Between 29-31 October 2025, the European School Sport Day (ESSD) team had the pleasure of joining the MOVE Congress 2025, hosted by the International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA) and DGI in Copenhagen. As one of the world’s leading events dedicated to grassroots sport, physical activity, and social impact, the Congress brought together over 899 participants from across the globe—creating a vibrant, energetic environment that encouraged dialogue, innovation, and collaboration.

Strengthening Connections Across the ESSD Network

One of the highlights of our participation was reconnecting with the many organisations and national coordinators involved in ESSD 2025. We were delighted to meet representatives from our consortium partners, including:

• V4SPORT (Poland)
• BG BE ACTIVE (Bulgaria)
• ISCA (Denmark)
• DES – Deporte para la Educación y la Sociedad (Spain)
• YSTI – Youth Sport Trust International (United Kingdom)

Beyond the consortium partners, we also had the chance to exchange ideas and updates with ESSD national coordinators from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Portugal, Serbia, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, and Italy. Bringing together such a wide range of perspectives contributed to meaningful conversations about the future of school sport and the direction of ESSD 2025.

An Inspiring Programme and a City Built for Movement

This year’s MOVE Congress stood out for its engaging and diverse programme. Participants could choose from a variety of sessions on inclusion, active education, community building, innovation in grassroots sports, social inclusion in and through sports, mental health, advocacy, environmental sustainability, and many more. Each discussion provided valuable insights that will help shape future editions of ESSD – particularly as we continue working to make school environments across Europe more active, inclusive, and joyful.

Of course, no visit to Copenhagen would be complete without experiencing the city’s world-renowned cycling culture. We seized the opportunity to explore its impressive cycling infrastructure firsthand—an inspiring example of how urban design can encourage daily physical activity.

And throughout the congress, our trusty ESSD bottle was by our side, reminding us of our shared mission to promote more active lifestyles for learners of all ages.

Looking Ahead to ESSD 2025

The MOVE Congress 2025 left us energised and full of new ideas. From best-practice exchanges to creative project concepts, the insights we gathered will be invaluable as we continue preparing for the next edition of European School Sport Day. Events like this play a key role in strengthening partnerships, sparking innovation, and reaffirming our commitment to making movement a natural part of every child’s school day.

We are excited to take this inspiration forward and continue building an even more impactful ESSD in 2026 and beyond.

Learn more about the MOVE Congress 2025: Together We Moved – MOVE Congress 2025