Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar will host the FIVB Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour (Men & Women) at KIIT University from March 4 to 8, 2026. The international championship will mark its Odisha debut and will be organised for the first time at a university campus in India.
A total of 82 teams from 52 countries will take part in the tournament. The event will feature 164 elite athletes and 306 accredited players and officials, including Olympic gold medallists, KIIT said in a press release.
The matches will be held at the Dutee Chand Athletic Stadium on the KIIT campus. The stadium has been converted into an international-standard beach volleyball arena. Organisers have put elaborate arrangements in place to ensure the smooth conduct of the tournament. Preparations are being supervised by KIIT and KISS founder Dr. Achyuta Samanta. He has reviewed arrangements related to player safety, accommodation, training facilities, and hospitality.
The announcement of the championship was made by FIVB President Fabio Azevedo during his visit to KIIT and KISS last December for the Volleyball Grand Prix. He announced that the Beach Volleyball event will be organised in Odisha for three consecutive years – 2026, 2027, and 2028 – in collaboration with KIIT and KISS.
Dr. Samanta said KIIT and KISS have consistently promoted sports and supported sportspersons. He said volleyball is both a rural sport and an Olympic discipline. He added that continuous efforts have been made over the past eight years to strengthen grassroots participation and provide international exposure.
