Hanover and the region will host the finals in 2026. The multisport event, which combines the German championships in various sports, takes place for the first time in northern Germany. The ARD reports cross -media. The athletics DM will probably take place in the stadium on the Lohrheide in Wattenscheid (Bochum).
The event will take place in the second half of July 2026 and last four days, the city of Hanover and the organizers announced on Friday at a press conference. It comprises the German championships in 19 sports and is held in various locations in and around the city of Hanover.
The costs of an estimated 8.5 million euros share the city and the Hanover region and the state of Lower Saxony.
Integration of popular sports, offers for children and young people
Hanover Mayor Belit Onay (Greens) was “happy, of course, that it was possible to bring this very attractive multi-sports event to Hanover together”. And regional president Steffen Krach (SPD) said: “The finals are an absolute highlight for our sports enthusiasts in the coming year. In addition to exciting competitions and top sport in our region, our goal is that the people here also benefit from the finals.”
“We as a country are happy to support these plans and with conviction, because we also promise noticeable effects for popular sports in Lower Saxony.”
– Lower Saxony’s Interior Minister Daniela Behrens
A “sports mile” on which clubs from the city and region can present themselves are apparently being considered. In addition, children and adolescents in particular should participate in the event – among other things, through a roadshow at schools in spring and summer, they should be able to discover and try out sports.
ARD and ZDF report cross -media from the 2026 finals
ARD and ZDF will report on TV, radio and online finals in 2026. ARD sports coordinator Axel Balkausky: “The finals depict the top German sport in its entire width, we will also see this in Hanover. The pictures that we result and that we transfer cross-media will transport and make the fascination of sport. For the first time the Norddeutscher Rundfunk will take over the spring for this great sports event.”
19 sports in Hanover
Sports at the 2026 finals include gymnastics, trampoline gymnastics, rhythmic sports gymnastics, rowing, canoeing, triathlon, 3×3 basketball, sports climbing, sailing and surfing.
Athletics DM possibly in Wattenscheid
The athletics DM 2026 will probably take place elsewhere. The German Athletics Association (DLV) confirmed to the NDR that one was in an exchange about the organization of the event in the converted stadium on the Lohrheide in Wattenscheid (Bochum). “There is no official application yet, but an expression of interest. We are in very positive conversations,” said DLV spokeswoman Silke Bernhart.
As the venue for the competitions in Hanover and the surrounding area, the sports park, Maschsee, the site around the new town hall, several places in the city center, the multi-purpose arenas in the sports park and on the exhibition center as well as the Steinhuder Meer are intended. The exact program and the period of the event “would be defined in consultation with the individual sports associations,” it said.
Hotel and Restaurant association criticizes relocation of funds
The Hotel and Restaurant Association Dehoga Region Hannover criticized the organization of the event. This is in particular because “funds from Hannover Marketing and Tourismus GmbH (HMTG), which are intended for their strategic realignment and come from the accommodation tax”, would be re -meted, as the chairman Jörg Lange said in a message.
This is “not acceptable and sustainably harms the Hanover economic and tourism location”.
Final 2025 in Dresden
This year the finals will take place from July 31 to August 3 in the Saxon capital of Dresden. A total of 19 sports are also represented here – including the athletics DM.
The finals originated in 2019. The first edition took place in Berlin – with then ten sports.
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Hello Lower Saxony | 28.02.2025 | 7:30 p.m.
