The 2026 Queen & King of the Court beach volleyball series kicked off in spectacular fashion at Stockholm's Avicii Arena, marking a thrilling start to the season. Thousands of spectators witnessed top-tier competition as Swedish and Norwegian pairs delivered compelling performances in one of the sport's most high-profile venues.
Men’s Division Highlights
David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig electrified their home crowd by claiming the men's title. This victory, their fifth in the series, establishes them as the most successful team in the history of the King of the Court format.
- 1st Place: David Åhman & Jonatan Hellvig (Sweden)
- 2nd Place: Timo Hammarberg & Tim Berger (Austria)
- 3rd Place: Anders Mol & Christian Sørum (Norway)
All top three teams benefit from the FIVB’s Volleyball Empowerment program, which offers funding and coaching to promising athletes on the international stage.
Women’s Division Highlights
Norwegian duo Sunniva Helland-Hansen and Nina Pavlova secured a dramatic final-point victory as time expired, clinching their first Queen of the Court title together.
- 1st Place: Sunniva Helland-Hansen & Nina Pavlova (Norway)
- 2nd Place: Anniina Parkkinen & Valma Prihti (Finland)
- 3rd Place: Isabelle Reffel & Tina Thurin (Sweden)
This win was especially noteworthy for Pavlova, who achieved podium success in just her second series appearance.
Impact of Volleyball Empowerment
The Volleyball Empowerment initiative played a pivotal role in the Stockholm outcomes. Four of the six medal-winning teams were beneficiaries of the program, which has allocated more than USD 426,000 to support development in Sweden, Norway, and Austria.
A Milestone Event
Held in the largest venue ever used for the series, the opening event in Stockholm not only provided excellent competitive play but also set a strong precedent for the rest of the 2026 season.
For more information, you can read the full article on the FIVB's official website.
