Münster will host the NRW Day in 2026 – a celebration of diversity and climate protection!

Münster will host the NRW Day in 2026 – a celebration of diversity and climate protection!

Münster announced on Wednesday evening that the city would host NRW Day 2026. This decision was made at the invitation of Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU). On Thursday evening, the country replied that the award decision for the event was still pending, but efforts were being made to clarify this situation. The preparations for the central festival of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia have already begun and are running in close cooperation with the Messe- und Congress-Centrum (MCC) Halle Münsterland. The aim is to create a celebration that invites all citizens and highlights the country's cultural identity. In addition to the celebrations for North Rhine-Westphalia's 80th anniversary, Münster will also be the first city other than Düsseldorf to host a major state anniversary. For the organizers this means a special responsibility and honor.

Organizational aspects and leitmotifs

The NRW Day has taken place annually since 2006, although the events in 2020 and 2022 were canceled due to the corona pandemic. For 2026, Münster has decided to use the platform to present important topics such as climate, peace, promoting democracy and social diversity. Mayor Markus Lewe emphasizes the public recognition associated with the event and sees this event as an opportunity to shine a spotlight on important social issues.

The festival program is expected to consist of themed miles, stages and participation activities for all generations and will celebrate the diversity and performance of North Rhine-Westphalia. The city of Münster is planning to organize this event with a targeted budget of around 1.8 million euros. There are already 600,000 euros in sponsorship commitments, and the city has also submitted an application for increased funding from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia to exceed the usual 300,000 euros. The background to this measure is the increasing security requirements for major events. Münster also sees the security infrastructure being developed for NRW Day as an opportunity to use it at other events.

Although the final award decision is still pending, the city of Münster is optimistic about the future. But as wn.de and stadt-muenster.de summarize, planning is already being done diligently to make NRW Day 2026 an unforgettable experience for all citizens.