Overview
- On 26 September 2026 the Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund will hold an extraordinary meeting in Baden-Baden to select one national applicant from Berlin, Munich and KölnRheinRuhr to enter formal dialogue with the International Olympic Committee.
- The DOSB will judge bids against five published criteria—international competitiveness and national acceptance; sport and operational suitability; vision and legacy; costs and financing; and infrastructural special projects—and 144 votes from Olympic federations, presidium members, IOC reps and personal members will decide the result.
- Berlin’s campaign, promoted as a multi-state 'Berlin+' plan with partner states and venues such as Kiel and Markkleeberg, faces political controversy because no local referendum is possible and a grassroots NOlympia petition is gathering signatures toward a Volksbegehren.
- The NOlympia drive collected more than 2,000 signatures over one recent weekend and aims first for 20,000 valid names by October 2026 before seeking 170,000 signatures and roughly 613,000 yes votes in a binding referendum that could force withdrawal.
- If chosen, the winning German applicant would enter continuous dialogue with the IOC with a March 2027 shortlist planned and a final IOC award process expected around mid-2029 for Games in 2036, 2040 or 2044; Berlin’s bid also outlines specific investment needs such as a proposed €106 million renovation of the Olympiabad.