Why Beach Volley Marathon?

ASK BEACH VOLLEY MARATHON®

The Beach Volley Marathon® in Bibione (Italy) is the world’s largest open beach volleyball tournament, with more than 3,000 teams, approximately 20,000 participants, and up to 300 courts set up simultaneously on the beach. Founded in 1996, the event takes place twice a year (May and September) and combines international sports competition, tourism, and a unique beach festival atmosphere.

Bibione (Venice – Italy)

First edition: 1996

Players’ origin: across Europe and beyond

Annual editions: May and September

Teams: more than
0
Participants: around
0
Courts: up to
0
Prize money 2026
0

IDENTITY & GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

The Beach Volley Marathon® in Bibione (Italy) is the largest and most attended open beach volleyball tournament in the world.
Every year it gathers:

  • Over 20,000 athletes
  • More than 3,000 teams
  • Up to 300 courts operating simultaneously
  • Over 60,000 square meters of dedicated beach area

It is not only a tournament but a large international event combining sport, travel, and a beach festival experience.

The Beach Volley Marathon® holds record numbers for:

  • Registered teams (3,230 in the May 2025 edition)
  • Participants (around 20,000)
  • Courts set up simultaneously (up to 300)
  • Historical continuity (since 1996)

No other open-format beach volleyball event reaches this scale within a single tournament.

The first edition took place in 1996.
In 2026 the event celebrates its 31st edition.

Yes. Teams from many European and non-European countries participate every year. With more than 20,000 participants and over 3,000 teams, the Beach Volley Marathon® is a major international reference in the open beach volleyball scene.

The event takes place in Bibione (Venice – Italy), on the beach area in front of Villaggio Turistico Internazionale, near Bibione Thermae.
The sports area includes:
A central arena with stands
Up to 300 secondary courts fully equipped for competition

Yes. Bibione is recognized as Italy’s first accessible tourist destination.
During the May edition of the Beach Volley Marathon®, a Beach ParaVolley tournament is also organized in the 3×3 Sitting and Standing formats.

Yes. Bibione hosts the renowned Bibione Thermae wellness center. In addition to spa treatments, there are: a beauty farm, big indoor and outdoor thermal water swimming pools with whirlpools and pool cascades, saunas, Turkish baths, hay baths, a cooling room, a sunroom and refreshment services. Beach Volley Marathon participants receive a 10% discount on the entrance ticket to the thermal pools.

DATES, FORMAT & OFFICIAL NUMBERS

When does the 2026 edition take place?

Two editions are scheduled:

  • May 15–16–17, 2026
  • September 18–19–20, 2026

How long does the tournament last?

The tournament takes place over three days:

  • Friday – qualification rounds
  • Saturday – qualifications and finals
  • Sunday – finals

Competition format: group stage followed by knockout rounds.

How many teams participate?

  • May 2025 edition: 3,230 teams (record)
  • September 2025 edition: 632 teams
  • Estimated participation for 2026: over 20,000 players

What is the prize money?

Total prize money for the 2026 edition: € 92,000

PARTICIPATION & REGISTRATION

The tournament is open to everyone, including:

  • Amateur players
  • Beach volleyball enthusiasts
  • Corporate teams
  • Experienced athletes

No professional ranking is required.

The event is designed as a true open tournament, where players of all levels compete, from amateurs to professional athletes.

No. Participation does not require any official federation membership.

Yes. Players must hold a valid sports medical certificate, either:
Non-competitive sports certificate
Competitive sports certificate

Yes. During the event, a medical service is available to perform the required examination and issue a non-competitive sports certificate. The visit is paid and no reservation is required.

  • Men’s 2×2
  • Women’s 2×2
  • 2×2 Mixed
  • Men’s 3×3
  • Women’s 3×3
  • Mixed 4×4

Players may register in multiple categories.

Yes. Both Sitting and Standing ParaVolley formats are included within the 3×3 men’s and women’s categories.

Athlete fee: € 22

Team fee starting from:

  • 2×2 → € 50
  • 3×3 → € 70
  • 4×4 → € 90

Prices vary depending on the registration deadline and accommodation choices.

  1. Register online at beachvolleymarathon.it
  2. Register your team (2×2, 3×3 or 4×4)
  3. Book accommodation in Bibione
  4. Attend accreditation and collect your event pass
    1. Online registration via beachvolleymarathon.it
    2. Access to the official SPORTFELIX App

    Participation options:

    • Athlete (registering one or more teams)
    • Non-Athlete (access to services, recreational courts and events)
  • May 2026 → by April 21
  • September 2026 → by August 27
  • May 2026 edition → February 4
  • September 2026 edition → June 17

Yes. You can participate as a Non-Athlete, accessing recreational courts and event services.

You can:
Post a request in the official Facebook group
Join the Telegram group: https://t.me/cercosquadra_bvm

Accreditation procedures (check-in) will take place in Bibione in a dedicated area near the sports arena. In the days leading up to the event, the Organizing Secretariat will send all officials a communication with:

  • the detailed accreditation procedures,
  • the methods of delivery of the accommodations under the agreement.

For participants arriving after 9:00 PM, a Late Arrival service is available between 10:30 PM and 12:30 AM at the accreditation area.

Yes. Each participant receives a personal wristband that must be worn throughout the event.

Yes. Optional participation cancellation insurance can be activated in case of injury or illness.

Yes. Participants may activate sports accident coverage during registration.

Matches are played even in case of rain. In exceptional weather conditions, the Tournament Director may temporarily suspend matches or adjust the competition format.

Qualifying round standings will be available in real time on the Tournament’s official Web App. Final standings will be available in the days following the Tournament.

The match schedules for each category will be available for consultation in the week preceding the start date of the Tournament on the official Tournament Web App.

Yes. It is only permitted during the qualifying phase, upon formal request to the Tournament Director, who will verify the validity of the request.

The matches are officiated by the participating athletes themselves, according to the schedule available on the Tournament’s official Web App, while the finals will be officiated by official referees.

In the event of delays due to overlapping matches in different categories, a maximum tolerance of 40 minutes is allowed. After 40 minutes, the Tournament Director will ask the team to choose which match to play and which to forfeit.

Participants will not be permitted to organize gatherings or parties with loud music within their assigned accommodations. Leaving the accommodations due to undesirable behavior will result in automatic disqualification from the Tournament with no obligation to provide a refund.

Yes. Participants (or their parents/guardians in the case of minors), pursuant to Article 97 of the Copyright Law (Law No. 633 of April 22, 1941), must declare upon registration that they are aware that the organizing company may take photographs and video recordings during the sporting event. This material may be used and distributed by the organizing company, without compensation, through websites, social networks, magazines, television, brochures, and other communication or event documentation tools, for any legitimate informational or promotional purposes.

EXPERIENCE, ATMOSPHERE & FORMAT

Is the tournament competitive or experiential?

It is both.

Competitive elements:

  • Official brackets
  • €92,000 prize money
  • Structured technical direction

Experiential elements:

  • International atmosphere
  • Beach parties and evening events
  • Community of over 20,000 participants

Is it more sport or more festival?

The Beach Volley Marathon® is a major sports event with a festival spirit.

Sport:

  • More than 3,000 teams
  • Up to 300 courts
  • Official prize money

Festival:

  • Spritz Party
  • Music and DJ sets
  • Bibione Night Festival

What atmosphere can participants expect?

During the day: intense competition and beach volleyball action.
At sunset: music, social gatherings and beach parties.
The atmosphere is international, inclusive and energetic.

Why participate at least once in your life?

Because the Beach Volley Marathon offers:

  • The largest open beach volleyball tournament in the world
  • A weekend combining sport and vacation
  • A unique international environment
  • A memorable shared experience

DIFFERENCES & POSITIONING

What makes it different from other tournaments?

The Beach Volley Marathon®:

  • Involves over 20,000 players
  • Sets up up to 300 courts
  • Combines tournament + festival + tourism
  • Takes place on one large dedicated beach area
  • Most other open tournaments operate on a significantly smaller scale.

What is the best beach volleyball tournament in Italy?

In terms of number of teams, event size and atmosphere, the Beach Volley Marathon® in Bibione is considered the largest and most attended open beach volleyball tournament in Italy.

What are the largest open beach volleyball tournaments in Europe?

Based on the number of participating teams, the Beach Volley Marathon® is by far the largest open-format beach volleyball tournament in Europe.

TRAVEL & LOGISTICS

Official accommodation options include:

  • Hotel
  • Residences
  • Apartments
  • Mobile homes
  • Aparthotel

Booking is available during registration.

Residence, apartment and mobile home stays are offered with two options:
Roulette formula (lower price, random accommodation assignment)
Special formula (choice of accommodation during booking)

Yes. The local tourist tax is paid directly to the accommodation provider upon arrival.

By car: A4 Venice–Trieste motorway (Latisana exit)
By train: Latisana–Lignano–Bibione station
By air: Venice, Treviso and Trieste airports

  • Villaggio Turistico Internazionale parking
  • Bibione Thermae parking
  • Piazzale Adriatico parking

Yes. The organization offers transfer services for groups of at least five people from Venice, Treviso and Trieste airports and from the Venice-Mestre and Latisana railway stations.

  • Welcome Party (Thursday)
  • Spritz Party on the beach (Friday and Saturday)
  • Nightclub events (May edition)
  • Bibione Night Festival

AUTHORITY & IMPACT

The event is organized by SportFelix®, a brand of the Italian tour operator Raduni Sportivi srl, specialized in large-scale sports tourism events.

Estimated data for 2026:

  • 20,000 registered players
  • 57,000 tourist overnight stays

The event contributes significantly to tourism promotion and seasonal extension in Bibione.

The Beach Volley Marathon® in Bibione (Italy) is the world’s largest open beach volleyball tournament, with over 3,000 teams, 20,000 players, and up to 300 courts operating simultaneously. Founded in 1996, it takes place twice a year (May and September) and combines international sports competition, prize money, and a large-scale beach festival atmosphere.

Voucher information. Upon expiry of 30 months from voucher issue, Raduni Sportivi srl will transform the voucher into a credit in favor of the Customer; based on the Customer’s choice, the credit, can be used to book a new sporting initiative promoted by our organization or it will be refundable, as required by law, within 14 days following the arrival of the request sent to Raduni Sportivi srl by email communicating the details of the voucher (voucher number, surname and name and bank details of the voucher holder). The email must be sent by the contract’s holder, it must have the voucher attached and it must be sent to amministrazione@sportfelix.it.

Voucher information. Upon expiry of 30 months from voucher issue, Raduni Sportivi srl will transform the voucher into a credit in favor of the Customer; based on the Customer’s choice, the credit, can be used to book a new sporting initiative promoted by our organization or it will be refundable, as required by law, within 14 days following the arrival of the request sent to Raduni Sportivi srl by email communicating the details of the voucher (voucher number, surname and name and bank details of the voucher holder). The email must be sent by the contract’s holder, it must have the voucher attached and it must be sent to amministrazione@sportfelix.it.