| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host nation |  Bulgaria |
| Dates | September 19–27 |
| Teams | 12 |
| Venue(s) | 3 (in 3 host cities) |
| Champions |  Soviet Union (8th title) |
The 1981 Men's European Volleyball Championship was the twelfth edition of the event, organized by Europe's governing volleyball body, the Confédération Européenne de Volleyball. It was hosted in several cities in Bulgaria, with the final round held in Varna, from September 19 to September 27, 1981.