Horses used to gallop to victory here, but today a green oasis is being created on the former racecourse site in Neuss that is rewriting the city's history: The State Garden Show will open its doors here from April 16 to October 11, 2026. Just a few steps away from the historic city center and in the immediate vicinity of Neuss harbor, the new citizens' park is growing on an area of 38 hectares, which will remain a permanent green lung for the city after the show.
The site has been undergoing redevelopment since 2023, retaining the charm of the old racecourse: The striking sand track, the judges' towers and parts of the historic building structure will be carefully integrated and revitalized. With 2,200 newly planted trees, wide meadows, a pond and a variety of biotopes, an ecologically valuable area is being created that focuses on climate adaptation, sustainability and biodiversity. Weeping cherries, English oaks and red ash trees give the park structure and color, while a small arboretum presents rare tree species. This is complemented by 50 house and themed gardens that showcase ecological and contemporary garden design.
Feel-good gardens with their own history
Concrete measures on the site underline the fact that more is being created here than just a temporary exhibition: the former stable building ensemble in the north-east is being transformed into the Hammfeldhof, a new meeting place for events, seminars and gastronomy. The existing skate park will be integrated into the park, expanded and supplemented with a dirt bike track and a small pump track. Graffiti and climbing walls, a mobile stage for breakdancing and improvisation will also bring an urban lifestyle to the natural surroundings. Sports enthusiasts can also enjoy beach volleyball and basketball courts.
The six feel-good gardens designed by renowned landscape gardeners from North Rhine-Westphalia are a particular eye-catcher at the State Garden Show. Each of these areas, measuring between 250 and 450 square meters, tells its own story of nature, design and sustainability. One garden appeals to all the senses, with scents, tactile materials, edible plants and a harmonious play of colors. Another captivates with a natural pool and floating steps that combine lightness and elegance. A third deliberately dispenses with concrete as a show garden and relies on consistently sustainable materials. Another is inspired by the archipelago gardens of Scandinavia, where rock and water characterize the landscape, while the garden with the motto "cycle" consistently focuses on reuse and recycling. The ensemble is rounded off by a garden designed as an impressive retreat.
The event program of the Neuss 2026 State Garden Show also promises diversity: over 1,000 events over 179 days will turn the site into a stage in the countryside. Guests will celebrate, laugh and dance at several venues and in a large marquee. Program highlights include performances by the German electropop band MiA, singer-songwriter Gregor Meyle and shows by the legendary Quatsch Comedy Club. Local artists, associations and initiatives also play an active role in shaping the program, making the Landesgartenschau a lively community project.
