A total of 16 national teams, including 11 core teams and 5 challenger teams, will compete in 6 cities across the globe over the 3-week Preliminary Phase. Two legs of preliminary matches are scheduled each week, and 5 days of matches among 8 national teams will be held in each leg, equalling a total of 96 matches in the 3-week Preliminary Phase. Macao will host one of the legs of the Preliminary Phase.

The top eight teams as per the Teams Ranking System at the end of the Preliminary Phase will advance to the quarterfinals of the Final Phase (the national team of the hosting territory of the event will have a guaranteed berth to the Final Phase), from which the winning teams will enter the semi-finals by direct elimination. The winning teams of the semi-finals will then compete in the finals for the champion title of the FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League.