Name: Days of the Flyers Essen 2026
Start: 2026-06-20T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-06-21T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Kennedyplatz Essen

Day of the Flyers

About Day of the Flyers

On June 20 and 21, 2026, Essen's Kennedyplatz will transform into an open-air stadium: At the 'Day of the Flyers', around 150 international top athletes will compete in the jumping disciplines of high jump, long jump, triple jump, and pole vault — right in front of the backdrop of Essen's city center. Free admission, Sat 10 AM–10 PM, Sun 11 AM–5 PM, plus an expo zone with hands-on activities for children. One of North Rhine-Westphalia's most visited and sportingly profiled athletics events.

Dates 20 Jun — 21 Jun 2026

Venue Essen (05113)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Day of the Flyers — edition 2026

Two days of athletics jumping sports festival on Essen's Kennedyplatz: around 150 international top athletes in high jump, long jump, triple jump, and pole vault. Sat 10 AM–10 PM, Sun 11 AM–5 PM. Free admission, plus an expo zone with hands-on activities for children.

The 2026 edition of the Days of the Flyers will take place on June 20 and 21. Kennedyplatz will be equipped with professional jumping facilities, and the athletes — Olympic participants, World Championship medal winners, junior talents — will compete in four jumping disciplines. An expo zone for children makes the festival family-friendly.

Highlights Day of the Flyers 2026

150 international top athletes
Four jumping disciplines: High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Pole Vault
Athletics in the middle of the city center — Kennedyplatz
Expo zone with hands-on activities
Free admission

Programme Day of the Flyers 2026

Saturday, June 20, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM

10:00 AM — Opening of the Expo Zone for Children
11:00 AM — Warm-up and Training Jumps
2:00 PM — First Competition Blocks (Long Jump, High Jump)
5:00 PM — Pole Vault Block
7:00 PM — Evening Competitions
10:00 PM — Festival End

Sunday, June 21, 2026 — 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

11:00 AM — Festival Opening
12:00 PM — Main Competitions Triple Jump, High Jump
2:00 PM — Finals of Top Disciplines
4:00 PM — Award Ceremonies
5:00 PM — Festival End

Expo Zone

Hands-on stations for children
Taster sessions in high jump and long jump
Meet-and-greets with athletes

Prices Day of the Flyers 2026

Free admission to all competitions and hands-on activities.

Practical information

Practical information — Day of the Flyers

Getting There

Kennedyplatz is located directly at Essen Main Station — reachable on foot in 3 minutes from the station. ICE, IC, RE trains from all over Germany. By car via the A40 or A52 (exit Essen-Zentrum) — parking garages in the city center.

Admission

Free admission to all competitions and hands-on activities.

Tip

Those who want to see athletes up close should come during the warm-up phase and watch the training jumps. For families, the morning with the expo zone is particularly attractive. Bring sunscreen and water — competitions also take place in full sun.

Athletics in the City Instead of the Stadium

The Days of the Flyers in Essen are a special format: Instead of in a stadium before empty stands, the athletics jumping festival takes place in the middle of the city center — on Kennedyplatz, a central meeting point in the city, which is equipped with high jump, long jump, triple jump, and pole vault facilities. The audience stands directly at the run-up, sees the athletes up close, and experiences athletics presented in a kind of sports theatre.

150 Top Athletes, Four Jumping Disciplines

The field of participants is first-class: Around 150 international top athletes come to Essen for the two festival days. Disciplines 2026:

High Jump — Men and Women
Long Jump — Men and Women
Triple Jump — Men and Women
Pole Vault — Men and Women

Olympic participants, World Championship medal winners, and junior talents will compete — mostly in the run-up to the national championships or directly in the competition block of the summer season.

Program Over Two Days

Saturday, June 20, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM: Morning children's expo and opening, afternoon first competition blocks, evening with a highlight of atmosphere
Sunday, June 21, 2026 — 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM: Main competitions, finals of top disciplines, family program

An Expo Zone for Children offers hands-on stations, taster sessions, and meet-and-greets with athletes — the deliberately low-threshold family part of the festival.

Essen — Sports City in the Ruhr Area

With the Days of the Flyers, Essen is positioning itself as an athletics location and sports city. The independent city in the heart of the Ruhr Area in North Rhine-Westphalia has a tradition in athletics, alongside football (RWE) and basketball. Kennedyplatz is symbolically central — directly at the main train station, easily accessible by spectators from the entire Ruhr Area. The format is one of the most unusual athletics events in Germany in terms of size and concept.