In some parts of the world, today is Easter Monday, but everywhere on the planet, it is the World Day for Physical Activity. A great incentive to walk, cycle, run, jump and play, and keep moving all 364 other days of the year too!
Whether you are taking baby steps or leaps of faith doesn’t matter. The only think that is important is that you try to practice a physical activity today, and as often as possible every other day of the year. One of the pillars of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) is student wellbeing. For us, it is as important as our sport events because mind and body are so interdependent.
World university students moving, competing, smiling…
Whether you train for a FISU World University Championship podium this year, to qualify for the Changchun 2027 Winter Universiade next January or whether you are focusing on your studies, always remember that movement is key to feel good. So forget the lift and take the stairs, walk home instead of taking the bus. Ride your bike instead of driving your car. You will feel better and happier and soon enough your habits will have changed for good.
All year round, FISU encourages movement for everyone at universities around the world through the Healthy Campus Programme. The International University Sports Federation also encourages the practice of sport alongside studies through the Dual Career Programme. And of course other partners and stakeholders have plenty of initiatives to get everyone off their office chairs or sitting room couches…
Start preparing for the European Students Run in Ljubljana
Following the landmark success of the inaugural edition in 2025, the European University Sports Association (EUSA) and the EUSA Institute are proud to announce that the European Students Run will officially return to the streets of Ljubljana on 17-18 October, 2026.
The 2025 pilot edition of the European Students Run set a new standard for student engagement, uniting nearly 2.000 participants from 34 countries. The event was born from the Runners4All Erasmus+ project and also influenced by the Fit4Green project, both co-funded by the European Union. Its mission remains clear: to promote mental and physical wellbeing, youth engagement, social inclusion and environmental sustainability through the universal language of running.
“The European Students Run is a flagship example of how university sport can transcend traditional competition,” says EUSA President Haris Pavletic. “By partnering with large-scale public events like the Ljubljana Marathon, we are making university sport visible to the wider public and emphasising that physical activity is a cornerstone of a healthy academic life.”
The 2026 edition features three categories: the 10 km, 21 km and 42 km runs for men and women, ensuring that students of all skill levels, from beginners to elite athletes, can represent their academic institutions.
Discussions around mental and physical health
The event will also be preceded by an educational programme, serving as a platform for experts, student mentors, students and stakeholders to discuss mental and physical health by using running as health-enhancing physical activity and a tool to combat student burnout and stress; green sports by implementing sustainable event management practices; and inclusion by creating accessible sport environments for students of all genders, capabilities and abilities.
European Students Run 2026
Click here for more info and to registerRelated News
Meet five truly inspirational women from the university sports movement
A historic year for Croatian student sport
