Münster April 2026: Population Growth, School Construction, and Climate Protection in Focus

Population Grows, City Changes

What Was Important This Month

• Population forecast adopted: Münster will grow by 4.7% by 2035 – especially in the outer districts.
• School construction and barrier-free access: New playgrounds and investments in barrier-free schools have been decided.
• Climate and waste policy: Campaigns and measures for urban cleanliness and waste prevention are being launched.
• Sports investments: 1.7 million euros for new sports facilities and maintenance.
• Promotion of inclusion: Support for projects and barrier-free communication.
• Financial planning: Budget decisions secure investments in education, sports, and the environment.

Population Forecast: Münster Grows, but Unevenly

In April 2026, Münster adopted the Small-town Population Forecast (KBP) 2025–2035. According to it, the total population will increase by 4.7%, with the outer districts seeing a growth of 7.4%. In contrast, 17 districts expect population losses.

The KBP will serve in the future as a planning basis for education, care, sports, and transport. It is calculated down to the district level and can be updated annually from 2027. Particularly noticeable is the population gain in the district of Mitte (+0.7%) and the increase in the population over 65 years of age by 36.7% – a clear indication of demographic development.

The KBP takes into account factors such as fertility, mortality, migration, and construction activity, thereby providing a realistic basis for future urban planning.

Education and Sports: Investments for the Future

In April 2026, the city of Münster decided to further develop school and sports infrastructure.

School Construction and Barrier-Free Access

At the Ludgerusschule Hiltrup and the Schillergymnasium, the outdoor areas are being redesigned – with barrier-free play areas, table tennis tables, and streetball hoops. In addition, a review commission for barrier-free access at municipal schools has been approved. The Primus School will receive investments of 500,000 €, including a care bath and two elevators.

The KBP forecasts a 15.7% increase in children aged 0–2 years, which makes investments in early childhood education necessary.

Sports and Leisure

In 2026, investments of 1,746,500 € were decided for the sports sector, including 275,000 € for the artificial turf in Münster-Ost. A small repair budget of 80,000 € has been set up to finance maintenance work at municipal sports facilities. The renovation of the entrance area at the Grevingstraße sports facility costs 22,500 €.

In addition, Münster has decided not to apply for the Invictus Games 2029 due to organizational and financial risks.

Climate and Environment: Fight Against Illegal Waste

In the area of climate, environment, and waste management, the city of Münster made various decisions in April 2026:

• The awm plans to install 240-liter event bins in heavily used areas, but rejects additional waste containers in recreational areas.
• There will be no separate app for the defect reporting system, instead, mobile access will be improved.
• A targeted campaign for urban cleanliness will start in spring 2026.
• awm and the Municipal Authority plan a "Waste Summit" in the districts to combat illegal waste disposal.
• In 2025, 3,300 reports of illegal waste disposal were recorded.

Fines for illegal waste disposal range from 5 € to 1,000 €. The cost for Dortmund's "Waste Detectives" is 1.2 million euros per year.

Inclusion and Barrier-Free Access: Equal Participation

Münster continues to promote inclusion and barrier-free services:

• An expansion program for barrier-free access at municipal schools is part of the budget planning discussions.
• The Commission for the Promotion of Inclusion supports six projects with a total of 21,320 €, including the children's disco "Brausepalast" with 4,220 €.
• The Skulptur Projekte 2027 will receive a website in easy language with 3,680 € in funding.
• The administration is forgoing a separate construction program for barrier-free access, instead relying on needs-based action in the ongoing school construction program.

Overview: Urban Development in Transition

The decisions of April 2026 show how Münster is preparing for future challenges. On the one hand, population growth, especially in the outer districts, is being used to create and expand infrastructure. On the other hand, the aging population is being addressed through investments in care, education, and barrier-free access.

At the same time, there is a tension between investments and cost-cutting, especially when it comes to major events like the Invictus Games. Meanwhile, the focus is being strengthened on sustainability and inclusion, for example through campaigns for urban cleanliness or barrier-free offers in education and culture.

Conclusion and Outlook

April 2026 was a month of clear developments and decisions in Münster that shape the city's future. The population forecast provides important data for planning in education, sports, and transport. It also shows that Münster is deliberately focusing on investments in education, sports, and the environment to create livable and inclusive districts.

In May 2026, the KBP will come before the Main Committee – then further details and discussions will follow. For residents, it is important to stay informed about developments in their own districts. Münster is moving forward – and that is towards the future.