The Push-Up Challenge 2026

Dec 10, 2025

2,000 push-ups in 23 days: Are you up for the Challenge Simcoe County!

MEDIA RELEASE: Barrie January 14, 2026: Canada’s largest mental health and fitness event, The Push-Up Challenge, is back for its third year in 2026, encouraging Canadians to get fit, have fun and push for better mental health, with registrations now open.

Participants will take on 2,000 push-ups across 23 days in February, to remember and honour the approximately 2,000 lives that are lost to suicide each day worldwide and raise vital funds for the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).

From 5 to 27 February 2026, hundreds of thousands of Canadians from all ages and walks of life will participate in the event which engages people in mental health through connection, physical activity and education.

Founder and CEO of The Push-Up Challenge, Nick Hudson, said, “The Push-Up Challenge is a fun and accessible way to improve your fitness, learn about mental health and connect with friends, family and community, all while honouring the lives tragically lost to suicide.”

“Mental health challenges will affect nearly everyone at some point in their lives. The Challenge aims to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness through education and encourage Canadians to take a more proactive approach to their fitness and mental wellbeing.”

The Push-Up Challenge is a free event, and participants can choose to fundraise and support Canadian Mental Health Association Simcoe County Branch (CMHA SCB). Since 2024, over 120,000 Canadian participants completed over 100 million push-ups and raised over $6 million for mental health.

“The Push-Up Challenge is about more than fitness—it’s about bringing people together and sparking important conversations about mental health and addiction,” said Sarah Banbury, CEO of CMHA SCB. “You don’t need to be an athlete—just show up, move at your own pace, and support others. Every push-up, squat, or sit-up helps raise awareness and strengthens our community’s mental wellbeing.”

Throughout the Challenge, participants of all ages and abilities push-up while learning about mental health, with the number of daily push-ups changing to reflect a vital mental health fact.

If completing 2,000 push-ups feels out of reach, participants can choose exercise alternatives such as sit-ups, squats or tailored exercises, with progress tracked through a dedicated app.

Having run in Australia for nine years and Canada for two, The Push-Up Challenge has seen more than 1M participants complete over 1 billion push-ups, raising over $60 million AUD for mental health.

A 2024 study by The University of Melbourne found that The Push-Up Challenge has significant behavioural change on its participants, with them experiencing significant improvements in mental wellbeing, resilience and social connection following the Challenge. It also found that The Push-Up Challenge helps participants who may be experiencing a mental health challenge, with significant reductions in the severity of depression and anxiety symptoms immediately following the event and three months afterwards, highlighting the lasting benefits of movement and community for mental health.

Following the Challenge, participants who reported experiencing a mental health problem were over twice as likely to seek help (including help from a health professional, family member, friend, digital support group or by taking medication), and over three times as likely to adopt self-care strategies such as doing more exercise, spending time in nature, connecting with a friend or family member or spending time with a pet.

The Push-Up Challenge 2026 will run from 5 to 27 February. You can register for The Push-Up Challenge as an individual, team, or get your whole workplace, club, gym or school involved at www.thepushupchallenge.ca

-ENDS-

About The Push-Up Challenge

Founded by Nick Hudson in Perth, Australia in 2017, The Push-Up Challenge began as a challenge between four friends and has grown to become one of the world’s most successful international mental health and fitness events. 2026 will mark The Push-Up Challenge’s third year in Canada and tenth year in Australia. The Challenge is a fun way for participants to connect with one another, get fit, and learn about mental health, with participants encouraged to raise money for mental health charities. The event is free to take part in and will run in Canada from 5 to 27 February. For more information and to register, visit www.thepushupchallenge.ca

About CMHA SCB

As a leading community agency, CMHA SCB is dedicated to supporting individuals and families in Simcoe County experiencing mental health and/or addiction challenges. The organization empowers people to make informed choices through a broad range of community-based services, as well as social, educational, vocational, rehabilitation and specialized programs.

CMHA SCB proudly serves all members of the community, embracing and respecting people of all races, cultures, religions, gender identities, sexual orientations, abilities and ages.

For more information, visit www.cmhastarttalking.ca.

Media contact:
media@thepushupchallenge.com.au

CMHA SCB media contact:
Liz Grummett

Manager of Fundraising, Communications and Community Engagement

lgrummett@cmhastarttalking.ca

Check out our 2026 Simcoe County supporters! 

Since launching this campaign in 2024, CMHA SCB received an incredible $45,622.85 through the last two Push-Up Challenges—support that is making a real difference in our community.

How donations make an impact

Here is how your donations and fundraising for CMHA will improve mental health outcomes across Canada.

Changing the system

CMHA advocates for a mental health care system that takes care of everyone – no matter who, no matter where, and no matter what.

Delivering community mental health services

CMHA offers a variety of programs, services and supports from 330 community locations across Canada. This includes mental health education and promotion, patient navigation, suicide prevention, youth and campus mental health services, peer support, addiction services, eating disorder services, employment and housing supports and more.

Shaping social change

CMHA works to influence behaviour in key settings, such as schools, workplaces and communities, to create a climate of acceptance and to foster social change. They change the way people understand mental health, and how they get care.