Special Barometer on Sport and Physical Activity

In September 2026, during the European Week of Sport, the European Commission published the new Special Barometer on Sport and Physical Activity. The outdoor sector continues to make crucial contributions to the commission’s #BeActive campaign, and the importance and impact of those is highlighted in the barometer, and in the latest updates from the various grassroots projects across Europe.

Special Barometer on Sport and Physical Activity is a series of face-to-face or online public opinion surveys of a representative sample of the population across all EU Member States. The results allow the European Commission to monitor trends over time, compare the situation between Member States, and contribute to EU policymaking. The current survey is the sixth edition of the Special (Euro)Barometer on Sport and Physical Activity, with the previous edition conducted in 2022.

The Commission actively promotes sport and physical activity, recognising their fundamental role in physical and mental well-being. Regular and adequate physical activity is proven to deliver substantial health benefits; it helps prevent, manage, and recover from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, and mental health conditions. Nonetheless, as reflected in the Eurobarometer survey, physical inactivity remains a major challenge across the EU.

Key Findings

Engaging in physical activity

The share of citizens exercising several times a week has risen to 38% (up 6 percentage points), while the share exercising almost daily has increased to 9% (up 3 percentage points). At the same time, the share of Europeans who never exercise or play sport decreased from 45% in 2022 to 39% this year.

Venues for exercise

Parks and outdoor spaces remain the most popular setting for exercise (47%, stable from 2022), followed by health and fitness facilities (from 33% to 39%) and active commuting (from 24% to 37%— the largest increase across all categories). Walking for at least 10 minutes at a time is now reported by 72% of citizens, a significant increase compared to 16% in 2022.

The mental health and wellbeing case for physical activity

• Health benefits and well-being remain the main drivers of engagement, while practical constraints limit participation.
• Improving or maintaining physical health (44%) and relaxing (39%) remain the top two personal motivations for exercising, ahead of improving physical performance (30%) and travelling from one place to another (30%). Improving mental health or reducing stress is cited by 26% of respondents.