Get your sunscreen and your team gear ready—the 2026 NCAA beach volleyball championships are heading back to the sandy shores of Gulf Shores, Alabama, and this year’s tournament promises to be a thrilling showdown.

Since its debut in 2016, the NCAA beach volleyball championship has been the ultimate end-of-season battleground for 16 elite college programs. Historically, West Coast powerhouses have dominated the sand, with USC claiming six national titles and UCLA snagging back-to-back championships in 2018 and 2019. But last year, TCU shook things up, taking down Loyola Marymount 3-2 in a nail-biting final to bring the trophy to Texas. The Horned Frogs entered as a No. 2 seed, while LMU made headlines by upsetting both UCLA and USC on their way to the title match.

This year, all eyes are on Stanford, which enters as the No. 1 overall seed, followed closely by Texas and UCLA. With the field wide open, the question on everyone’s mind: Can a new champion emerge, or will a traditional powerhouse reclaim the crown?

Here’s your complete guide to the 2026 NCAA beach volleyball championships, including the bracket, schedule, and how to catch every spike and dig.

Tournament Format & Location
For the fourth consecutive year, the tournament will use a single-elimination bracket—meaning one loss sends a team packing. After expanding to 17 teams in 2024, the NCAA has returned to the original 16-team format, so no play-in dual is needed. All matches will take place at Gulf Shores Public Beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama, the longtime home of college beach volleyball’s biggest stage.

How to Watch
Every match will air on the ESPN family of networks. The first three rounds will be broadcast on ESPN2, while the championship final moves to ESPN. Want to follow every pair in each dual? You can stream all the action live on the ESPN app.

Don’t have cable? No problem. You can stream the tournament on Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers. With Fubo, you’ll get access to ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, and over 100 top channels—perfect for catching all the college sports action without a traditional cable subscription. (Taxes and fees may apply; participating plans only.)

Schedule at a Glance

• First Round: Thursday, May 7 – ESPN2 & ESPN app
• Quarterfinals: Friday, May 8 – ESPN2 & ESPN app
• Semifinals: Saturday, May 9 – ESPN2 & ESPN app
• Championship: Sunday, May 10 – ESPN & ESPN app

Whether you’re rooting for a California dynasty or an underdog from the heartland, this year’s tournament is shaping up to be an unforgettable battle on the sand. So grab your favorite team’s gear, set your reminders, and get ready for some of the best collegiate beach volleyball you’ll see all year.