As of 2 July 2026
Summer is getting serious with us – and so is the sand. While some of us are still hunting for the sunscreen, the pros have long since settled the first titles among themselves. Time for a round-up: from our Funkhaus in Köpenick, through the German arenas, all the way to the Swiss mountains. Grab a cold drink – here is your beach update.
Berlin & Brandenburg: The Capital Dances in the Sand
Anyone at the Funkhaus Beach in Köpenick in June witnessed big moments. The German Beach Tour stopped in Berlin over two weekends (4–7 and 11–14 June) – delivering drama, upsets and plenty of goosebumps under floodlights.
Among the women, Elena Beutel and Paula Schürholz made the statement. On the way to the title they knocked out the top-seeded national duo Grüne/Ittlinger in the quarter-finals and kept their nerve in the final against Maidhof/Schwarz: 22:20 twice – it hardly gets tighter, or more exciting.
Among the men, Max Just and Lui Wüst celebrated their first joint German Beach Tour title. Assured, composed, deserved. For regular finalist Jannik Kühlborn it was once again a case of reaching the final but not the very top – second place as a loyal companion. Chin up, the next final will surely come.
And do not worry, dear local heroes: names like Eric Stadie-Seeber, Nele Barber and Melanie Gernert make sure Berlin and Brandenburg keep mixing things up in the national sand. The capital remains beach country.
Germany: The Tour Rolls On – Next Stop Munich
The German Beach Tour 2026 runs a new concept this year: eight tournament stops in four cities – Düsseldorf, Berlin, Munich and Hamburg – each over double weekends. More sand, more matches, more seats. We say: yes please.
And it continues today of all days. From 2 July the tour stops in Munich at the central university sports facility – again over two weekends (2–5 and 9–12 July). At stake: 20,000 euros in prize money and valuable ranking points. Because every result counts on the road to the big season goal.
By the way, a lovely story is still fresh from Düsseldorf. There, Nele Barber and Melanie Gernert sensationally took the win at the second tournament – an exclamation mark with Berlin involvement.
The season finale takes place in Hamburg at the end of August, before the German Championship from 27–30 August crowns its winners – for the first time in Dortmund. A first the whole scene is looking forward to.
The World: Mountain Panorama Meets World Class in Gstaad
While we knock the sand out of our shoes here, the world elite are playing right now in the Swiss Alps. At the Elite16 in Gstaad (1–5 July) the who is who of the Beach Pro Tour compete against a postcard backdrop – though the tournament is still in full swing as we go to press. The winners are not decided yet, but the tension is all the greater.
In the mix: reigning world champion Tina Graudina of Latvia, opening a new chapter with teenage partner Liva Ebere. Veteran Ondrej Perusic is back too, this time alongside Matyas Dzavoronok. Of particular German interest: Paris 2024 silver medallist Nils Ehlers makes his 2026 Beach Pro Tour debut in Gstaad, after his partner Clemens Wickler had to pause with persistent shoulder trouble. Fingers crossed.
And globally? Earlier, Sweden’s Holting Nilsson/Andersson had played their way to the top of the world rankings – proof that in beach volleyball the cards are reshuffled every season.
And you? Instead of just watching, you can hit the sand yourself – no world-ranking points required, just loads of fun. In our beach volleyball camps for beginners we will teach you the dig, the set and the perfect attack. Maybe next year you will be the one playing under floodlights at the Funkhaus. You never know.
Until the next update – stay in the sand!