North West Volleyball Championship 2026

Competitive volleyball comes to Derry on 11 July when Templemore Sports Complex hosts the North West Volleyball Championship 2026, organised by Volleyball NI. Men’s, women’s and mixed teams from across the north west region go head to head across a full day of indoor competition. Entry is free for spectators, making this a rare chance to watch high-level club volleyball without spending a penny - and with multiple courts running at the same time, there is almost always a match in progress from the opening whistle until the finals wrap up in the evening.

What to expect

Play kicks off at 10:00am and runs through to approximately 6:00pm. Teams compete in a best-of-three-sets format, with each set played to 25 points on rally scoring - which means every single rally counts and points turn over quickly. The group stage determines seedings for the playoff rounds, so the morning matches can carry real weight even when the scores look comfortable.

With several courts operating side by side, you can follow one team from tip-off to their final match or drift between courts to catch the tightest contests. The pace of indoor volleyball at this level - fast serving, hard-hit spikes and sharp defensive digs - is quick enough to hold the attention of people who have never watched the sport before. Children tend to find it easy to follow too. A café and refreshments are available on-site. Volleyball NI publishes the championship draw on their website at volleyballni.org before the day, so you can check which teams are competing and plan when to arrive if you want to catch a particular group.

Getting there

Templemore Sports Complex sits on Templemore Avenue in Derry, about 2km from the city centre - a 20-minute walk if the weather is reasonable, or a short hop on local bus services. The complex has on-site parking if you are driving. From Belfast, Derry is around 70 minutes by road on the A6. Translink operate regular express coach services from Belfast Europa Buscentre to Derry, with journey times of approximately 1 hour 45 minutes, and the bus station in Derry is close enough to the city centre to pick up a local service from there.

While you’re in Derry

Derry is one of Ireland’s most rewarding cities for a day out - the city walls, the Bogside murals and the Peace Bridge across the Foyle are all a short walk from the centre, and there is a good range of cafés and restaurants near the waterfront. There is more to see in Derry and across Co. Derry.

Good to know

• Saturday 11 July 2026, from 10:00am (finals approximately 6:00pm)
• Free admission for spectators
• Men’s, women’s and mixed team categories
• Best-of-three sets format, 25 points per set, rally scoring
• Championship draw published in advance at volleyballni.org
• Café and refreshments available on-site
• Spectators are welcome throughout the day - multiple courts running simultaneously