Chronicle and history

Originally, the league was planned as a pan-European competition under the umbrella of the European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF). Due to a lack of interest from neighboring countries, preparations for a national gay volleyball league in Germany began at the end of 1991. The initiative came from SC Janus Köln. Together with Bonner Hupfdohlen, VC Phönix Düsseldorf, and Frankfurter Volleyball Verein, the foundations and rules were decided in Düsseldorf in February 1992. Clubs in German-speaking regions were invited to participate – with great response: 5 A-teams, 10 BB-teams, and 3 B-teams registered.

Due to the high number of registrations in the BB division, a warm-up tournament was organized in Frankfurt and Düsseldorf on November 7 and 8, 1992. The Bonner Hupfdohlen qualified as the best team for Group A, while the three last-placed teams started in Class B in the 1993 season. All other teams remained in Level BB – thus establishing the league’s basic structure.

18 teams from 11 clubs compete in three groups. The Bonner Hupfdohlen are the strongest team of the season.

23 teams from 14 clubs participate. AufRuhr I from Bochum secures the title.

22 teams from 13 clubs compete. Vorspiel Berlin wins the season.

For the first time, a Swiss team takes part: “Pink Chocolate” from Basel. A total of 27 teams from 18 clubs play in five groups. Vorspiel Berlin wins again. In November, the league is renamed the “Gay and Lesbian Volleyball League”. With Aufschlag Wien, Austria is represented for the first time as well.

AufRuhr I wins the top division for the first time after two second-place finishes. At the Captains Dinner in November, the founding of a registered association is decided.

34 teams compete in one A, two B, and three C categories. FVV I from Frankfurt wins Level A for the first time.

36 teams are participating. FVV I from Frankfurt wins Level A again.

36 teams play in the league. The Neckarnixen from Stuttgart are the winners in Level A.

37 teams compete. FVV I from Frankfurt is champion again in Level A.

35 teams compete, including a team from Prague for the first time. The Neckarpritschen from Stuttgart win Level A.

36 teams participate. FVV I – Loreley from Frankfurt wins the top division.

40 teams compete; the new Class B+ is established between A and B. FVV I – Loreley defends the title.

47 teams start; a women’s division is introduced for the first time. Salt&Lemon Düsseldorf win the women’s event, and Neckarpritschen Stuttgart win Men A.

44 teams participate. Queerpass Dresden wins the women’s title, while SC Janus Köln takes the men’s A division.

50 teams, including five women’s teams, start. A team from Regensburg joins for the first time. Queerpass Dresden (women) and München I (men) become champions.

46 men’s teams compete, and the B+ group is split into two divisions. For the first time, teams from Zurich and Trier take part. Due to a lack of registrations, there is no women’s competition. SC Janus Köln are crowned champions.

49 men’s teams start, with a team from Oldenburg for the first time. There is no women’s division. München I are champions.

The C division is split into four groups. SC Janus Köln becomes champions.

48 men’s teams take part. SC Janus Köln defends the title.

48 men’s teams and three women’s teams take part; France is represented for the first time. Nimm Du-Hamburg wins the women’s event, Gay Sport Zürich the men’s.

Four women’s and 48 men’s teams from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, and the Czech Republic compete. SC Janus Köln is crowned champion.

Four women’s and 56 men’s teams compete. Stets Bemüht Bremen wins the women’s, Bella Block International from Hamburg the men’s.

Five women’s and 61 men’s teams from six countries participate. Stets Bemüht Bremen (women) and Bella Block International (men) defend their titles.

Five women’s and 62 men’s teams compete. Babajagas Berlin win the women’s title, Bella Block International secures their third consecutive men’s title.

For the first time, six women’s teams make up a full division. The Babajagas defend their title. With Volup Warsaw, a Polish team joins for the first time. Aufschlag Wien I become the men’s champions.

Five women’s and 57 men’s teams participate. The Babajagas win for the third consecutive time. Volup Warsaw brings the men’s title to Poland for the first time.

Five women’s teams and 52 men’s teams compete. Volup Warsaw withdraws. Babajagas (women) and Bella Block International (men) win the championship titles.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire season is canceled.

Four women’s and 29 men’s teams participate under strict conditions. Some groups sit out or play a shortened season. The Babajagas are champions once again. In the men’s division, due to the lack of play in A and B+ West, the Berliner Vögel(n) team from B+ East is crowned champion.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, a hygiene concept enables regular operations again.

63 teams from five European countries are taking part, including—for the first time—three teams from Poland. The season is played in four divisions with a total of eleven groups. Two positions on the board are also being filled anew. The Q-CUP has been added as the league’s cup competition.

69 men’s teams are competing, highlighting the continued high level of participation. Unfortunately, no women’s league was formed this season.

With 81 teams, the league reaches a new all-time high. For the first time, it competes under its new name “Queer Volleyball League”—a clear sign of diversity, openness, and the continued development of the former Gay & Lesbian Volleyball League. The FLINTA* division makes its comeback, and the Dragonhearts from Berlin win the season. In the all-gender division, Bella Block International secures the championship title for the sixth time already.

With 87 teams, the Queer Volleyball League sets another participant record. The rebranding is successfully complete, and QVL now boasts a new corporate identity and an updated look. For the first time, a Swedish team joins the league, and France also returns with a Paris team – another sign of growing European networking.

What a debut: The team Raise The Roof from SC JANUS Köln immediately secures the champion title in its first participation in the FLINTA* league.

Raise The Roof thus wins the first champion title in the team’s history right away. A great success achieved with much dedication, team spirit, and passion.

The ALL GENDER division also has its champions: BELLA BLOCK INTERNATIONAL reclaim top spot on the 3rd match day and with it the title. It stayed thrilling right to the end, but the serial winners come out on top again and celebrate their eighth champion title in the ALL GENDER division. A strong result that emphatically continues the team’s impressive title streak.

The Q-CUP 2026 goes to FLOWER RANGERS BERLIN! The fourth edition of the Q-CUP produces a fourth different champion. For the Flower Rangers it marks the next major success in an impressive season: just two weeks ago the team secured the group title in B NORTH and promotion to Level A. After three consecutive promotions from Level D to Level A, the Flower Rangers now crown their journey with their first title in the QVL. A fantastic achievement! 🏆🌸