German cities grapple with noise rules for World Cup 2026 public viewings

German hospitality groups warn that the 2026 FIFA World Cup, staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico, creates late‑night match times that challenge local noise‑protection rules. The federal cabinet has issued a special ordinance permitting exceptions to night‑time noise limits, but municipalities must balance public interest in broadcasting the games with residents’ right to quiet. In Thuringia, the hotel‑restaurant association reports a few applications for public‑viewing events in Erfurt, Gera and Weimar, with conditions such as a midnight cut‑off and a 70‑decibel limit.

In the Bavarian city of Fürth, the cultural venue Comödie cancelled a planned public‑viewing beer garden on the Freiheit after a handful of nearby residents threatened legal action. Organiser Marcel Gasde said the venue had prepared for up to four German matches but chose not to risk a court dispute, despite the federal ordinance that would have allowed the event under the same noise‑rule exemptions.