The 2026 Finals will take place from 23 to 26 July in Lower Saxony for the first time. The Finals comprise 24 German championships across ten venues in the region and the state capital, Hanover, and are being organised with the support of the State of Lower Saxony. This multi-sport event, featuring the German championships in elite sport, will be broadcast live by ARD and ZDF on all four days on their main channels and via their streaming services.

Sports in Hanover

Almost 4,000 athletes are competing for 143 German championship titles. The German Championships, covering 24 sports, include 3×3 basketball, artistic gymnastics, canoeing, rhythmic gymnastics, rowing and triathlon, amongst others. Some sports are making their debut at the Finals, including beach volleyball, weightlifting, ju-jitsu, rapid surfing, sailing and windsurfing. A key focus of this sixth edition of the Finals is to bring the competitions closer to the public. That is why some unusual venues have been planned for the 2026 Finals: canoeing and rowing on the Maschsee, 3×3 basketball, archery and BMX flatland at the New Town Hall. Breaking will even take place inside the New Town Hall. The pole vault, speed climbing and beach volleyball will take place at Opernplatz.

Elite sport in the region

The area surrounding the state capital is also part of the Finals. The German Championships in coastal rowing, sailing, triathlon and windsurfing will be held at Steinhuder Meer. The athletics competitions will take place in Bochum, but the German Championships in the men’s and women’s pole vault will be held in Hanover on Opernplatz – with free admission.

Tickets

Most events are open to all visitors free of charge. Tickets are required for the gymnastics competitions at the ZAG arena, the German Club Championships in beach volleyball on Opernplatz, swimming at the Stadionbad and the athletics events in Bochum. Anyone wishing to attend the 3×3 basketball events will need a ticket from the semi-finals onwards; prior to that, all matches are free to attend. Tickets are available via the Finals website. All sports not mentioned here can be attended without a ticket.

The VGH Finals Mile

Along Culemannstraße and in Maschpark, a lively meeting place for the whole family will spring up during the Finals – featuring numerous hands-on activities, live sport and a festival atmosphere right by Lake Masch. Visitors can look forward to much more than just top-class sport here.

The VGH Finals Mile links the competition venues for the Finals sports at the New Town Hall with the venues for canoeing and rowing on the northern shore of Lake Maschsee. It benefits from the special atmosphere of the Lake Maschsee Festival – whilst also adding its own unique touches. Here, sporting excellence meets entertainment, enjoyment and socialising.

School finals enable children and young people to take part

To inspire young athletes and get them active, the School Finals were held from 1 May to 30 June. These were school tournaments and activity days where children could discover and try out different sports. Well over 10,000 pupils took part in the city and the region.

You can find the latest Information on the finals, the sports, the venues, tickets, the timetables and the TV schedule can be found at www.diefinals.de.