The EuroSteps Walking Challenge has Come to an End...

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Published on 04/05/2026

… but let's keep taking care of our financial culture

More than 64,000 people across Europe took part in the challenge, competing step by step and covering almost six million kilometres, while receiving practical tips on how to look after their money - on topics such as loans, investments and protection from online scams.

The EuroSteps competition has just concluded. Throughout April, it brought together participants from 27 European countries in a walking challenge designed to promote both physical and financial wellbeing. The initiative was organised by the European Central Bank (ECB) in cooperation with several national central banks, including Banca d'Italia. Twenty participants will shortly be informed that they have won the prizes offered by the ECB: ten awarded to the most active participants and ten selected by a prize draw.

How did Italy perform?

Team Italy ranked third both in terms of the number of participants - almost 7,500 - and the total number of steps taken, behind Lithuania and Latvia. Our personal finance tips were viewed by a good share of users, consistently above the European average.

The challenge was launched in March 2026 by ECB President Christine Lagarde at an event marking International Women's Day. The event focused on financial education, with particular attention to the gender gap and to the efforts made by national central banks to reduce it. In Italy, more than half of the participants were women.

Financial education continues…

The results of the walking challenge show the strong interest in our country in engaging with personal finance topics and in learning how to manage money independently and responsibly. For women in particular, financial education can be an effective tool for empowerment as well as for economic wellbeing. Nonetheless, our goal remains to reach the whole population.

Keep following us, read our articles, use our tools - such as the mortgage and budget calculators - watch our videos and take advantage of our courses, including Women Count.

Don't lose momentum and stay tuned for our next initiatives!