CEV European Championship Women (EU) 2024/25

The CEV European Championship for Women stands as the premier senior national team volleyball tournament in Europe. Organized by the European Volleyball Confederation, it serves as the primary continental championship and a key qualifying pathway for the Olympic Games and the FIVB World Championship. The competition sits at the apex of the European national team pyramid, distinct from club competitions like the CEV Champions League.

First held in 1949 in Prague, the event has evolved significantly over its history. While the decision to hold European championships was made by the FIVB in 1947, the CEV took over organization after its founding in 1963. The tournament operates on a biennial schedule, with 34 editions held as of the 2026 edition. The current format features 24 teams in the final tournament, divided into four groups of six. The top two teams from each group, along with the best third-placed teams, advance to a knockout stage comprising the Round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and Final. This structure was expanded from a 16-team format used between 2007 and 2017.

Qualification for the final tournament is separate, involving group stages where teams compete for spots alongside automatic qualification for host nations. There is no promotion or relegation system linking this championship to other CEV competitions such as the Nations League or Challenger Cup. These are distinct events with separate qualification pathways.

Russia holds the record for the most titles with 19, including 13 as the Soviet Union. Italy and Serbia follow with three titles each. The current reigning champion is Turkey, which secured its first title in 2023 by defeating Serbia. Italy won the previous edition in 2021. The competition remains a continental event restricted to CEV member nations, differentiating it from global championships.