International women's beach volleyball debuts at Sports Festival 2026

The tournament is being jointly organized by the Vietnam People's Public Security Sports Association, the Lam Dong Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Nova Sports JSC and the Vietnam Volleyball Federation.

A total of 16 teams are taking part, including eight international teams from Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia and Japan. Thailand and Singapore are each represented by two teams. The participating teams are among the leading beach volleyball teams in the Asia-Pacific region.

Vietnam's host contingent includes three national teams, along with five teams representing Khanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Can Tho and An Giang.

The Vietnamese athletes are also using the tournament as an opportunity to gain competitive experience and prepare for the upcoming Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, in September.

This is the first time beach volleyball has been included as an official competition at Sports Festival 2026.

The Organizing Committee has appointed supervisors and referees from the Vietnam Volleyball Federation, most of whom hold national-level qualifications. One referee is accredited at the Asian level, while two referees from Thailand and Singapore have also been invited to officiate, helping ensure the tournament's professional standards.

The tournament follows the 2x2 format under the rules of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB). The teams are divided into four groups and compete in a round-robin format. The top two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals, followed by the semifinals and final matches to determine the first-, second-, third- and fourth-place finishers.

With leading athletes from across the region competing, the matches are expected to be highly competitive and showcase a strong level of professional play.

According to Tran Duc Phan, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam People's Public Security Sports Association, introducing beach volleyball to the event series will help strengthen the brand of Tien Thanh as a coastal tourism destination by creating a diverse range of attractive activities.

The tournament also provides an opportunity to promote the beauty of Vietnam's beaches to international visitors and sports communities.

Hoang Ngoc Son, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Volleyball Federation, highlighted Lam Dong's potential for developing beach sports, particularly beach volleyball. The province has numerous attractive beaches, while its sand quality and wind conditions are suitable for hosting international competitions.

The tournament also gives Vietnamese athletes valuable opportunities to compete against strong opponents from the region and around the world.

The tournament runs for three days, from August 14 to 16. Following the opening ceremony, the athletes immediately began competing in accordance with the official tournament schedule.