Bulgaria: Levski Sofia extend their reign as Bulgaria’s new volleyball season gets underway

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The new Bulgarian volleyball season is ready to get underway, with Levski Sofia once again setting the standard after claiming their fourth consecutive WINBET SuperCup.
The reigning champions opened the 2026/27 campaign by securing the first major trophy of the season, while the focus now shifts to the domestic league, the return of one of Bulgaria’s most celebrated players and the European challenges awaiting the country’s leading clubs.

Levski began their SuperCup campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over Lokomotiv Avia in the semi-finals before overcoming Neftochimic Burgas 3-1 in the final. The Sofia side once again demonstrated their ability to deliver when silverware is at stake, extending their run of consecutive SuperCup triumphs to four and reinforcing their position at the top of the domestic game.
Neftochimic, despite falling short in the final, will now turn their attention to the league campaign and their European commitments.
The opening round begins on October 22 with a Burgas derby between Deya Volley and Neftochimic, giving the new season an immediate local rivalry and placing the coastal city at the centre of Bulgarian volleyball.
Burgas has increasingly established itself as an important destination for major sporting events. The city hosted a week of the Volleyball Nations League in 2025, while its international profile is set to grow further after being announced as the host of the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest. Against this backdrop, the local rivalry between Deya and Neftochimic adds another dimension to the city’s sporting identity.

One of the biggest talking points ahead of the new campaign is the return of Tsvetan Sokolov to the Bulgarian domestic league. After years competing abroad, the veteran opposite has signed for Deya Volley, bringing considerable international experience and a familiar name back to the national championship. His arrival is a major boost for the club and adds further interest to a league looking to strengthen its profile and competitiveness.
A total of 11 teams will compete in Bulgaria’s top division this season. Alongside the action on court, supporters will also be able to follow the campaign through the return of the official Bulgarian Volleyball League Fantasy Game, which allows fans to build their own virtual teams and compete throughout the season.
Changes are also planned for the second tier, the Top League, whose season is scheduled to begin on October 31. The competition is expected to introduce enhanced digital tools and specialised software aimed at streamlining match management and club operations. Youth development will also be a priority, with initiatives designed to create more opportunities and playing time for emerging players progressing through the domestic system.

The new season will also see four Bulgarian clubs represent the country in European competition, across three CEV tournaments. Levski Sofia, the reigning national champions, will enter the CEV Champions League in the second qualifying round, where they are due to face the winner of the tie between Cyprus’ Kuutio Homes Pafiakos Pafos and Croatia’s Mladost Zagreb.
Neftochimic 2010, meanwhile, will compete in the CEV Cup, beginning their campaign in the Round of 32 against Dutch side Draisma Dynamo Apeldoorn. In the CEV Challenge Cup, CSKA will face Ukraine’s Epicentr Horodok, while Lokomotiv Avia will take on Montenegro’s Budva, with both Bulgarian teams entering in the Round of 32.
With Levski chasing further domestic success, Sokolov returning to the national league and four clubs preparing for continental competition, Bulgarian volleyball enters the new season with several compelling storylines. The SuperCup has already delivered its first trophy, but the real test begins now, as the clubs turn their attention to a long campaign in which domestic ambitions and European challenges will go hand in hand.

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