Push-Up Challenge 2026 runs from 3rd to 26th June with 3,307 push-ups target
Australia’s largest mental health and fitness event, The Push-Up Challenge, will return in 2026, marking its tenth year with a nationwide participation initiative focused on mental health awareness.
Participants will complete 3,307 push-ups across 24 days in June, a figure representing the number of lives lost to suicide in Australia in 2024. The challenge will run from 3rd to 26th June and is open to individuals, teams, workplaces, schools, and community groups.
Hundreds of thousands of Australians are expected to take part, engaging in physical activity while learning about mental health through daily facts linked to push-up targets. The event combines exercise, education, and community participation across a structured timeframe.
Founder Nick Hudson said, “Mental health challenges will affect nearly everyone at some point in their lives. So whether they’re taking part themselves or supporting someone who is, we’re calling on every Australian to get behind the Challenge, because every push-up, and every conversation about mental health, brings us one step closer to making a real difference.”
Participation is free, although fundraising remains optional. Participants can choose to support Lifeline, headspace, or the Push for Better Foundation, which operates the event.
Participation options and impact metrics
Participants who cannot complete the full 3,307 push-ups can set a personalised target or choose alternative exercises such as sit-ups, squats, or tailored routines. Progress is tracked through a dedicated app, which also delivers daily mental health insights.
Hudson said, “As we enter our tenth year, I’m incredibly proud that The Push-Up Challenge has encouraged over 1 million Australians to take a more proactive approach to their fitness and mental wellbeing, raising more than $60 million for mental health services in the process – and we can’t wait to watch those numbers continue to grow. What started as a simple fitness challenge has grown into a fun way for every Australian to connect with their community, get fit, learn about mental health and honour the lives tragically lost to suicide.”
The 2025 event recorded its largest participation to date, with more than 232,000 participants completing over 328 million push-ups and raising more than $12.4 million for mental health services.
Hudson added, “The Push-Up Challenge prides itself on bringing together three of Australia’s major mental health charities with one common goal. With The Push For Better Foundation’s focus on mental health education, Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services, and headspace’s early intervention services for young people, we’ll work together to engage Australians in a holistic conversation about mental health.”
The initiative began in 2017 in Perth as a challenge between four individuals and has since expanded internationally. The 2026 event will also run in Canada, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand alongside Australia.
