Iowa Finalizes 2026 Schedule

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa volleyball finalized its 2026 schedule with the release of the nonconference slate, UI head coach Jim Barnes announced on Wednesday.

“We are excited about a new look to our fall schedule,” Barnes said. “For the first time, we will follow up our Black & Gold Scrimmage with an exhibition match at DePaul. We then have 14 nonconference matches, highlighted by two home tournaments. Our schedule has very competitive road tournaments, including the B1G/SEC Challenge. It will prepare us for the 17 conference matches and to compete for a spot in the inaugural Big Ten Tournament.”

All home matches will be played at Xtream Arena in Coralville this season.

The nonconference fall schedule features a nearly even split of road and home matches to begin the season. Following the Black and Gold Scrimmage (Aug. 15) and exhibition at DePaul (Aug. 22), Iowa’s season opener will be on the road at Army on Aug. 28. The tournament at West Point will also feature matches against UAlbany and Sacred Heart.

The Hawkeyes then travel to Starkville, Mississippi, for matches against Mississippi State and Alabama on Sept. 3-4 in the inaugural B1G/SEC Challenge.

Continuing the stretch of road contests, the Hawkeyes head to Ames for the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series match against Iowa State on Sept. 8.

The rest of September is a 10-match homestand, as Iowa hosts eight consecutive nonconference matches that lead into Big Ten contests against Ohio State and Rutgers. Iowa will welcome Southern Illinois, Incarnate Word and Missouri State from Sept. 10-12 and Central Arkansas and West Florida from Sept. 18-20 for a pair of tournaments. The Hawkeyes will entertain Drake (Sept. 16) and Milwaukee (Sept. 22) in midweek matchups.

View the full schedule here.