Move More September
September 1 - September 30
About Move More September
Move More September is a UK awareness month that encourages people of all ages and abilities to add more physical activity to their daily lives. The campaign uses the start of the autumn term as a fresh-start moment, prompting families, schools, and workplaces to build movement back into their routines after the summer holidays. It runs from Tuesday 1 September to Wednesday 30 September 2026.
What is Move More September?
Move More September is a month-long UK campaign focused on the wellbeing benefits of physical activity. It is championed by a range of partners including local activity providers, charities working with cancer survivors, NHS Trusts, and county sport partnerships. The month works alongside the better-known National Fitness Day, observed in the UK on the third Wednesday of September, to keep the focus on movement throughout the autumn return to school and work.
When is Move More September?
Move More September runs throughout September each year. In 2026 the month covers Tuesday 1 September to Wednesday 30 September, with National Fitness Day landing on Wednesday 16 September. The official hashtag is #MoveMoreSeptember.
Why Move More September Matters
The UK Chief Medical Officers recommend that adults do at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity each week, yet around a third of adults in England fall short of those guidelines. Inactivity is linked to higher risks of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, several common cancers, depression, and dementia, and Public Health England estimates physical inactivity costs the NHS more than £900 million per year. Movement is also one of the most effective things you can do for mental health, with research showing benefits even from light activity such as gardening or walking. Move More September gives the country a focused moment to take action.
How to Get Involved in Move More September
The campaign is built around the principle that any movement counts, with options for every fitness level:
- Take the daily step pledge – Set a step target with friends or colleagues; even 7,000 to 10,000 steps a day can have meaningful health benefits.
- Walk or cycle to work or school – Use Move More September as the prompt to swap one or two car journeys a week for active travel.
- Try a new activity – From walking netball and cycling without age limits to chair-based yoga and parkrun, the campaign encourages variety.
- Join a local activity group – Find Walking for Health groups, parkrun events, and county sport partnership initiatives in your area.
- Build movement into the working day – Walking meetings, standing desks, and lunchtime classes are all small adjustments that add up.
- Run a school challenge – Daily Mile, active playtimes, and PE Premium funded activities are ideal Move More September projects.
- Take the National Fitness Day pledge – On 16 September 2026, ukactive’s National Fitness Day offers thousands of free classes and free gym sessions.
History of Move More September
The Move More brand has a long heritage in UK and US physical activity work. Move More Month is observed annually in April in the United States, originally launched by the American Heart Association in 2018. In the UK, several public health bodies, charities, and county sport partnerships have run their own September-focused Move More campaigns, including Sheffield’s Move More initiative coordinated by the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine and the Yorkshire Cancer Research Move More programme for people living with and beyond cancer.
Move More September has emerged as a unifying name for the campaign, combining the back-to-school energy of September with the evidence-based goal of moving more for longer, healthier lives. The month sits alongside National Fitness Day, launched by ukactive in 2011 and now the UK’s biggest annual celebration of fitness and physical activity. Together they make September one of the most active months in the public health calendar.
Noteworthy Facts About Move More September
- The UK Chief Medical Officers recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week.
- Around one-third of adults in England do not meet the guidelines.
- Physical inactivity costs the NHS more than £900 million per year (Public Health England).
- National Fitness Day, on the third Wednesday of September, has been organised by ukactive since 2011.
- Yorkshire Cancer Research’s Move More programme works specifically with people living with and beyond cancer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Move More September?
A UK awareness month that encourages everyone to add more physical activity to their daily lives, anchored around National Fitness Day in September.
When is Move More September in 2026?
Tuesday 1 September to Wednesday 30 September 2026.
How much exercise should I aim for?
The UK Chief Medical Officers recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity each week, plus muscle-strengthening activities on at least two days. Even short bursts count.
Spread the Word
Help raise awareness by sharing Move More September with your friends, family, and followers. Use the hashtag #MoveMoreSeptember on social media. The more people who get moving, the bigger the impact on national health.
Related Awareness Days
- Blue September – A men’s cancer awareness month that pairs naturally with movement campaigns.
- World Bicycle Day – Highlights cycling, one of the most accessible ways to add movement.
- World Mental Health Day – Recognises the strong link between physical activity and mental wellbeing.
Links
2026 Awareness Days Wall Planner
Every key awareness day at a glance. Perfect for offices, staff rooms, and team planning.
View Calendar →
