Media Release 2026 Junior Country Championships East

MEDIA RELEASE 

17 July 2026 
 
Latrobe City to Host 2026 Junior Country Championships - East 

Volleyball Victoria is thrilled to announce that the 2026 Junior Country Championships - East will be held in Moe, Victoria, from 26-27 September 2026. This prestigious event will take place at Latrobe Leisure Centre Moe Newborough, providing a premier venue for the best junior country volleyball talent in the east of Victoria. 

Volleyball Victoria Chief Executive Officer, Kylie Bloodworth is excited about the event coming to Moe for the first time in 2026. "We're delighted to partner with Latrobe City Council to bring the 2026 Junior Country Championships – East to Moe. The continued growth of country volleyball across Victoria has driven the expansion of this event, with the new East and West format creating more opportunities for regional athletes to compete. We look forward to a championship that celebrates the strength of country volleyball and showcases the best junior talent from across eastern Victoria." 

Latrobe City Council has been instrumental in securing the Junior Country Championships - East for the region. This reinforces Latrobe City’s reputation as a hub for major sporting events with their support ensuring players, coaches, officials, and spectators will experience top-tier facilities and a fantastic atmosphere in the heart of regional Victoria. 

“We are delighted to partner with Volleyball Victoria to bring the 2026 Junior Country Championships – East, to Moe. We have fantastic sport and leisure facilities here in Latrobe City and it will be a wonderful spectacle to see the young volleyballers play at such a high level at Latrobe Leisure Moe Newborough. I wish all the players and teams the very best of luck,” said Latrobe City Council Mayor, Councillor Sharon Gibson.  

Since its inception in 1970, the Country Championships have grown significantly, starting with Division One Men and Women, expanding to include Division Two Men and Women in 1980, and further evolving in 2016 with the addition of Division Three Men and Women. The 2024 Country Championships saw the implementation of a stand-alone Junior event to cater for the ever-growing numbers of team entries. 

The 2026 Junior Country Championships will see the event being broken up into an East and West competition for the first time, to allow the continued growth of the competition. The winners of the East and West Junior Country Championships will be brought together to compete to determine the overall junior Champions in each male and female division. 

Volleyball Victoria looks forward to an exciting weekend of competition, with the 2026 event promising to showcase the incredible skill and dedication of country volleyball athletes while bringing economic and community benefits to Moe and the region. 

Further event details, including team registrations will be released in the coming weeks. For more information, visit www.volleyballvictoria.org.au 

ENDS 

For media enquiries, please contact: 
 
Lauren Alexander 
Operations and Events Administrator 
Volleyball Victoria 
 
lauren.alexander@volleyballvictoria.org.au or 03 9794 0009