Düsseldorf's 2026 Budget Planning: Kita Investments, Sports Promotion, and Educational Infrastructure

Kita Construction and Investment Promotion

Düsseldorf is placing a stronger emphasis this year on investments in early childhood education. A central project is the new construction of the childcare facility at Vennhauser Allee. With a total volume of 6.37 million euros, the construction is financed through a combination of investment loans and reallocations within the Youth Office budget. This will result in annual net follow-up costs of 738,935 euros. An application for support has already been submitted to the KfW Bank (Program 499) to partially reduce the costs.

In addition, a municipal grant of 19,663 euros was approved for investments in the Kita at Werstener Friedhofstraße 51. The total costs amount to 47,242 euros, with the operator contributing a 10% share. The funding is provided from the funds of the PSP element 1.10.36.365.01 (daycare facilities), subject to the coming into force of the 2026 budget ordinance.

Sports Promotion and Youth Events

In the sports sector, several grants were approved to support regional and international youth events. The Boston Club e.V. received a grant of up to 3,000 euros for the German Latin Dance Championships 2026, while the Spiel- und Sportverein Düsseldorf-Knittkuhl 1972 e.V. received a grant of 5,000 euros for the 17th International City Cup. Borussia Düsseldorf e.V. was supported with 10,000 euros to organize the 35th andro KIDS OPEN, the largest youth table tennis tournament in Europe.

These measures reflect the city's clear intention to strengthen both grassroots and competitive sports while simultaneously supporting local clubs. The grants are awarded under strict guidelines and consider deficits arising from the events.

Educational Infrastructure and Staff Development

Another central topic was the new construction at the Leibniz-Montessori-Gymnasium, which addresses the space requirements for a four-track secondary school in the G9 system. With total costs of 26.86 million euros and a VAT refund of 264,543 euros, the project is financially well secured. The annual net follow-up costs amount to 1.645 million euros, with external investment and liquidity loans also being considered.

Furthermore, personnel adjustments were decided, including additional staffing needs in the school maintenance area (0.38 VZÄ) and the secretarial area (1.63 VZÄ). These measures are necessary to manage and maintain the new facilities and structures.

Outlook: Budget Security and Future Viability

The 2026 budget planning shows that Düsseldorf is consciously investing in the future – in education, sports, and infrastructure. At the same time, the city remains sensitive to financial risks and relies on flexible financing models, co-funding, and subsidy programs. However, the preliminary budget management and dependence on the final budget ordinance remain challenges.

In the future, it will be crucial to increase transparency in budget planning and to evaluate the effectiveness of investments. Particularly in times of rising costs and uncertainties in the financial framework, precise planning and coordination between administration, politics, and third parties are essential.