The History, Tradition And Prestige Behind Beach Volleyball’s Most Famous Tournament
Every sport has one event that players dream of winning. In beach volleyball, that tournament is the Manhattan Beach Open. After attending it through the years, I’ve come to understand why players call it the Wimbledon of beach volleyball.
Updated August 2026 for this year’s AVP Manhattan Beach Open.
By Kevin Wilkerson, Editor & Publisher, PubClub.com
In sports, there are revered events, so big and important that they eclipse the actual game.
There’s the World Cup, the Super Bowl, The Masters and Wimbledon. And in the sport of beach volleyball, there is Manhattan.
Or, more accurately, the Manhattan Open.
Held each August in Manhattan Beach, California – the 2026 dates are Aug. 14-15 – it is the “King of the Beach” when it comes to tournaments and is known among the players and long-time observers as the Wimbledon of Beach Volleyball.
There is a reason for that nickname, for just like the famous tennis tournament is the most respected tournament in the sport. It is the one all the players want to win and in fact, must win in order to validate themselves to the beach volleyball community.
“If you haven’t won Manhattan, you haven’t won anything,” is a popular phrase among the players.
What other tournament begins with the unveiling of plaques of the previous year’s winner, adding to a Walk of Fame of winners similar to the celebrity stars in Hollywood?
The reason for this is simple: the Manhattan Open is the original big-time beach volleyball tournament, played in the city where the sport was created more than 50 years ago. The legend of the Manhattan Open was created from its very first serve when the inaugural tournament was so hotly contested the final match was played in near darkness.
Rather than allow organizers to suspend play until the next day, fans ran up to the adjacent parking lot to turn on their car lights so it could be finished that night.
The hard-working winners won not a trophy or prize money but dinner at a local restaurant.
That’s not the case today, as it is part of the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) national tour. And while on a worldwide stage the FIVB is bigger as it employs the Olympic style format of countries vs. countries rather than teams vs. teams and serves as an Olympics qualifier, no tournament is more important than the Manhattan Open.
Plus, it’s in Southern California, with the beach life, California girls in bikinis and boys in board shorts. Part of the reason the Manhattan Open is the Wimbledon of Beach Volleyball is because of this scene.
What Makes The Manhattan Beach Open Different?
- Winner’s plaques permanently embedded in the Manhattan Beach Pier
- Deep history dating back decades
- Every top player wants to win it
- Played where modern beach volleyball was born
- Southern California beach atmosphere
Manhattan Open Q&A
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Why is the Manhattan Beach Open called the Wimbledon of beach volleyball?
Because it is the sport’s oldest and most prestigious tournament and the title every player wants most. Plus, the players often party with the fans in the bars – particularly at Shellback Tavern – after games on the weekends.
Where is the Manhattan Beach Open?
On the sand just south of the Manhattan Beach Pier in Manhattan Beach, California.
When is the Manhattan Beach Open?
It is traditionally held each August.
Do the winners receive plaques?
Yes. Winners receive permanent plaques embedded in the Manhattan Beach Pier, one of the sport’s greatest honors.
Is the Manhattan Beach Open free to watch?
Yes. Spectators can watch from the beach, although VIP seating is available.
Kevin Wilkerson is the founder of PubClub.com, an award-winning journalist and former South Bay resident who spent years living in Hermosa Beach and covering its nightlife scene. He has covered destinations, events and entertainment for more than two decades and received an Associated Press award for investigative journalism while working as a newspaper reporter.
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