Beach volleyball will be part of the expanded Olympic Q-Series in 2028, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today confirming Tokyo, Shanghai, Montreal and Orlando as the host cities for the four-stop qualification series on the road to the Olympic Games LA28. Beach volleyball will compete at three of the four stops, while the sports programme for each event will be confirmed at a later date.
Formerly known as the Olympic Qualifier Series, the events will take place between May and June 2028 and serve as a key qualification pathway for athletes seeking direct quota places for LA28.
Beach volleyball is one of six sports set to feature in the series alongside 3x3 basketball, BMX freestyle, climbing, flag football and skateboarding. The series is being organised through collaboration between the IOC and the six participating International Federations.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry said the Olympic Q-Series will help boost athlete visibility and global fan engagement on the road to LA28.
“The Q-Series is an exciting global event on the road to the LA28 Olympic Games. It's one format, four stops, six sports. The goal is to boost athlete visibility and global fan engagement. We cannot wait for the series to kick off," Coventry said.
“We believe the Olympic Q-Series will be really exciting for fans and for the host cities. The fans will be right there with the action – the festival feel, the sport, music, culture – coming to life in these iconic cities. It will be fast paced and high energy, with lots of action, world-class athletes and a huge focus on youth.”
The series will begin with two consecutive events in Asia before moving to North America. Tokyo will host the opening stop from 4-7 May 2028.
One week later, the series will move to Shanghai from 11-14 May 2028, returning to the city where the Olympic Qualifier Series was first staged in 2024.
The North American leg of the series will then take place in Montreal from 1-4 June 2028. The event will return to the city’s 1976 Olympic Park as it reopens to a new generation. The final stop will be held in Orlando from 8-11 June 2028, bringing the series to the East Coast of the USA in the closing stretch before LA28.
The decision to elevate and expand the Olympic Q-Series follows the success of the inaugural Olympic Qualifier Series held in Shanghai and Budapest in 2024. Those events brought together multiple sports in compact urban settings and delivered significant spectator attendance, partner activations, broadcast exposure and digital engagement.
Further details regarding ticketing, broadcasting and the sports programme for each stop will be announced at a later stage.
