Sleep Awareness Month for Europe

1 March – 31 March 2026

Good Nights Start with Good Routines

Bedtime routines
matter

Sleep is the foundation of a child’s growth, learning, and emotional well-being. Yet, healthy sleep is increasingly challenged by overstimulation, irregular schedules and pervasive evening screen use. 

Aligned with World Sleep Day’s theme“Sleep Well, Live Better”, 2026 ESRS Sleep Awareness Month for Europe carries a simple but meaningful belief:

Good nights start with good routines.

Together, we can make healthy sleep a priority for families across Europe, and create bedtime moments that feel predictable, nurturing and connected.

Because when children sleep well, they thrive. And when children thrive, we thrive together.

Supported by:

💡 Submit your event

Help spread the message by organising a webinar, school workshop, educational session, or community talk. Submit your event on the ESRS Sleep Awareness Month calendar and maximise its impact.

📖 Explore Our Resources

Access free educational materials and templates created by the ESRS and national partners. You can also share your own resources with us and support the growth of the Sleep Awareness library across Europe.

👚 Be part of Pyjama Day

Pyjama Day is a fun way to raise awareness about healthy sleep. On 6 March 2026, people across Europe will wear their pyjamas to school, work or events to support children’s sleep health and mark the start of Sleep Awareness Month..

🤝Sponsorship Opportunities

Partner with us to support educational resources, events and outreach efforts that promote children’s sleep health across Europe.

Media

Dr. Barbara Stražišar, ESRS Vice President (Clinical), contributed to the Sleep Health campaign, launched on 14 March 2025  in The Guardian and online at Health Awareness UK.

Use The Hashtag!

Help spread awareness by using our official hashtags:

  • #SleepAwarenessEurope2026
  • #Bedtimeroutinesmatters
  • #PyjamaDayESRS

All Sleep Awareness Month Events

Excessive Screen Time Before Bed Disrupts Sleep

Children who use digital devices for more than two hours a day experience increased bedtime resistance, anxiety, and night awakenings. (1)

Lack of Sleep Impacts Learning

Children who do not get enough rest struggle with focus, memory, and problem-solving, leading to lower academic performance.(2)

Sleep and Mental Health are Deeply Connected

Children with irregular sleep patterns are twice as likely to experience anxiety, hyperactivity, and emotional difficulties.(3)

Sources:

  1. Chandranaik, D., Goyal, J. P., Singh, K., & Kumar, P. (2024). Association of digital media use with sleep habits in school children: A cross-sectional study. Sleep Medicine X, 8, 100117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleepx.2024.100117
  2. Woods, A. D., Jiao, J. L., Morgan, P. L., & Buxton, O. M. (2023). Is sleep longitudinally related to children’s achievement, executive function and classroom behaviour? Infant and Child Development, 33(2). https://doi.org/10.1002/icd.2426
  3. Fulfs, T., Poulain, T., Vogel, M. et al. Associations between sleep problems and emotional/behavioural difficulties in healthy children and adolescents. BMC Pediatr 24, 15 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-023-04487-z

Launched in March 2025, Sleep Awareness Month for Europe is an initiative of the ESRS dedicated to raising awareness about the essential role of sleep in health and well-being.  

Organised by the European Sleep Research Society (ESRS), this month-long campaign aims to combine with World Sleep Day by supporting efforts to encourage ongoing activities related to sleep and sleep-wake disorders throughout the month on a national and international level. 

Every year in March, we celebrate Sleep Awareness Month to raise awareness, offer practical solutions, and empower families, educators, and healthcare professionals to make children’s sleep health a priority.

For 2026, we are focusing on sleep hygiene in children- helping them grow, learn, and thrive, one restful night at a time. 

Resources

Social Media Toolkit 2025

Help raise awareness about sleep health with our ready-to-use social media materials.
Use #SleepAwarenessEurope and #PyjamaDayESRS to amplify your message.
Click Here