The AVP 2026 schedule is here, and honestly? This might be the most interesting domestic season in years. New cities, a revamped tier system, and enough partner swaps to fill a reality show. Whether you're planning road trips to tournaments or just trying to keep up with the chaos, here's your complete breakdown.
The AVP's New 3-Tier Structure, Explained
If you've been casually following beach volleyball tournaments in 2026 and felt confused by all the new terminology — same. The AVP rolled out a three-tier format this year, and it actually makes a lot of sense once you break it down.
Tier 1: AVP League
This is the top shelf. The premier competition level where the best teams in the country battle it out across a defined season with a championship endpoint. Think of it as the AVP's answer to a proper league structure — consistent teams, a real season arc, and stakes that build week over week.
The AVP League kicks off May 30 in Belmar, New Jersey, and wraps with the League Championships in Chicago on September 5-6. More on the full schedule below.
Tier 2: AVP Heritage
These are the marquee open events — the ones your parents might actually recognize. Manhattan Beach Open. Huntington Beach Open. The tournaments with decades of history baked into the sand.
New for 2026: the Laguna Open got bumped up from Contender to full Heritage status. A well-deserved promotion, if you ask anyone who's played that event.
Tier 3: AVP Heritage Contender
The qualifying pathway. These events feed players into Heritage and League competition, and the AVP expanded the Contender slate from five events in 2025 to eight this year. That's a significant jump in opportunities for up-and-coming players trying to crack the upper tiers.
AVP League Qualifiers: Already Underway at Manhattan Beach
Here's the thing — by the time you're reading this, qualifiers are already happening. Three consecutive Saturdays in March at the Manhattan Beach Pier, the format is beautifully simple:
- 16 teams per gender
- Single elimination
- Best two-of-three sets to 15 points
The stakes are real. Five spots on the women's side and six on the men's side are up for grabs, and winning here means an automatic ticket into the AVP League. No politics, no wild cards — just win and you're in.
If you're in the LA area and haven't walked down to the pier on a Saturday morning to watch these, you're missing out. Free beach volleyball at AVP Manhattan Beach with legitimate implications? That's a no-brainer.
The Full AVP League Schedule
Here's what the AVP season 2026 looks like for the League tier:
- March 2026 (3 Saturdays) - Manhattan Beach, CA | League Qualifiers.
- May 30-31 - Belmar, NJ | Season Opener.
- June 6-7 - Aspen, CO | First-ever mountain venue.
- June – August - Various locations | Mid-season events.
- September 5-6 - Chicago, IL | League Championships.
The season runs May through September, and the AVP has been teasing additional stops that haven't been formally announced yet. Keep an eye on their channels for updates.
Aspen. Yes, Really.
Let's talk about the elephant in the room — or, more accurately, the volleyball net at 8,000 feet.
Aspen, Colorado, is the first-ever mountain venue in AVP history, and it's scheduled for June 6-7. This is either going to be absolutely incredible or an altitude-induced disaster, and I'm here for both possibilities.
Think about it: players who have spent their entire careers digging balls at sea level are suddenly going to be chasing down shots where the ball carries differently, the air is thinner, and the scenery is... well, significantly less beachy. Jump serves are going to fly. Skyball attempts might leave the zip code.
Beyond the on-court intrigue, Aspen is a smart play for the AVP's brand. It puts beach volleyball in front of a completely different demographic — the kind of crowd that follows action sports and outdoor lifestyle events. New eyeballs on the sport are never a bad thing.
New Markets: Vegas, Atlantic City, and Beyond
Aspen isn't the only new dot on the map. The AVP is pushing into Las Vegas and Atlantic City this season as part of the expanded Heritage Contender circuit.
Vegas makes obvious sense — it's an events city with built-in tourism infrastructure and a crowd that's always looking for something to watch between meals. Atlantic City pairs nicely with the Belmar League stop to give the East Coast some love.
Eight Heritage Contender events total means the AVP is casting a wider net than ever. For players grinding their way up, more events means more chances to earn points and prove they belong at the next level. For fans, it means more opportunities to catch live beach volleyball tournaments in 2026 without booking a flight to Southern California.
The Partner Shuffle: Who's Playing With Who
Okay, let's get into the drama. Because what's an AVP offseason without a game of musical partners?
Taylor Crabb & Andy Benesh
This is the pairing that raised the most eyebrows. Benesh split from Miles Partain to team up with Crabb, and on paper, this duo has serious potential. Crabb's defense and court IQ paired with Benesh's attacking ability could be a problem for a lot of teams.
The question is chemistry. Crabb has been through enough partnerships to know what works, and Benesh is betting on himself by leaving a proven setup. High risk, high reward.
Miles Partain & Paul Lotman
Speaking of Partain — he didn't stay solo for long. He's reunited with Paul Lotman, his partner from 2018 to 2022. There's something comforting about going back to someone who already knows your tendencies, and these two had real success together before they went their separate ways.
The beach volleyball world loves a reunion tour, and this one has legitimate teeth. They know each other's games inside and out. The question is whether they've both evolved enough individually to be better together the second time around.
Kelly Cheng & Megan Kraft
On the women's side, Cheng and Kraft forming a team is the kind of pairing that makes you sit up and pay attention. Cheng's consistency and big-moment composure alongside Kraft's athleticism? This could be a top-three team by mid-season if the pieces click.
Cruz/Brasher: Still the Team to Beat
Let's not forget who's sitting at world number one. Cruz and Brasher (formerly competing as Nuss/Kloth) are the measuring stick for everyone else on tour. Any conversation about the AVP season 2026 has to start and end with them until someone proves otherwise.
They're not just winning — they're winning in a way that makes other teams rethink their entire game plans. Tooling the block, finding seams that shouldn't exist, side-out machines. If you're building a bracket, they're your top seed until further notice.
What This Season Means for LA 2028
Here's the bigger picture that makes the 2026 AVP season more interesting than any recent year: the 2028 Olympics are in Los Angeles.
That means every domestic tournament from now until then carries extra weight. Players are building resumes. USA Volleyball is watching. The qualification pathway is already taking shape, and strong AVP League performances are going to matter when it's time to select teams.
For players on the bubble — the ones bouncing between Contender and Heritage events — this expanded schedule is a genuine opportunity. More events, more visibility, more chances to put together the kind of results that get you into the conversation.
How to Follow the Season
A few practical tips for staying plugged in:
- AVP's official site and socials remain the best source for schedule updates, especially as mid-season League dates get confirmed
- Watch for streaming announcements — the AVP has been expanding its broadcast coverage, and League events should get solid production
- Plan your live attendance early — Manhattan Beach and Huntington Beach will draw the biggest crowds as always, but newer venues like Aspen and Belmar could sell out fast given the novelty factor
- Follow the players directly — most AVP athletes are active on social media and will share training updates, partnership news, and tournament previews throughout the season
The Bottom Line
The AVP is swinging big in 2026. A proper league structure, eight Contender events feeding into Heritage, mountain volleyball in Aspen, and a partner carousel that's given us at least four must-watch new teams. All of it happening two years out from a home Olympics.
Whether you're a diehard who hasn't missed a Manhattan Beach Open since the '90s or someone who just discovered beach volleyball during the last Olympics, this is a great season to start paying attention. The talent pool is deep, the format rewards consistency over a full season, and the new cities mean the sport is reaching fans who've never had a chance to see it live.
Grab your shades, pick your favorite team, and settle in. This is going to be a good one.