Beach volleyball tournament on the Katschhof

The PTSV, in collaboration with the city, is once again organizing a major beach volleyball tournament at Katschhof.

The fantastic atmosphere created by the crowd and the enthusiasm of last year’s top-tier field of players were the deciding factors in bringing the event back.

Admission is free, and this year there will also be 120 seats available: first come, first served.

In 2026, the Katschhof will once again be transformed into a beach volleyball court for one day during the “Kaiser/in of the Court powered by Johnson & Johnson MedTech.” On Wednesday, July 8, starting at 4 p.m., the spiking, digging, and blocking

will begin again. A special showcase for the PTSV
. Although the PTSV is now firmly established on the volleyball map, this showcase means something extra special for the Aachen sports club: “This is a fantastic format for us to showcase our sport to even more people at an unconventional tournament—at the highest competitive level. The volleyball division at the PTSV is extremely successful and booming. And such an extraordinary event is certainly an additional incentive for children and young people to get excited about this great sport,” says PTSV Managing Director Markus Krieger. He also knows: “The PTSV is proving that we can pull off such great events. But of course, this also requires reliable partners and supporters such as the main sponsor Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Sparkasse Aachen, AOK, and Carolus Thermen.”

Dr. Michael Neuß, who is responsible for selecting the tournament roster on the PTSV organizing team, reports that the atmosphere isn’t just a hit with the audience: “The players naturally soak up this fantastic, unique setting and the audience’s enthusiasm. I travel to a lot of tournaments, but the setting was perhaps only surpassed by the Olympic tournament in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.” After last year, players who had heard about the fantastic atmosphere reached out to him on their own initiative.

The huge success of “Kaiser/in of the Court” is due in no small part to the attractive field of participants: players from Spain, the Netherlands, and Germany—who compete on the German Beach Volleyball Tour or in international tournaments—are playing in Aachen. Neuß also has a personal stake in the event: “Of course, I’m especially on the edge of my seat when my daughter Sophia tries to repeat her success from last year and become ‘Empress of the Court’ for the second time.”A

large LED wall and bleachers
. André Schnitker, also part of the PTSV organizing team and responsible for event management at the City of Aachen, among other things, has helped organize several major events, but “Emperor/Empress of the Court” is special to him as well: “For me, this has made a long-held dream come true. As a volleyball player, I’ve always viewed the sandbox as a playing field through the eyes of a volleyball player. Then, for the sandbox’s tenth anniversary in 2025, Aachen’s Sports Commissioner Dr. Markus Kremer came up with the same idea.” Schnitker was given the opportunity to plan the event: “When you get a chance like this, you’re naturally immediately on board with great enthusiasm. And the reactions from the audience, the sponsors, and the athletes make me proud to be part of the tournament.”

And there’s always room for improvement: “Thanks to the generous support of our many sponsors and partners, there are several new features this year. A large LED screen—which we’re installing for the first time this year—will allow spectators to follow the scores even more easily and in greater detail. We’ve also secured a new beverage partner this year. And: There’s a new grandstand facing the cathedral. For 120 of the 200 seats, it’s first come, first served—and, of course, completely free of charge, just like the entire event,” says Schnitker, outlining the new features for 2026.