Wuppertal January 2026 – Highlights and Developments

Education and Mobility in Focus

What Was Important This Month

• The district committees decided to expand Open Full-Time Schools (OGS) with a total of 377 additional spots at 20 elementary schools.
• The construction of the 7th comprehensive school in Heckinghausen was approved, with completion expected in 2028.
• In Oberbarmen and Uellendahl-Katernberg, EV charging station locations were planned to promote climate-friendly mobility.
• The draft budget proposal for 2026/2027 shows a deficit of 157.6 million €, with an increasing trend expected until 2030.
• The Wuppertal Bike Ring – a 35 km cycling loop – is being gradually implemented and connects Wuppertal with former railway tracks and the zoo district.

Financial Planning and Budget Security

The district committees submitted the draft budget for 2026/2027, which shows a deficit of 157.55 million € for both years. The deficit is expected to rise to 185.9 million € by 2030. Due to the ongoing deficits, a budget security concept is required, which was presented in a special session on 26.01.2026 and submitted to the municipal supervisory authority.

This concept is part of the legal obligation if the city records a deficit for three consecutive years. It includes measures for consolidation, including cost-cutting, revenue increases, and investment strategies. In the districts, the draft budget was discussed in meetings but largely postponed in order to allow for further discussions and consultations.

Education and School Development

The construction of the 7th comprehensive school in Heckinghausen is a milestone in the city's education policy. Offers in the second tender round for the appointment of a general contractor are planned to be submitted by 20.02.2026. The award is scheduled for 31.03.2026. Completion is expected by 2028, and in the meantime, the existing buildings will be renovated and partially demolished.

In Uellendahl-Katernberg, a new educational program at the Kohlstraße Vocational College was also approved: a state-certified social assistant with a focus on education, teaching, and care for elementary school children. This training program will sustainably address the demand for educational care for elementary school children.

Climate Protection and Mobility

In January 2026, further measures for the climate protection strategy were adopted. In several districts, EV charging stations were planned, and in Oberbarmen and Vohwinkel, a bicycle street was established to promote emission-free mobility.

The Node Network Plan is another project included in the 2026/2027 budget. The goal is to replace the existing R-path system with a new network of nodes that create better connectivity and safety for pedestrians and cyclists. The project is estimated to cost around 120,000 €, with the city required to contribute 45,000 €.

Health and Care

The Health, Aging, and Care Conference convened on 28.01.2026 and discussed the current status of the 2024 Aging and Care Plan. The report shows that the number of people in need of care in Wuppertal is steadily increasing. On 15.12.2023, 25,080 people in need of care lived in Wuppertal, of whom 20,121 were over 60 years old.

In addition, it was decided to make the City of Wuppertal Youth Office a regular member of the Health and Care Conference to better integrate health-related issues such as prevention, inclusion, and integration support into planning. At the same time, the Care Advisory Network, which has existed since 2009, was dissolved. The remaining balance of 11,000 € is intended for events on the topic of care.

Outlook

January 2026 was marked by clear decisions in education, finances, and climate protection. The district committees set impulses that will shape the development of Wuppertal in the coming years. Budget planning remains central, but the implementation of climate-friendly mobility concepts and the provision of educational opportunities are also key issues.

The coming months will show whether the adopted measures can be implemented in practice and how the budget problems can be resolved in the long term. For citizens, it remains important to participate in the discussions and get involved in the committees.