The 1971 Women's European Volleyball Championship was the eighth edition of the event, organised by Europe's governing volleyball body, the Confédération Européenne de Volleyball.

It was hosted in several cities in Italy from 23 September to 1 October 1971, with the final round held in Reggio Emilia.

In the first stage, the eighteen participants were divided into six groups of three teams each.

In the second stage, three groups were formed, one containing the six winners from first stage groups to contest the tournament title.

All groups in both stages played a single round-robin format.