ESSD 2026 REGISTRATION OPEN, NEW TOOLKIT LAUNCHED
reparations are gathering pace for this year’s European School Sport Day (ESSD), which set to take place on Friday 25 September 2026. Registration is currently open, and a comprehensive toolkit focusing on this year’s theme of active mobility has now been published.
This year’s event will focus on the integration of walking, cycling and other forms of active travel into everyday school life. Teachers and pupils will be encouraged to incorporate more active travel into the school day and explore alternative methods of travelling to and from the school gates.
Despite overwhelming evidence of its numerous benefits, recent years have seen a decline in active travel among schoolchildren. Research published in the European Journal of Public Health in 2021 showed that active commuting to school, such as walking or cycling, has declined across Europe, while more children are being driven to school. Under the moniker “Step, Pedal, Move!”, this year’s event aims to address this worrying trend and make active mobility a natural and enjoyable component of pupils’ daily routines.
Step, Pedal, Move!
Drawing on successful examples from around the world, the new ESSD toolkit clearly highlights the benefits of active travel and the most effective methods of promoting it. In addition to detailing best practice from other nations, it provides ideas, inspiration and practical tips for organising a successful event in diverse settings. Examples include how to map routes, how to carry out traffic and safety assessments, and what to do in the event of bad weather.
The toolkit also emphasises the importance of working closely with partners such as parents, community leaders, and where necessary, local authorities and the police. The ultimate goal is to help create school environments that encourage and facilitate lasting active travel.
Suggested initiatives include the “walking bus” or “bicycle bus” concept, where groups of pupils travel to school together along a fixed route, usually supervised by adults or older student volunteers. More practical measures include ensuring that adequate bicycle storage exists, mapping the safest routes around the school, and awarding prizes or certificates to participating pupils.
Participants can register for ESSD 2026 at www.essd.eu/register. To register for this year’s event and become part of the ESSD community, simply provide details of your school, a contact person and the estimated number of participants.
Developed by ISCA with funding from the European Union, ESSD is today one of the main events of the annual European Week of Sport. In 2025 it was celebrated in 40 countries, with more than 15,600 schools and 3.7 million students taking part.
The Activ Mobility Focus Topic toolkit is available here and General toolkit can be found here.
