Overview
- Voters in 17 prospective host municipalities will decide by mail on 19 April 2026 whether their city joins the joint Rhein/Ruhr bid, using an identical question.
- The state has earmarked €9.5 million to reimburse 85% of municipal referendum costs on a provisional basis, with Cologne estimating €2.492 million and Essen €1.2 million.
- The SPD says the money would be diverted from planned sports‑investment subsidies, while Minister‑President Hendrik Wüst says the process will be run professionally within an approved budget.
- A 10% participation quorum applies in larger cities, and NRW officials caution that a no from Cologne or Düsseldorf would be difficult to offset by shifting venues.
- Nationally, an Infratest Dimap poll for the DOSB shows 74% support for a German bid as concepts are due 4 June 2026 and a candidate is to be chosen 26 September, with Munich already posting 66.4% local approval.