Bangkok, Thailand — The Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) formally opened the year 2026 with a renewed strategic focus as it convened its AVC Strategic Planning Workshop 2026 at the AVC House in Bangkok on January 15–16, reinforcing its commitment to stronger alignment, clearer direction, and enhanced operational effectiveness across the organization.
Led by AVC President Ramon Suzara, the two-day workshop formed part of the continued implementation of his 10-Point Agenda, aligned with the FIVB Strategic Vision 2024–2032, aimed at advancing the Global Volleyball Movement and further strengthening volleyball development across Asia.
In his opening remarks, President Suzara emphasized the importance of starting the year with clear priorities, unified direction, and collaborative execution as the AVC prepares for a busy and demanding competition calendar.
“This Strategic Planning Workshop is about ensuring that we are aligned, focused, and prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead,” Suzara said. “With a full and demanding AVC calendar in 2026, it is essential that our plans, operations, and execution are well-coordinated to deliver successful competitions and programs across Asia.”
The workshop was held against the backdrop of a packed AVC 2026 international calendar, which features major club, national team, youth, and multisport events across the continent. The season will open with the AVC Women’s Champions League from April 26–30 in Goyang, Korea, followed by the AVC Men’s Champions League from May 13–17 in Pontianak, Indonesia. The calendar also includes the AVC Women’s and Men’s Cups, age-group championships, continental championships, and the volleyball competitions of the 20th Asian Games in Aichi–Nagoya, Japan.
Throughout the two-day program, AVC departments presented their proposed activities, initiatives, and operational plans for 2026, ensuring alignment with the confirmed competition calendar and host cities. Presentations were delivered by the Office of the President, Development, Volleyball Information System and Information Technology, Marketing and Commercial, Social Media and Communications, Administration and Finance, Beach Volleyball, and Volleyball departments. Breakout sessions were also conducted to address interdependencies and strengthen cross-department collaboration.
The workshop concluded with a recap of key action points and next steps, followed by closing remarks from AVC Secretary General Hugh Graham who highlighted the importance of disciplined execution and sustained cooperation as the confederation moves forward into the 2026 season.
By beginning the year with a comprehensive strategic planning exercise, the AVC reaffirmed its commitment to good governance, operational excellence, and long-term development, laying a strong foundation for the successful delivery of its 2026 calendar and the continued growth of volleyball across Asia.