IGA 2027 Ruhr Area
The International Garden Exhibition 2027 in the Ruhr region will showcase sustainable, future-oriented urban development. Long-term projects such as enhanced parks and gardens, renaturalized waterways, green cycling and pedestrian routes, and planting concepts will make cities more climate-resilient, vibrant, and ecologically stable. This will create places that will serve as a green legacy for future generations well beyond 2027.
The IGA 2027 is based on a three-level concept: cities and municipalities develop infrastructure and green spaces, people actively shape the green future of their city, and the future gardens showcase innovative concepts for a sustainable metropolis.
Together, a network of green, social, and forward-looking spaces is emerging, transforming the Ruhr region into a modern, livable area. The three levels tell a new story: industrial heritage remains visible but is reinterpreted, and gray, functional spaces are transformed into vibrant meeting places.
The IGA 2027 is far more than a garden exhibition – it is a showcase for a region on the move and shows the way to a strong, green future.
(Source: www.iga2027.de)
The three levels of the IGA in Recklinghausen:
How do we want to live tomorrow? What does the city of the future need? The five future gardens of the IGA 2027 provide answers: three fee-based and two freely accessible locations function as laboratories where sustainable concepts for living together in the Ruhr area can be developed and experienced.
From April 23 to October 17, 2027, the sites will present innovative approaches that address the challenges of climate change, urban diversity and sustainable urban development.
More information is available at FUTURE GARDENS
Emscherland
The Emscherland area, located on the border between Recklinghausen and Castrop-Rauxel, is one of two free "Future Gardens" and was created as part of the Emscher River restoration project by the Emschergenossenschaft and the Lippeverband (EGLV). The cities of Recklinghausen and Castrop-Rauxel are participating as municipal partners in the use and operation of the Future Garden.
What's special about it: Unlike the other four future gardens, the Emscherland is already finished and can be explored today!
More information about the Emscherland Nature and Water Adventure Park can be found here.
The OUR GARDENS project level integrates innovative urban planning, landscape development, and tourism projects into the IGA 2027 concept. The three building blocks Municipal star projects, Route of Parks and Gardens and Future projects of the region With over 100 locations, it is clear that the guiding question How do we want to live tomorrow? is ubiquitous.
The IGA 2027, as an interface, spans a cooperative network across our 53 municipalities and municipal associations, which are actively implementing unique projects and regional planning.
More information is available at OUR GARDENS
"Living by the lake – residential quarter former trotting track"
The city of Recklinghausen is proud to be part of the IGA future projects with the project “Living by the Lake – Residential Quarter Former Trotting Track”.
The new residential quarter in Hillerheide impressed the jury of the IGA 2027 with its ecological concept featuring a lake and natural design. The jury particularly praised the combination of modern elements with the garden city character of the project: "The design manual clearly outlines a vision for future-oriented and livable housing."
More information about the residential area of the former trotting track can be found here.
Do-it-yourself projects and participation increase people's identification with the IGA 2027 and foster cultural diversity. The region's garden gates lead to green spaces in clubs, neighborhoods, schools, on rooftops, and balconies. Private gardens also await international guests. In the Ruhr region, greenery is rooted in tradition: In the past, private gardens provided people with fresh produce and offered respite from work.
Experience how citizens in the Ruhr area are actively shaping the transformation to green urban spaces and creating their own places for nature, encounters and education.
More information is available at MY GARDEN
Garden network “Our garden diversity Recklinghausen”
The idea to establish a garden network for the 2027 International Garden Exhibition (IGA) in Recklinghausen originated in the "Sustainable Urban Development" expert forum of the Local Agenda. The network will be part of the IGA's "My Garden" section, a platform where urban green projects and private gardens can showcase themselves. The network, titled "Our Garden Diversity Recklinghausen," unites gardens, near-natural areas, and an insect hotel with forage plants.
In January 2025, the time had finally come – many garden enthusiasts accepted the invitation from the expert forum to the first networking meeting at the Recklinghausen Adult Education Center. Over the following months, several gardens were presented and visited. It was astonishing how many beautiful, unusual, and – as the name suggests – diverse gardens there are in Recklinghausen. Since then, the network has grown with more participating gardens and many new ideas.
More information about the network “Our Garden Diversity Recklinghausen” is available here. in this flyer.
Here you can find more information about the IGA and the offers in the Emscherland region:
Contact:
For all questions regarding the IGA 2027 in the Emscherland region, the team at the Recklinghausen Tourist Information office can be reached by telephone at 02361 90 66 000 are available to support you.
You can reach us by email at touristinfo@recklinghausen.de
Our opening times:
Monday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Tuesday, Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 10.00 - 18.00 clock
Friday: 10.00 - 17.00 clock
Saturday: 10.00 - 14.00 clock
The Tourist Information office is located in the Martinistraße 5, 45657 Recklinghausen.
