Israeli Volleyball League Introduces New Four-Stage Format for Upcoming Season

The Israeli Volleyball Association has announced a new competitive format for the upcoming men's and women's Premier League seasons, set to begin in October 2026. The women's league will kick off on October 9, followed by the men's league on October 13, each featuring 11 teams competing for the championship.

The season will be divided into four main stages to ensure a balanced and exciting competition. The regular season consists of two rounds where all teams play home and away matches based on the Berger system, reflecting last season's rankings. After these rounds, the league splits into two groups: the top six teams form the upper group and play a single round to determine playoff seeding, while the bottom five teams form the lower group and also play a single round. Notably, the Academy national team may join the lower group depending on the association's decision.

The playoffs begin with semifinals featuring the top four teams from the upper group. The first-ranked team faces the fourth, and the second faces the third in best-of-three series, with home advantage given to the higher-ranked teams. The two semifinal winners then compete in a best-of-five final series for the championship, with the higher-seeded team hosting the first, third, and fifth matches if necessary.

Key early-season matches include the men's classic between defending champions Mate Asher and Maccabi Yaadim Tel Aviv in the second round, and the women's clash between reigning champions Maccabi Ashdod and runners-up Maccabi Hadera also in the second round. The full schedule is available on the Volleyball Association's website.

Fans are encouraged to mark their calendars for what promises to be a thrilling and action-packed volleyball season in Israel.