Welcome to the
Santa Barbara Open

The Santa Barbara Open — AVP Next Tournament & More
October 4–5, 2025

Join us for the Santa Barbara Open, hosted by 805 Beach in one of the most iconic beach volleyball towns in the country. This premier event brings together top professional talent and local community members for a weekend of high-level competition and celebration.

The marquee event will feature an AVPNext Gold tournament with a guaranteed $20,000 prize purse — and a goal of reaching $40,000 — all while honoring the roots of the sport with a player-focused format and old-school vibe.

In addition to the pro division, Sunday will include divisions for all levels:

• Coed 4’s Pro/Open (cash purse)
• Men’s A 2’s (prizes for top finishers)
• Women’s A 2’s (prizes for top finishers)

Thanks to the City of Santa Barbara, our sponsors, partners, and volunteers, this event is shaping up to be one of the top fall tournaments on the West Coast. But we can’t do it without your help.

We’re proud to be partnering with Santa Barbara Volleyball Club (SBVC) — a local nonprofit committed to youth development — to bring this event to life.

90% of all funds raised will go directly to player prize money

10% will support youth scholarships through SBVC, investing in the next generation of athletes

Admission is free all weekend.

Let’s bring the beach volleyball world to Santa Barbara — and celebrate the game the way it was meant to be played!

Santa Barbara has long been a cornerstone of beach volleyball’s history and culture. With its scenic coastline, ideal weather, and vibrant community, it has served as a training ground and gathering place for generations of beach volleyball greats.

The sport began flourishing at East Beach in the 1960s and ’70s, when competitive pickup games turned into organized tournaments that helped define beach volleyball on the West Coast. Santa Barbara quickly became known as both a proving ground for top players and a destination for volleyball lovers from across the country.

Over the decades, legends like Karch Kiraly, Todd Rogers, Dax Holdren, Larry Rundle, Greg and Jon Lee, John Hanley, Kathy Gregory, Kathy Hanley, Paul Hodgert, and Henry Bergman have helped shape the sport locally and nationally. Their presence on the sand at East Beach built the foundation for the city’s volleyball legacy — a legacy that continues today.

That tradition lives on through modern stars like Miles Evans, who represented the United States at the 2024 Olympics, as well as AVP standouts Katie Spieler and Torrey Van Winden, both of whom continue to compete at the highest level while proudly representing Santa Barbara.

The Santa Barbara Open carries this legacy forward — blending old-school spirit with world-class competition. In partnership with organizations like the Friends of East Beach Association (FOEBA), we remain committed to honoring the sport’s past while investing in its future. This event is more than a tournament — it’s a celebration of the community, culture, and champions that make Santa Barbara a true beach volleyball landmark.