African Championship 2026/27

The African Nations Volleyball Championship is the premier senior continental competition for national teams in Africa, organized by the Confédération Africaine de Volleyball (CAVB). The Men's Championship was founded in 1967, predating the confederation itself, which was established in 1972. Initially organized by the African Volleyball Commission, it stands apart from multi-sport events like the African Games and sits above zonal competitions. The Women's Championship began later, in 1976.

The tournament operates on a biennial schedule, a format stabilized from 1987 onwards. It serves as a critical pathway to global events: for the 2026 cycle, the Men's and Women's champions receive direct qualification to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, while the top three finishers in each gender qualify for the 2027 FIVB Volleyball World Cup. Qualification is managed through CAVB's seven zonal competitions, with the host nation qualifying automatically.

Historically, Tunisia leads the Men's competition with 11 titles, followed by Egypt with 9. Egypt is the reigning Men's champion, having won the 2023 edition. In the Women's division, Kenya is the most successful nation with 10 titles, followed by Egypt and Cameroon with 3 each. Kenya is the reigning Women's champion as of 2023. Recent editions have featured expanding fields, such as 15 teams in the 2023 Men's tournament and 16 planned for the 2026 Women's tournament.

The competition structure typically involves a group stage followed by knockout rounds. Teams are divided into pools, with top finishers advancing to quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final. This distinguishes it from club competitions such as the African Clubs Champions Championship, as this tournament represents national federations. The CAVB headquarters are located in Rabat, Morocco.