Overview
- Hamburg voters rejected the city's Olympic and Paralympic bid in a referendum held on Sunday, May 31, 2026, with about 652,193 ballots cast and a turnout of roughly 49.5 percent.
- The final count gave 54.9 percent against and 45.1 percent for the bid, and First Mayor Peter Tschentscher told the DOSB he was withdrawing Hamburg's candidature after the result.
- Opponents argued the plan carried long‑term fiscal risk, would worsen housing and rents, and would harm the environment, themes that dominated a campaign in which pro‑bid promoters still ran a high‑profile advertising push.
- The Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund will continue the national selection with Munich, the Rhein‑Ruhr region and Berlin as the remaining contenders and will name Germany's candidate on 26 September.
- Business groups and the city government expressed disappointment at the loss, while opponents celebrated; observers say the vote will shape local politics and leave planned infrastructure or transport gains from an Olympic programme uncertain.