outstanding athletes for the national team.

Therefore, VFV consistently prioritizes innovating the organizational format while progressively applying technology to enhance operational and professional standards. According to Mr. Trường, the tournament not only garners significant attention from fans but also receives high praise from the Asian and World Volleyball Federations, particularly in organizational efforts and sponsorship attraction.

For the 2026 season, the national championship will be divided into two phases. The first phase (Round 1) takes place from April 6 to April 19, 2026 at the Đông Anh Commune Gymnasium (Hanoi). The second phase includes Round 2 and the decisive rounds. The women's event will compete from October 14 to October 25, 2026 at the Vĩnh Long Provincial Gymnasium, while the men's event occurs from October 28 to November 8, 2026 at the Ho Chi Minh City Police Sports Center Gymnasium.

This year's tournament gathers the nation's 16 strongest teams, comprising 8 men's teams and 8 women's teams. The men's event features familiar names such as Border Guard MB, Ho Chi Minh City Police, Da Nang, Hanoi, LPB Ninh Bình, Sanest Khanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City, and The Cong Tan Cang.

The women's event also witnesses fierce competition with teams including Geleximco Hung Yen, Hanoi Tasco Auto, Duc Giang Lao Cai Chemicals, LPB Ninh Bình, Signal Corps, VietinBank, VTV Bình Điền Long An, and Long Son Thanh Hoa Cement.

The most notable aspect lies in the new competition format. Accordingly, all teams will compete in a double round-robin point system, ensuring each team has the opportunity to face all opponents twice.

After completing the two rounds, the top four ranked teams will qualify for the finals to compete for the championship, while the remaining four teams enter the relegation battle. The bottom-ranked team will have to compete in the A Division from the 2027 season.

According to VFV leadership, implementing the double round-robin format not only ensures fairness but also allows teams additional time to adjust tactics and allocate resources appropriately for long-term goals. Instead of relying on a few decisive matches, teams must maintain consistency throughout the season if they aim to be among the top four.

Alongside professional changes, organizational efforts also advance as the organizing committee decides to sell tickets starting from Round 1 in Đông Anh. With a price of 50,000 VND per session covering two matches, this is seen as a move to professionalize the tournament while generating additional revenue for reinvestment in Vietnamese volleyball.

With a series of adjustments in format and organization, the 2026 National Volleyball Championship promises to deliver a season more exciting, dramatic, and competitive than ever, thereby reaffirming its status as the pinnacle arena for Vietnamese volleyball.