Most fans know the FIVB Beach Pro Tour, and most American fans know the AVP. That's about where the radar usually ends. The truth is the global beach volleyball season is way deeper than two circuits — and some of the most fun, weird, and competitive sand on the planet sits outside the headline events.
If you want to follow the sport like someone who actually plays it, these are the beach volleyball tours worth knowing about in 2026.
1. The German Beach Tour
Germany doesn't just love beach volleyball — Germany shows up for beach volleyball. The Allianz German Beach Tour runs eight stops in 2026 across Düsseldorf, Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg, and the crowds in those venues regularly out-pack what you'd see on the international tour.
The biggest shift this year: the German Championships are moving from Timmendorfer Strand — their spiritual home for decades — to Dortmund, in front of around 6,500 fans. Hamburg also keeps its top-billing slot with a Beach Pro Tour Elite16 event August 5–9. If you only watch one national tour all year, make it this one.
2. Queen & King of the Court
Forget two-team matches. Queen & King of the Court is five duos playing simultaneously, an eight-second break between rallies, and a winning side that has to defend its court while challengers rotate in. It's the closest beach volleyball gets to playground rules — at the highest possible level. (We've written a deeper explainer on the King & Queen of the Court format if you want the full breakdown.)
The Utrecht stop is the marquee event, but Q&KOTC also has destination camps in Portugal and a U.S. partnership with the AVP that brings the format to Waikiki on September 14 and Huntington Beach on September 22–23. A $75,000 purse, format chaos, and some of the best players in the world. It's a vibe.
3. AVP Heritage & League
The AVP just dropped its biggest season in years — April through October, with eight Heritage Contender events alongside the marquee tournaments. The Laguna Open just got upgraded to a full Heritage stop, joining the Manhattan Beach Open and Huntington Beach Open at the top of the calendar.
New for 2026: League events in Belmar (New Jersey), Aspen (Colorado), and Las Vegas. Yes, beach volleyball in Aspen. Yes, that's exactly as fun as it sounds.
4. The Brazilian Circuit
If beach volleyball has a holy land, it's Brazil. The Circuito Brasileiro de Vôlei de Praia runs domestically all year, and the international tour mirrors that obsession — three Elite16 stops in Brazil before May, plus a fourth in Rio in late July.
Watching volleyball in Saquarema or Brasília means watching the deepest national talent pool in the sport play in front of the loudest crowds.
5. NCAA Beach Volleyball
This one isn't a "tour" in the traditional sense, but it deserves a spot on this list. NCAA beach volleyball is now the fastest-growing women's college sport in the U.S., and the pipeline it feeds into the AVP and Team USA pathway is enormous. If you want a deep dive on the college game, we've got a full NCAA beach volleyball guide.
Spring season runs February through May, peaking with the NCAA Championship. If you want to see the next decade of American beach volleyball before anyone else does, this is the tour.
How to Actually Follow These Beach Volleyball Tours
Streaming lives on Volleyball World's YouTube channel for the FIVB Beach Pro Tour, Kingofthecourt.com for KOTC, and AVP.com for the American circuit.
The Bottom Line on Beach Volleyball Tours
The beach volleyball world is way bigger than two circuits. Whichever one you follow, the sand is busy in 2026 — and every tour has its own flavor worth tasting.
FAQ
How many beach volleyball tours are there worldwide? Beyond the FIVB Beach Pro Tour, the major professional circuits are the AVP (USA), the Allianz German Beach Tour, King & Queen of the Court, and the Brazilian domestic circuit. NCAA beach volleyball is the top college pathway in the U.S.
When does the 2026 Beach Pro Tour season run? The 2026 FIVB Beach Pro Tour runs March through August, with eight Elite16 stops and seven Challenge events.
Where can I watch beach volleyball tours in 2026? Volleyball World streams FIVB Beach Pro Tour matches, AVP+ carries the American circuit, and King of the Court events stream on watch.kingofthecourt.com.
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