The 2009 Women's European Volleyball Championship was the 26th edition of the European Volleyball Championship, organised by Europe's governing volleyball body, the Confédération Européenne de Volleyball. The cities that hosted matches were Bydgoszcz, à Âódà º, Katowice and Wrocà Âaw in Poland, from 25 September to 4 October 2009.
The tournament was played in three different stages. In the first stage, the sixteen participants were divided in four groups (A, B, C and D) of four teams each. A single round-robin format was played within each group to determine the teams group position, the three best teams of each group (total of 12 teams) progressed to the second stage.
The second stage of the tournament consisted of two groups of six teams each. As the first stage match results amongst the teams which advanced to this stage also counted, the two groups have been predetermined, one group formed by groups A and C teams while the other was formed by groups B and D teams. In each of the two groups, the teams played once against every opponent they haven not faced in the tournament (total of three matches each), adding that to the results obtained against the other two teams who also advanced from the first stage same group. The two group winners and two runners-up from this second stage advanced the third stage.
The third and final stage of the tournament was composed of the semifinals, third place match and final. A drawing of lots decided which winner played which runner-up in the semifinals.
The tournament was played at four venues in four cities throughout Poland. Each city hosted a group stage. à Âódà º and Katowice hosted the two Playoff Rounds. à Âódà º also concluded the Championship with the Semifinals & Final.
A drawing of lots determined, which group-winner plays which runner-up in the semifinals.