Turkey Are European Volleyball Champions: 3-2 Win Over Italy

The Sultan of the Net claim back-to-back European titles

Turkey’s national women’s volleyball team are European champions once again after beating Italy 3-2 in a thrilling final of the 2026 CEV Women’s European Volleyball Championship.

Played at Istanbul’s Sinan Erdem Sports Hall, the final went all the way to a decisive fifth set, with Turkey eventually winning 15-9.

The victory means the Filenin Sultanları, known internationally as the Turkish women’s national volleyball team, have successfully defended the European title they won in 2023.

A dramatic final

Turkey started the final strongly but Italy took the first set 25-16. The Turkish team responded by winning the second set 25-22, only for Italy to regain control in the third set with a 25-12 victory.

Facing a difficult situation, Turkey fought back impressively in the fourth set, winning 25-21 and taking the match into a deciding fifth set.

Turkey then produced its strongest volleyball of the evening, winning the final set 15-9 and securing another European championship.

Turkey’s road to the final

Turkey reached the final after a strong tournament campaign in Istanbul.

After the group stage, the team defeated Azerbaijan in the round of 16, Germany in the quarter-final and Serbia in the semi-final.

Turkey entered the final having won seven of its eight matches in the tournament.

Italy arrived in the final with an even stronger record, having won all eight of its matches before the championship game.

But in the end, it was Turkey who lifted the trophy once again.

For the Filenin Sultanları, it is another major achievement and further confirmation of Turkey’s position among the leading nations in women’s volleyball.