Germany to decide Olympic bid location in September 2026

Germany is entering the decisive phase of selecting a national candidate to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games for the years 2036, 2040, or 2044. The final decision will be made on September 26, 2026, during an extraordinary general meeting of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) in Baden-Baden.

Three primary concepts are competing for selection:

1. Munich: Supported strongly by the Bavarian state government, which views the bid as a vital opportunity for economic, technological, and social development.

2. Berlin+: A concept involving cooperation with the states of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Rostock), and Saxony (Leipzig).

3. KölnRheinRuhr: A regional bid involving 15 cities in North Rhine-Westphalia, with Cologne serving as the flagship location. This bid includes satellite events in Kiel or Warnemünde for sailing and Markkleeberg for canoe slalom.

While Hamburg withdrew its bid following a negative referendum, the Berlin concept moved forward through parliamentary approval and a citizen dialogue process. The Munich bid also plans to incorporate sailing competitions in Kiel.