The qualification for the 2016 Men's Olympic Volleyball Tournament was held from 8 September 2015 to 5 June 2016.
Twelve teams qualified, the hosts, the FIVB World Cup champions and runners-up, five continental Olympic qualification tournament champions and four teams from two World Olympic qualification tournaments.
FIVB reserved a vacancy for the 2016 Summer Olympics host country to participate in the tournament.
The hosts Germany and the top seven ranked teams from the CEV European Ranking as of 19 October 2015 which had not yet qualified to the 2016 Summer Olympics competed in the 2016 European Olympic Qualification Tournament.
The top four teams from the 2015 NORCECA Championship competed in the 2016 North American Olympic Qualification Tournament.