The race to be crowned Ireland’s Fittest School 2026 is officially underway, with Olympian and broadcaster David Gillick once again teaming up with Fyffes to lead the national campaign promoting fitness, exercise and healthy eating among young people.
Now entering its fifth year, the initiative invites primary and secondary schools nationwide to take part in an eight-week programme of fun, accessible exercise routines.
The workouts, designed and recorded by Gillick together with Irish fitness trainer Sharon Flanagan, can be integrated directly into school PE classes, with performance measured and tracked online throughout the competition.
Running from January 26th, the 2026 edition builds on the success of previous years by adding live competitive elements. After the initial eight-week programme, the top four schools from each province will advance to four regional qualifier events in April, where they will compete head-to-head.
The winning school from Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster will then progress to the grand final in May, hosted by Gillick and Flanagan.
The overall champion will take home a prize package worth €8,000 in sports equipment, supporting ongoing participation and physical activity within the school.
Gillick said the competition aims to celebrate schools that put wellbeing at the centre of their culture, following in the footsteps of previous title holders:
Scoil Na Croise Naofa, Dunfanaghy, Co Donegal (2022)
Gilson National School, Oldcastle, Co Meath (2023)
Touraneena National School, Co Waterford (2024)
Ballyhass National School, Co Cork (2025)
“Amongst schools nationwide, the level of interest in this competition continues to grow each year,” said Fyffes Head of Marketing Emma Hunt-Duffy.
“We look forward to seeing more and more teachers and young pupils incorporating the exercise routines into their PE classes, as a fun and easy way to stay active and keep fit.”
Schools interested in taking part can register now, with Fyffes and Gillick encouraging as many as possible to join the movement and make 2026 the most active year yet.
Image Credit: Sport for Business
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