If you're out east this week, add this to your plans. Hero Volley -- the beach volleyball tournament founded by three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings -- is back in Montauk July 28-30, and it's one of those summer events that delivers.
I went last year. The wellness session was a highlight -- Kerri is magnetic in person, and getting to hear her talk about her Olympic career in that setting was genuinely special. We also brought the kids to the Pro-Am tournament, and what struck me most was the mix of people on the sand -- local families, serious volleyball fans, people who just wandered over and stayed for hours. That's a hard thing to manufacture and Hero Volley has it naturally.
WHAT IS HERO VOLLEY?
Hero Volley is a multi-day beach volleyball experience that brings together elite professional athletes, local lifeguards, high-level amateurs, and the broader Hamptons community. It was founded in 2025 by Kerri Walsh Jennings -- three-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the most decorated beach volleyball players in history -- with the goal of growing the sport while keeping it rooted in community and coastal culture.
The event takes place at iconic Montauk venues and blends elite competition with wellness, music, and hospitality. A portion of proceeds benefits the Hampton Lifeguard Association, which supports water safety programs and the local lifeguards who keep our beaches safe all summer.
THE FULL 2026 SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, July 28
Youth & Adult Hero Volley Clinics | Lion's Fields, Montauk
Wednesday, July 29
Hero Volley Wellness Session led by Kerri Walsh Jennings | Gurney's Montauk Resort & Spa (invite only)
Sunset welcome drinks and live music | The Montauket
Thursday, July 30
Pro-Am Volleyball Tournament | Hero Beach Club / Kirk Park Beach
WHO'S COMPETING:
This year's Pro-Am brings together thirteen teams featuring some of the best players in the game alongside VIPs, local lifeguards, and standout amateurs. Athletes competing include Taylor Crabb, Andy Benesh, Phil Dalhausser, Troy Field, Casey Jennings, Taylor Sander, Brooke Nuneviller, Taryn Brasher, and Kristen Nuss Cruz.
WHY IT FEELS DIFFERENT:
Most summer events in the Hamptons are either very exclusive or very crowded. Hero Volley sits in a rare middle ground -- it's high caliber without being inaccessible. Watching world-class athletes compete on the same stretch of sand where local families are set up with their kids is a genuinely Montauk thing, and it's part of what makes this event worth coming back to.
registration & INFO:
Head to herovolley.com for the full schedule, and updates.