The NHS Walking Rewards Scheme (Movement 26.2): What We Know So Far

Movement 26.2 is a new NHS England-backed campaign that will challenge people to walk 26.2 miles a month, the length of a marathon, and plans to reward them for keeping it up. It is not open yet, but the target works out at roughly 20 minutes of brisk walking a day, so you can start building the habit now and be ready when sign-ups open.

Coverage since July has mixed firm commitments with details still being worked out, so below we separate the two, show you how to build up to a marathon a month, and compare it with Edge Rewards, a separate programme with a waitlist open today.

What is the NHS walking rewards scheme?

The idea started in the government's 10 Year Health Plan for England, published in July 2025. The plan said Sir Brendan Foster, the Olympic medallist who founded the Great North Run and is president of the Great Run Company, had agreed to help assemble a group of expert partners to set up a campaign to get millions of people walking, and running where possible, on a regular basis. The same plan also promised a new digital NHS points scheme that rewards people for taking positive steps for their health.

On 3 July 2026, details of that campaign were widely reported under the name Movement 26.2. The pitch: walk a marathon, not in one day, but across a month. Sir Keith Mills, the creator of Air Miles, is reported to be involved, and NHS England's chief executive publicly backed the campaign when it was announced.

What is confirmed, and what is only reported?

Here is how it breaks down at the time of writing (14 October 2026).

• Confirmed in the official plan: the government committed to a mass walking campaign with the Great Run Company and Sir Brendan Foster, and, separately, to a digital NHS points scheme that rewards healthy actions.
• Widely reported: the name Movement 26.2, the goal of 26.2 miles a month, NHS England's backing, free entry, tracking by phone, smartwatch or online, and an ambition for more than 100,000 people to complete it in a single month.
• Reported but not final: the launch date, the exact rewards, and whether the walking challenge will link to the NHS points scheme.
• Not yet known: how to sign up, which apps will count, and who the reward partners are.

When does Movement 26.2 start?

No exact date has been officially confirmed. Reports in July 2026 said the campaign was due to launch early in 2027, and several outlets said January. We could not find an official sign-up page on NHS England or GOV.UK, so be wary of any site or message asking for your details in the scheme's name before an official launch.

Reports also say the NHS will fund the set-up, while rewards are expected to come from business and public sector partners rather than the NHS budget.

How much walking is 26.2 miles a month?

Spread over 30 days, 26.2 miles is under a mile a day. At a brisk pace of about 3 miles an hour, a mile takes around 20 minutes, so roughly 20 minutes of brisk walking a day gets you there. Reports quote 20 to 30 minutes a day, and uneven days are reportedly fine, so a longer weekend walk can make up for a busy Tuesday.

It also lines up neatly with NHS guidance, which recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, such as brisk walking, plus strengthening activities on at least 2 days a week. Sir Brendan has made the same point: the weekly guideline adds up to roughly a marathon a month. If you think in steps, a mile is typically somewhere around 2,000 steps, depending on your stride. Our guide to how many steps a day you actually need goes deeper on step targets.

How can you start walking 26.2 miles a month now?

You do not need to wait for a launch date. If you are not walking much yet, build up over four weeks. This plan assumes a brisk pace of about a mile every 20 minutes. If you walk more slowly, that is fine, just walk a little longer.

• Brisk means you can talk but not sing. That is the NHS's simple test for moderate intensity.
• Attach it to something you already do. Get off the bus a stop early, take a lunchtime loop, or walk after dinner.
• Use what you already have. Your phone or watch step counter is plenty, with comfortable trainers and a layer for the weather.
• Add strength twice a week. Walking is brilliant, but it does not cover the NHS advice to do strengthening activities on 2 days a week. Our guide Is walking enough exercise? explains why.

What rewards will the NHS scheme offer?

Based on reports, rewards will start digital: streaks, badges and milestones, such as keeping a streak going for three months. Over time, organisers have talked about medals, T-shirts, discounts and shopping vouchers, with talks reportedly under way with retailers. Some coverage links this to the digital NHS points scheme promised in the 10 Year Health Plan, where points could later be exchanged for discounts or vouchers. No partners or reward values have been confirmed.

Do rewards help? The government's plan points to a Wolverhampton pilot where points exchangeable for gift vouchers helped increase participants' physical activity. Some commentators question whether rewards reach the least active people. The fair answer: rewards can help you start and keep a habit, but the walking itself does the good.

Is there a walking rewards programme opening sooner?

Edge Rewards opens sooner. To be clear, Edge is an independent fitness app and is not affiliated with the NHS or Movement 26.2. Edge Rewards is our own free programme, and it is not live yet either: founding members from the waitlist get early access from Sunday 1 November 2026, and everyone else can join from Saturday 7 November 2026.

The idea is simple: get rewarded for moving. Here is how it will work from November.

• Steps count. You earn 2.5 points for every 1,000 steps, up to 25 points a day.
• Workouts count. You earn 1 point for every minute of any logged workout, including walks, runs, strength and HIIT, up to 50 a day.
• There is a daily cap. The combined limit is 50 points a day, and points reset at the end of each calendar month.
• Bring your own tracker. Activities synced from Strava, Garmin, Apple Health or Coros count, and so do manual entries.
• Spend points on real products. The in-app marketplace has items from partner brands, a mix of free items and discounts, in categories such as coffee, snacks, protein and gear.

As a rough guide, a logged 20-minute brisk walk earns 20 points plus a few for the steps, and about a week of regular training should be enough for something like a free coffee. Edge Rewards is free for everyone, and Edge Pro members earn faster with Double XP and no daily cap. For the full detail, read Edge Rewards explained.

How does the NHS scheme compare with Edge Rewards?

Anything marked reported or unconfirmed for the NHS scheme could change before launch.

Prices and features change, so check each scheme for current details. NHS scheme details are based on reports and may change before launch. Accurate at the time of writing.

Can you do both?

Nothing we have seen suggests you would have to choose. Once the NHS scheme confirms how walks are tracked, you will know whether the same walk can count towards both.

Should you wait for the NHS scheme before you start walking?

No. Start now and your first official month will feel easy rather than daunting. Walk most days, build towards 20 minutes, add two short strength sessions a week, and you will be well ahead when Movement 26.2 opens.

If you want one plan that brings walking, running, strength and HIIT together, Edge Pro builds a fully personalised plan, ready within 24 hours, with a real coach you can message anytime. 20,000+ members already train with Edge.

This article is general guidance, not medical advice. If you are new to exercise, returning from injury, or managing a health condition, speak to your GP before starting, and see a physio for any niggle that does not settle.