Volleyball closed 2025 with figures that confirmed its sustained global growth, particularly in terms of audiences, international visibility and economic appeal. The World Championships organised by the International Volleyball Federation -FIVB- emerged as the main driver of this expansion, combining major events, new host markets and unprecedented media reach.
The Women’s World Championship, held in Thailand, marked a turning point in television and digital consumption of volleyball. In China, the competition generated more than 1.1 billion views across television and digital platforms, with over 500 million viewers following the coverage in prime time on CCTV5. In Europe, the final between Italy and Türkiye attracted close to four million viewers on RAI 1, placing volleyball among the most-watched sports broadcasts of the summer.
The Men’s World Championship, staged in the Philippines, confirmed this upward trend. More than 16,000 spectators attended the final at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, while the decisive match between Italy and Bulgaria reached an average audience of 2.8 million viewers in Italy, ranking among the most-watched non-football sports broadcasts of the year.
Volleyball Nations League strengthens commercial value
The Volleyball Nations League (VNL) once again proved to be a cornerstone of the international calendar. The men’s final in 2025 recorded 3.8 million cumulative viewers in Poland, the highest audience figure for Polsat Sport in more than 25 years. Globally, the competition significantly expanded its television footprint, with 666 hours of coverage in Brazil, 1,046 hours in Poland and nearly 400 hours in Türkiye, confirming its growing weight within the international sports media landscape.
The FIVB’s territorial expansion strategy was also reflected in the allocation of future hosts. The Women’s World Championship in 2027 will be jointly staged in the United States and Canada, while Qatar will host the Men’s World Championship in 2029, extending volleyball’s presence into high-potential commercial and media markets. In addition, the Philippines was confirmed as host of the Women’s World Championship in 2029, further strengthening Southeast Asia’s role in the global calendar.
Investment and development in beach volleyball
Volleyball’s economic impact was further reinforced through the Volleyball Empowerment programme, which allocated more than 7.5 million dollars in direct support to teams competing at the Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide. At that event, 66 per cent of participating pairs benefited from programme funding, underlining the link between structured investment, competitive balance and the global visibility of the tournament.
Beyond sporting results, audience and attendance data highlight volleyball’s growing attractiveness as a global sports product. The combination of major venues, markets with strong television penetration and a multi-channel distribution strategy has enabled the FIVB to expand its spectator base and offer broadcasters and sponsors a calendar with sustained visibility. In several key markets, both the World Championships and the Volleyball Nations League ranked among the most-watched sports properties of the year outside football, consolidating volleyball’s position within the international sports offering.
This audience growth is also supported by increased economic circulation around major events. The selection of hosts in Asia, North America and the Middle East follows a clear commercial expansion logic, with direct impact on media rights, sports tourism and sponsor activation at both local and international levels. In this context, the World Championships have consolidated their role as volleyball’s primary economic asset, combining global reach, tangible returns for host federations and sustained media exposure that reinforces the sport’s position within the international sporting calendar.
