On 24 April, various organisations, including businesses, NGOs, universities, schools, kindergartens, fitness centers, and sports clubs across 39 countries, marked the 10th No Elevators Day. The celebration featured engaging events and vibrant social media activity, with participants sharing images and videos under the hashtags #NoElevatorsDay and #UseTheStairs. Keep reading to discover how people and organizations worldwide embraced this initiative for the tenth time, and stay connected to our website and social media for more stories from the event.

First things first: numbers. National Coordinators orchestrated 473 events across 39 countries in 2024, attracting nearly 68,000 participants, excluding the extensive online engagement. It's exciting to see that even more companies, educational and fitness institutions celebrated the 10th No Elevators Day with fun on-site events and activities this year!

Among the campaign highlights, workplaces really embraced the challenge this year. Many companies organised stair-climbing challenges, step-count competitions, and lunchtime fitness sessions. It turns out, a little friendly competition can go a long way in boosting energy and motivation at work! Our team in Copenhagen ditched the elevators and embraced the #BeActive Spirit by conquering CopenHill - and ensuring short active breaks throughout the busy day, too! We recorded our activities on the camera, check it out:

Schools and universities were key players in this year’s campaign. Educators used the opportunity to teach students about the benefits of physical activity and environmental stewardship, instilling healthy habits in the next generation. It was truly inspiring to see communities worldwide come together to support the cause. Events like these not only promote health but also strengthen community bonds!

No Elevators Day also broadened its reach this year, with the initiative debuting in the Republic of Moldova, with Premier Energy Moldova, the largest electric energy provider in the country. Employees at the capital's headquarters chose the stairs over elevators, incorporating physical activity into their daily routines. Read the article on our website for more details about the inaugural No Elevators Day in Moldova and how Premier Energy Moldova has embraced our global initiative.

Social media was also filled with posts from participants of the challenge all over the world, inviting the public to join the movement and amplify the message globally. NowWeMOVE National Coordinators and ISCA members ensured their communities participated in the mindful choice of opting for stairs over elevators and escalators – at least for one day. A tremendous collective effort made No Elevators Day 2024 a significant social media event, where users showcased their creativity, particularly through short videos of their stair-related indoor and outdoor activities.

Thank you to all participants for sharing the message and enjoying this day of MOVEment with us! We will continue our campaign to encourage stair climbing for “brain breaks” throughout the year – join us and utilise our resources, like toolkits for activating workplaces or promoting physical activity in many different setting, and stay tuned!

Mark your calendars for the next No Elevators Day: April 30, 2025.

Participating countries

Albania, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kenya, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Serbia,Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States