Newport Beach Welcomes the World’s Best Beach Volleyball Players in Historic Week of Action On The Sand
This month, the Newport Beach Pier and Blackie’s beach will play host to one of the most significant weeks in professional beach volleyball as Southern California continues its march toward the 2028 LA Olympic Games. The city is welcoming both the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Elite 16 and the Newport Beach Volleyball Invitational. Together, these two tournaments feature a $550,000 prize purse, creating the largest single-week combined winnings of any volleyball tournament on the planet.
The action takes place from October 7-12 and first serves up the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Elite 16, the FIVB’s first elite-level international beach volleyball event held in the United States since 2018. Fans can expect world-class competition as reigning Olympic gold medalists David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig of Sweden and Ana Patricia Ramos and Eduarda “Duda” Lisboa of Brazil headline the men’s and women’s two-man brackets. With $300,000 in prize money on the line, this tournament will showcase the sport’s top 16 men’s and women’s pairs in a five-day battle for global bragging rights.
On October 12th, the spotlight shifts to the third-annual Newport Beach Volleyball Invitational, a one-day, four-person team showdown offering a $250,000 prize purse. American fans will see some of the country’s biggest names, including U.S Olympians Phil Dalhausser, Taylor Crabb, Kelly Cheng, and Kristen Nuss, who will join international stars for what many consider the sport’s most grueling single-day bracket.
Beyond the record-setting prize purse and action on the sand, this week-long celebration carries a distinctly local spirit. Hoag Hospital and the historic Balboa Fun Zone are featured sponsors, anchoring the event in Newport Beach’s storied community pride. With Newport’s iconic pier as the backdrop, fans will enjoy a mix of ticketed seating, VIP “Sand Suite” experiences, and complimentary first-come, first-served spots along the Pacific Ocean’s sand.
“This is beach volleyball’s equivalent of Wimbledon or the U.S. Open,” said event co-founder Kevin Martin of Eagle Four Partners. “To host the world’s best athletes while showcasing the beauty and energy of Newport Beach is truly historic.”
From Olympic champions to local Southern California legends, Newport Beach is set to deliver an unforgettable week where the sand, the city and the sport shine bright, beginning the road to LA28. For tickets, fans can check out www.nbvolleyball.com.
