After the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the World University Games are the largest multi-sport event in the world. In 2025, they will mainly take place in the Ruhr region. Whether athletics, basketball or rowing: Athletes from around 150 countries will be competing for medals in 18 different sports. In addition to the sport, guests can expect a varied cultural programme.
There is a similar mix in Aachen: Although the equestrian elite meet there every year at the CHIO, they will also be coming to the Karlsstadt for the World Championships in 2026 - accompanied by a unique cultural programme of concerts and art events. Aachen's museums also take up the theme in exhibitions.
Both the men's and women's European hockey championships will be held in Mönchengladbach in 2025. The best beach volleyball players will meet in Düsseldorf to find their European champions. Sports fans can look forward to exciting competitions and a rousing atmosphere.
All year round, the German Sport & Olympic Museum in Cologne is the right place for sports fans. Here, 2,500 years of sporting history come to life - from ancient times to the present day. Guests can also get active themselves, for example at the legendary goal wall of the ZDF sports studio or on a bicycle in the wind tunnel.
The German Football Museum in Dortmund is another top sports-related museum in NRW. 1,600 exhibits, 25 hours of film material and interactive elements such as reporters' booths make the visit an experience. The major special exhibition ‘NETZER - THE SEVENTEEN YEARS’, a tribute to an extraordinary personality in an equally extraordinary time, also opened on April 9th, 2025.
Meet the the experts from Tourismus NRW, Ruhr Tourismus, the aachen tourist service and KölnTourismus at the RDA Group Travel Expo 2025 in Cologne at stand C07.