Press releases

• The PTSV is once again teaming up with the city to organize a major beach volleyball tournament at Katschhof.
• The fantastic atmosphere created by the audience and the enthusiasm of the top-notch field of players last year were the deciding factors in organizing this year's event.
• Admission is free, and this year there are also 120 seats available: First come, first served.

Sun, sand, and exciting sports—all on the city’s most beautiful square—are the perfect ingredients for a perfect summer afternoon and evening: In 2026, the Katschhof will once again be transformed into a beach volleyball court for a 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 once again. “In fact, last year’s first tournament had a real vacation vibe and summer feel to it. A new highlight on the event calendar: And a new sporting format set against a stunning backdrop—a fair and dynamic sport that instantly gets you cheering along. Aachen, the city of volleyball, is showing its best side here, even beyond the region,” enthuses Mayor Dr. Michael Ziemons about the tournament’s inaugural edition in 2025. For him, it goes without saying: “After the fantastic response last year, I was happy to ask André Schnitker to do everything in his power to support this PTSV event for its second edition as well.”

A Special Showcase for the PTSV Although
the PTSV is now firmly established on the volleyball scene, this showcase is once again something special for the Aachen sports club: “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase our sport to even more people at an unconventional tournament—at the highest competitive level. The volleyball division at PTSV is extremely successful and booming. And such an extraordinary event is certainly an additional incentive for children and teenagers 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 amazing, unique setting and the crowd’s enthusiasm. I travel to a lot of tournaments, but this setting was perhaps only surpassed by the Olympic tournament in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.” After last year’s event, 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 in the German Beach Volleyball Tour and 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, who is also part of the PTSV organizing team and is responsible for event management at the City of Aachen, among other things, has helped organize several major events, but “Kaiser/in 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, we have a few new features this year. A large LED screen—which we’re setting up 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. Plus: 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.

For more information, contact PTSV Aachen: https://sportverein-aachen.de