Hannover in Focus: Monthly Review February 2026

Hannover builds, supports and plans for the future

What was important this month

• New construction company for municipal buildings: The hanova KOMMUNAL GmbH was established to build and modernize schools, town halls and other municipal properties.
• More playing and sports areas: Two new artificial turf pitches for clubs in Sachsenross and Limmer are planned.
• Support for kindergartens: A special fund of 5 million euros per year for non-publicly run kindergartens is being set up.
• Equality Plan 2025–2027: The FGG criteria catalog is being adapted to further advance equality in the city.
• Strengthening STEM education: The founding of TUMO + MINT Hannover gGmbH focuses on technical and scientific education for young people.

Urban Development: From the Construction Company to the Fire Station

Hannover has decided to establish the hanova KOMMUNAL GmbH as a subsidiary of the city. The company will be responsible in the future for the planning, construction and maintenance of municipal buildings – with the exception of homeless and refugee accommodations. With an initial capital of 25,000 euros and a capital reserve of 5 million euros from the 2025 budget surplus, the basis has been created to ensure future construction projects.

Another highlight was the approval of the new construction of Fire Station 4 in Ricklingen. The project includes a gross floor area of 23,000 m² and will be realized via a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) procedure. In addition, the contract for the small garden colony "Hanomag II" was terminated, making the area available for the new construction.

Finance & Budget: Security for Investments and Kindergartens

Important financial decisions were made in February to secure investments and social projects in the coming years. Thus, the funding of the artificial turf pitch program for the years 2025 to 2028 was fixed at a total of 3 million euros. Two projects – in Sachsenross and Limmer – have already been approved.

Another focus was the support for non-publicly run kindergartens: A special fund of 5 million euros per year with a duration of at least ten years from 2027 was applied for. In addition, the guarantee for the hannoverimpuls GmbH was extended until 2035 to continue providing security for investors.

Education & Inclusion: From School Development to Catering

February also brought important developments in the field of education. The founding of TUMO + MINT Hannover gGmbH was decided to support young people in STEM fields. The city is investing 20,000 euros (20 %) in the project.

In the school development plan, topics such as equal opportunities and inclusion were in focus. The new construction of IGS Bothfeld was applied for, and also the school construction projects for IGS Roderbruch, IGS Vahrenheide and Käthe-Kollwitz-School were planned. In addition, applications for school catering were submitted – including a pilot project for inclusive catering at the Mühlenweg Primary School.

Neighborhood Development & Social Cohesion

In the area of neighborhood development, new funding decisions were made to strengthen social interaction and voluntary engagement. The funding program "Social Cohesion" supports projects with a funding rate of up to 80 %. Volunteer work was particularly emphasized: up to 10 euros per hour or 10 euros per month/square meter can be applied for.

In addition, projects in Mühlenberg were supported, including a social and housing counseling service and an education center West. Overall, several projects were supported by the Hannover Fund, including initiatives such as Start2Dance e.V..

Culture & Youth: Dance Funding and Studio Programs

There were also advances in cultural matters: The Dance Funding 2026 was approved with a total of 85,800 euros. This includes a basic funding of 20,000 euros for Mónica García Vicente. In addition, 90,652 euros were approved for the Studio Funding for 61 studios and studio communities.

Integration & Migration: WIR2.0 and Monitoring

In the field of migration, the WIR2.0 Funding Program 2025 with a volume of 394,027 euros was decided. Large projects receive 200,000 euros, small projects 154,000 euros and materials 40,000 euros. In addition, a monitoring of labor market integration was commissioned with 50,000 euros.

Connections and Trends

A clear trend in February was the strengthening of education, integration and social cohesion. The city is investing specifically in school construction, STEM education and culture to ensure the quality of life in Hannover in the long term. At the same time, the focus on inclusion and equality is being intensified – both in schools and in the administration.

Financially, security and predictability are being created: through long-term funding programs and guarantees for investors. The founding of hanova KOMMUNAL GmbH is a clear signal that Hannover is taking the future of its building infrastructure into its own hands.

Summary and Outlook

February 2026 was a month of planning, investment and stability in Hannover. From the founding of a new construction company to the promotion of culture and youth – the city is preparing for the challenges of the future. In March it will become clear whether the approved projects will be implemented and how the financial security measures will take effect.