Tickets on sale for NCAA Beach Volleyball Championships

Tickets on sale for NCAA Beach Volleyball Championships

Ten years ago, the NCAA took a chance on Alabama’s Beaches Sports & Events and the University of Alabama at Birmingham to host its inaugural championship, and a decade later, the national governing body is still crowning champions on a built-from-the-sand-up site. Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship slated May 1-3, at Gulf Place Public Beach in Gulf Shores. All-session and day passes can be purchased at NCAATickets.com.
The 16 teams in the single-elimination tournament will compete in duals, where each school fields five pairs ranked by skill. Each pair plays a best-of-three-set match against their corresponding rank from the opposing school. The first school to win three of the five matches wins the dual. Championship duals often use a staggered start.
Each dual will air live on the ESPN family of networks, with the championship live on the flagship ESPN platform at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, May 3.
There are 92 NCAA member institutions that sponsor beach volleyball teams that support around 1,000 beach volleyball student-athletes across the country.
Eight of the 16 teams in the tourney will be automatic qualifiers, while the remaining eight will be selected at large. The bracket will be announced on Sunday, April 26.
With the support of the city of Gulf Shores and the Hangout Hospitality Group, AB Sports & Events and UAB have built a long-term, strategic partnership with the NCAA. Alabama’s Beaches will host the championship through at least 2030.
“Long-term contracts and relationships are vital to building business and goodwill for sports tourism entities,” said Michelle Russ, vice president of sales at AB Sports & Events.
“It is hard to believe we began this journey with the NCAA in 2016, and the event, the sport and the local economic impact continue to grow. From building a championship-caliber site each year to the behind-the-scenes planning and preparation, it is special to see everything come together.”
“Gulf Shores has been our partner from the very first championship and has provided an outstanding experience for student-athletes and fans. We look forward to amazing competition and crowning a national champion, ” said Kristin Fasbender, director of championships and alliances at the NCAA.
AVCA College Beach Poll: (As of 3/24) 1. UCLA; 2. Stanford; 3. Southern Cal; 4. Cal Poly; 5. Florida State; 6. Texas; 7. TCU; 8. Loyola Marymount; 9. California; 10. Long Beach State; 11. Arizona State; 12. LSU; 13-T. Hawai’i; 13-T. GCU; 15. Stetson; 16. Florida Atlantic; 17. – North Florida; 18. Washington; 19. South Carolina; 20. Arisona. Others receiving votes: Boise State, Tulane, UAB, FGCU, and Georgia State.