| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host nation |  Bulgaria |
| Dates | 19 – 27 September |
| Teams | 12 |
| Venue(s) | Various (in 2 host cities) |
| Champions | Bulgaria (1st title) |
| Official website | |
| Website | |
The 1981 Women's European Volleyball Championship was the twelfth edition of the event, organised by Europe's governing volleyball body, the Confédération Européenne de Volleyball. It was hosted in several cities in Bulgaria from 19 to 27 September 1981, with the final round held in Sofia.