Monthly Blog: What Happened in Stuttgart in February 2026

What was important this month

• More nursery places and investments in youth centers: The Youth Welfare Committee approved 46 additional nursery places and 138 places for children aged 3–6. Youth centers will receive investments, including the full renovation of Cafe Ratz.
• New traffic concepts in Hedelfingen and Ost: Bus line 65 will be expanded, and a planning advisory board will be established at the Eduard-Pfeiffer-Platz.
• School budget savings and the cancellation of models: The School Advisory Council approved cost-saving measures, including the cancellation of subsidies for private schools.
• Support for cultural projects: Over 48 million euros were allocated for cultural funding in 2026, including projects such as the COLOURS Dance Festival.
• Intercultural opening of the administration: A pilot project with 25 participants and employees with migration backgrounds was launched to promote diversity awareness.

Budget security and investments in education

In the Youth Welfare Committee, the budget plans for the Youth Office and the School Environment were approved. Particularly noteworthy are the investments in early childhood care: 13.688 million euros will be invested in 46 nursery places and 138 places for children aged 3–6. In addition, Cafe Ratz will be fully renovated for up to 418,000 euros.

In contrast, the School Advisory Council approved savings measures that will have an impact on the educational landscape. For example, model projects such as Sport, Music, Nature and Culture were cut, and subsidies to private schools were eliminated. Investments remain high (562 million euros in 2026), but the scope for creative and integrative educational offerings is being restricted.

Mobility and public transport: Expansion and future security

In February, the city development department advocated for improved local transport quality. The local transport plan was approved, and U-Bahn lines U13 and U19 will be extended to the Mercedes-Benz World and Hausen. Line 65 will have a denser schedule – every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes in the evening.

In addition, a fundamental renewal of the tram infrastructure is planned by 2030 – an investment volume of 75 million euros for 2026 has already been fixed. In Hedelfingen and Ost, planning is underway for a comprehensive traffic redesign, which also includes barrier-free pathways and more green spaces.

Culture and Integration: Support and Diversity

In Stuttgart, culture is not only financially supported but also understood as part of the city's social fabric. With a total of 48.695 million euros for 2026, cultural funding is being significantly strengthened. Special projects such as the COLOURS International Dance Festival or the Stuttgarter Kinderfilmtage benefit from this. In addition, a new funding fund for cultural participation has been established with 100,000 euros per year.

At the same time, Stuttgart is setting new impulses in integration. The pilot project Interkulturelle Öffnung der Verwaltung (IKÖ) started with 25 participants and trained administrative staff in topics of diversity. Stuttgart also aims to become a member of ECCAR – a network of European cities against racism.

Looking beyond the horizon: Structural challenges

Although there were many positive developments, challenges remained. The savings in education show the financial burden that other cities are also currently experiencing. In addition, the mobility transition remains a central issue – it has been decided, but implementation requires time and coordination. The investments in local transport are a step in the right direction, but they must be in harmony with cycling infrastructure improvements and barrier-free access.

Final summary with a look ahead

February 2026 was a month of decisions in Stuttgart. Whether in education, mobility or culture, the city is investing in the future. At the same time, it becomes clear that restrictions are necessary to ensure budget stability. In March, it will be exciting to see how the approved projects are implemented – especially in the areas of the mobility transition and climate action. Integration and diversity will also remain topics that will gain even more focus in Stuttgart in the future.