With one month to go until the International Day of University Sport (IDUS) and the European Week of Sport (EWoS), September will once again bring universities, students, sports organisations and communities together around a shared message: staying active contributes to healthier, more inclusive and connected societies.

The International Day of University Sport will be celebrated on 20 September 2026, marking a special milestone as IDUS celebrates its 10th anniversary. Established in 2016 and officially proclaimed by UNESCO, the annual celebration highlights the role of sport and physical activity within higher education and the wider community.

For its 10th anniversary, FISU has introduced a global concept under the theme “10 years – 10 kilometres”. Universities and university sport organisations are invited to organise a 10-kilometre activity on 20 September – whether around a campus, through a city or even on water – and bring together as many participants as possible.

The initiative encourages organisers to document their activities through photographs, videos and stories and share them globally. Participants are also invited to post on Instagram at 16:00 local time, using #IDUS2026 and tagging FISU, while reporting the kilometres covered so that activities around the world can contribute to a collective global total.

The anniversary provides an opportunity not only to celebrate a decade of IDUS, but also to highlight the continuing contribution of university sport to physical activity, wellbeing, education, inclusion and community engagement.

Following IDUS, attention will turn to the European Week of Sport, taking place from 23 to 30 September 2026. Launched by the European Commission in 2015, the initiative enters its 12th year with the message “#BeActive your way”, inviting everyone to find their own way to move – without pressure or judgement.

The 2026 campaign emphasises that physical activity can take many forms and that everyone can participate, regardless of age, background or ability. Walking, cycling, dancing, playing sport, exercising with friends or simply introducing more movement into everyday routines all contribute to the #BeActive movement.

Since its launch, the European Week of Sport has grown into a major European-wide movement. According to the European Commission, the campaign has so far involved 118 million participants across more than 433,000 activities in 42 countries.

The European Week of Sport will officially open in Dublin, Ireland, on 23 September 2026, bringing together partners and participants to launch another week of activities across Europe. EUSA, as an official partner of the initiative, continues to support the campaign and promote its connection with university sport.

Another key moment of this year's campaign will be #BeActive Night on 26 September, when activities will take place simultaneously across participating countries, creating a shared European celebration of sport and physical activity.

EUSA will once again connect the two September campaigns, using #LetsIDUS and #BeActive to encourage its member federations, universities, student-athletes, volunteers and partners to take part. Celebrations will be extended in October with the second edition of the European Students Run taking place again in Ljubljana. 

The connection between the initiatives reflects EUSA's broader commitment to using university sport as a tool for healthy lifestyles, inclusion, wellbeing, education and community participation. In previous years, EUSA has marked IDUS and EWoS through activities at its championships, recreational events, office initiatives and activities organised together with members and partners.

With IDUS on 20 September followed immediately by the European Week of Sport from 23-30 September, the two campaigns provide a strong opportunity for the university sport community to showcase how movement can bring people together and inspire more active lifestyles throughout the year.

EUSA invites its members, partners, universities and the wider university sports community to join the celebrations, organise activities and share their stories. Whether it is a 10-kilometre IDUS activity, a university sports event, a recreational session or a simple everyday movement challenge, every contribution can help make the message visible across Europe and beyond.