Volleyball World and Dubai Sports Council launch FIVB Beach World Series with five-year partnership

• Five-year partnership establishes Dubai as founding destination of global beach volleyball series

• FIVB Beach World Series will launch in November 2026 and replace Beach Pro Tour as premier beach volleyball competition

DUBAI (14 January 2026) – Volleyball World and Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), in partnership with the Dubai Sports Council, are today proud to announce Dubai as the long-term opening destination of the forthcoming flagship beach volleyball property, the FIVB Beach World Series.

This announcement marks the start of a five-year partnership that positions Dubai as the first city to make long-term commitment to the new global series. As the founding destination, Dubai will set the benchmark for a destination-driven beach volleyball experience that brings together elite sport, local host cultures and distinctive beach-life moments.

Beach volleyball has long been recognised for its ability to combine world-class sporting competition with entertainment, where music, DJs, atmosphere and crowd engagement form a central part of the live experience. The FIVB Beach World Series, set to launch in November 2026, builds on this heritage by presenting the sport at its highest level while reflecting the character and culture of each host destination.

The series will feature a curated selection of ten of the world’s leading sport and entertainment destinations, each contributing its own identity to a global journey that celebrates beach volleyball as both elite sport and shared experience.

The agreement was signed between Guido Betti, Chief Business Officer of Volleyball World and Eisa Sharif, Director of Sports Events Department at the Dubai Sports Council.

Michael Payne, Chairman of Volleyball World, said: “Dubai has firmly established itself as one of the world’s leading tourism, entertainment and major event destinations. In recent years, it has built remarkable sports infrastructure and continues to present a bold and exciting vision for the future of sport. As we upgrade elite beach volleyball’s format, content, presentation and partnership offering, Dubai is a natural founding destination for the ‘Beach World Series’ and a partner that fully embodies the ambition and potential of this new global property.”

Khalfan Belhoul, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, said: We see the ‘Beach World Series’ as a tremendous opportunity for cities and destinations to showcase their identity and soul through beach volleyball, creating unique moments and experiences that can transform how the sport is experienced and celebrated by athletes, local thrill-seekers and bucket-list travellers from around the world.”

He added: “With the significant development Dubai has achieved across various sectors, its world-class sports infrastructure, and its innovation-driven approach, the emirate is laying the foundations for a new era in beach volleyball. This goes beyond sporting competition to deliver a fully integrated beach experience with global appeal.”

Further host destinations will be announced in the coming months as the FIVB Beach World Series continues to take shape across a select group of leading international locations.