Slovakia to Co-Host 2028 Women’s European Volleyball Championship

The decision was finalized by the EHF Executive Committee in Cologne in late January and publicly confirmed by governing bodies in March. The tournament represents a historic multi-nation partnership spanning five countries, stepping in after the original host assignment involving Russia was vacated by the EHF.

“In the name of the Slovak Handball Federation, I would like to express great joy and pride at the news that Slovakia, alongside other co-organizers, will be a host of the 2026 Women’s EHF Euro,” SZH President Jaroslav Holeša stated. “We view this as a chance for Slovak handball to restart after the devastating covid period, as an impulse for our women’s national team to work on themselves, show themselves already in this ongoing qualification, and set out on the path to the pinnacle two and a half years from now in front of home fans.”

Tournament Format and Slovak Venues

The continental championship marks only the second time the women’s European tournament will feature 24 national teams. The opening group stage splits the field into six groups of four teams each, with matches hosted across Bratislava, Oradea, Cluj-Napoca, Antalya, Brno, and Katowice.

Slovakia last hosted a major international handball showcase in January 2022, welcoming the European Men’s Handball Championship alongside co-host Hungary. For the upcoming 2026 women’s tournament, the initial Slovak bid submitted in October had proposed Košice as an additional host city alongside Romania, before the broader five-nation configuration was finalized.

Poland’s designated host city will stage the tournament final, sharing early play-off phases with Cluj-Napoca. While Romania has past hosting experience, Turkey and the Czech Republic will serve as co-hosts for an elite European handball championship for the very first time.

Broader Sports Infrastructure Developments

The Slovak Figure Skating Association (SKZ) has submitted an official bid to host the 2029 European Figure Skating Championships at the Ondrej Nepela Arena in Bratislava, according to SKZ President Peter Majerník.

Bratislava previously hosted the European figure skating championships in 1958, 1966, 2001, and 2016, alongside the World Championships in 1973. However, potential scheduling overlaps remain a consideration, as Bratislava is also slated to host the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships in May 2029.

“The interest in figure skating in the Central European space is enormous, and we want to bring it to Slovakia as well,” Majerník said. He noted that while the skating championships traditionally occupy a January or February window, ongoing discussions regarding potential calendar shifts to March could require careful coordination with the May ice hockey schedule.

Next Steps for National Teams

The Slovak women’s handball team will use the ongoing qualification matches to build momentum toward the 2026 home tournament. The SZH has emphasized collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Slovak Republic to prepare local venues and deliver the multi-nation event.