Beach volleyball is back on South Australian sand this weekend, with the 2026 Australian Beach Volleyball Tour launching at Glenelg and bringing more than 100 teams from across the country to the coast.
The opening round will see 112 teams compete across the Elite and Challenger divisions, marking a major return for the sport locally after Adelaide hosted the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in November last year. That event re-established South Australia as a destination for international competition, and this weekend’s tour opener keeps the momentum rolling with some of the country’s best athletes stepping onto the sand.
Among the headline competitors are women’s top seeds Jasmine Fleming and Lizzie Alchin, both of whom represented Australia at the World Championships. Fleming said the chance to open the national tour season in Adelaide was something the pair were relishing. “We’re very excited to be back in Adelaide for our first tournament of the season,” she said, adding that “it’s always so fun to have the beach volleyball community from all around Australia in one place.”
Although they played with different partners at last year’s World Championships, Fleming and Alchin are returning to a partnership they first tested in 2024. Fleming said the renewed pairing had brought strong energy heading into the new season. “Lizzie and I have really enjoyed coming back together after our brief stint as a team in 2024,” she said. “It’s our first tournament together before we hit the World Tour, so we are very keen to be back travelling and competing.”
In the men’s Elite division, attention will turn to a new high-profile pairing, with Paris Olympian Thomas Hodges teaming up with World Championships representative Ben Hood. The duo have joined forces following the global tournament and are expected to be among the most watched combinations of the weekend as they test their chemistry in competition.
The Glenelg event marks the opening stop of the national tour and offers athletes an early opportunity to set the tone for the season, build rankings and refine partnerships ahead of international competition. For fans, it also brings elite sport to one of Adelaide’s most recognisable beachfronts, with matches unfolding against the summer backdrop of the foreshore.
With experienced campaigners, new partnerships and emerging talent all in the mix, the tournament promises high-energy rallies and a strong start to the 2026 tour calendar. For South Australia, it’s another moment in a growing run of major sporting events returning to the sand and cementing Glenelg’s place as a key stop for beach volleyball in Australia.
2026 AUSTRALIAN BEACH VOLLEYBALL TOUR
To see all the team’s competing, click the links below:
For the full draw – click here
To visit the Australian Beach Volleyball Tour website – click here
Sunday’s (22 February) medal matches will be streamed live and exclusive on Kayo.
- Women’s Bronze – 11:30am ACDT
- Men’s Bronze – 12:30pm ACDT
- Women’s Gold – 2pm ACDT
- Men’s Gold – 3pm ACDT
The 2026 Australian Beach Volleyball Tour Glenelg is supported by the South Australian Government through the South Australian Tourism Commission, and the City of Holdfast Bay.
