For the second consecutive year, Quebec hosted the Volleyball Nations League (VNL). This time, however, the spotlight was on the women’s competition.

The tournament took place at the Centre Vidéotron from June 3 to June 7 and marked the opening week of the 2026 VNL season.

The men’s Volleyball Nations League tournament held at the Centre Vidéotron the previous year had been a tremendous success. The match between Canada and France attracted a record crowd of more than 12,030 spectators, setting the highest attendance ever recorded for a senior men’s indoor volleyball match played in Canada.

Before the tournament began, the Canadian team played a single exhibition match on June 1 at Laval University’s Amphithéâtre Desjardins. Canada defeated Japan in straight sets, winning 3–0.

The teams that competed in Quebec City were Canada, Ukraine, Japan, Germany, and the United States.

Single-day tickets were available for approximately $35 and included an assigned seat. Fans could also purchase three-, four-, or five-day packages for about $60, allowing them to keep the same assigned seat throughout the event.

Following Week 1 in Quebec City, Weeks 2 and 3 of the VNL were scheduled to take place in other host cities, including Brasília, Osaka, and several locations in China. The tournament finals were also set to be held in China.

Players selected for Canada’s national team earned their spots through a series of tryouts and evaluations. The team was led by head coach Giovanni Guidetti.

Quebec was represented on the Canadian roster by Kim Robitaille of Repentigny. Wearing jersey number 18, Robitaille played the setter position. Although she was part of the national team, she was not in the starting lineup.

Canada finished the opening week of competition with a record of two wins and two losses, gaining valuable experience as the team continued its campaign in the Volleyball Nations League.

“VNL was really fun again this year! I loved watching professional players,” said Raphaëlle Lemay.