Teams directly qualified to the 2018 European Water Polo Championship: • – winners of the
2016 Women's European Water Polo Championship • – runners-up of the 2016 Women's European Water Polo Championship • – 3rd place of the 2016 Women's European Water Polo Championship • – 4th place of the 2016 Women's European Water Polo Championship • – 5th place of the 2016 Women's European Water Polo Championship • – 6th place of the 2016 Women's European Water Polo Championship ==Qualifying round 1==