Istanbul to play host to #CLVolleyW Final Four for two years in a row!

In a truly landmark moment for European Volleyball, CEV President Roko Sikirić announced on Tuesday late afternoon that the city of Istanbul and more specifically the iconic Ülker Arena will be playing host to the #CLVolleyW Final Four for the next two years! This move is the result of a historic partnership with Fenerbahçe Sports Club, whereby the two parties have agreed to join forces to deliver the ultimate Volleyball show featuring the top four women’s teams in Europe. Additionally, the agreement includes an option for the delivery of this major event for a third straight year in 2028. 

“European Volleyball continues to go from strength to strength. This past summer, we announced the partnership with the ZEREN Group for the naming rights of the women’s CEV Champions League and we now continue with another unprecedented development, which helps us and all relevant parties achieve long-term security in event planning and delivery. I am grateful to Fenerbahçe and to their leadership for their readiness to work together on such an ambitious endeavour, which will turn Istanbul into the real capital of European Volleyball and raise the marketability of our elite competition to the next level,” the CEV President said. 

Sadettin Saran, President of Fenerbahçe SK: “Our club has been investing important resources to ensure the competitiveness of our teams across a variety of sports and Volleyball is no exception. However, we also wish to showcase our organisational skills as well as our ability to deliver events of a major international resonance and this Final Four is a perfect opportunity to achieve this strategic goal, while we hope to repeat the success of our basketball team, but this time on home soil.” 

Turkish Volleyball Federation President Mehmet Akif Üstündag commented: “The organisation of this Final Four is testament to the unity of our Volleyball community and reflects the respect and consideration in which Turkish Volleyball is regarded on the international stage. My hope and wish, and I am confident that this will be the case, is that three out of the four teams involved in the event will come from Türkiye. Moreover, this partnership allows us to cement the high profile of our Volleyball community and clubs not only from a sportive perspective, but also in terms of our skills and ability to organise major events with much success.”  

It is the very first time that such a multi-year partnership has been secured – which is testament to the ever-increasing appeal of the CEV ZEREN Group Champions League Volley, a competition featuring the world’s top players. The agreement will allow to capitalise on last year’s successful experience at the same venue and to raise the level of the event delivery even further, thereby making sure that the very best of the Volleyball game is complemented by a spine-tingling ambiance and by entertainment of the finest level for the fans to enjoy from the stands as well as from their homes for those watching the Final Four from afar. 

The Final Four will feature the four teams emerging from the group stage and the subsequent Playoff round and quarterfinals for two semi-finals followed by the medal matches. The event, as per the previously announced CEV European Cups 2026 calendar, will be taking place at the Ülker Arena on May 2-3, 2026. Further details on the 2027 and 2028 editions will follow in due time. 

The announcement was made during a press conference organised at Altunizade Suites Istanbul, Curio Collection by Hilton – only a couple of hours before another historic milestone was to be achieved, with Fenerbahçe Medicana ISTANBUL playing Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA at the Burhan Felek Volleyball Hall for the match no. 2’000 since the CEV Champions League Volley was established at the dawn of the millennium.