Apple is once again rolling out its annual Heart Month Challenge for Apple Watch users, timed to coincide with Valentine’s Day. The 2026 edition follows the same basic structure as previous years, encouraging users to complete a daily activity goal in exchange for a digital award and a set of themed stickers.
The Heart Month Challenge is scheduled for February 14, 2026. On that day, Apple Watch users who close their Exercise ring will earn a limited-time badge in the Fitness app, along with exclusive iMessage stickers. As with similar activity challenges, Apple frames the event as a light motivational nudge toward regular movement rather than a competitive or performance-based milestone.
To complete the challenge, users simply need to log enough exercise minutes to meet their personal Exercise ring goal. This can be done using Apple Watch’s built-in Workout app or any third-party app that writes workout data to the Apple Fitness system. Apple does not restrict the type of workout, meaning walking, cycling, yoga, strength training, or other supported activities all count toward the goal.
By default, the Exercise ring is set to 30 minutes per day, represented by the green ring in the Activity interface. However, Apple allows users to customize this target based on their fitness level or personal preferences. One important detail is that the challenge respects whatever goal is currently set. Users who have raised their Exercise target will need to complete the full customized duration on February 14 in order to earn the Heart Month award.
The Heart Month Challenge has become a recurring fixture in Apple’s broader health and fitness strategy. Over the years, Apple has introduced a steady cadence of limited-time challenges tied to seasonal events, public holidays, and awareness campaigns. These challenges are designed to keep users engaged with the Apple Watch ecosystem while reinforcing the company’s emphasis on daily activity tracking.
While the rewards themselves are purely digital, the challenges often generate discussion and participation among users who treat them as reminders rather than incentives. Closing the Exercise ring on a specific day is not a major departure from normal Apple Watch usage, which helps ensure that the barrier to entry remains low.
As with previous years, the 2026 Heart Month Challenge does not introduce new health metrics or features. Instead, it relies on familiar mechanics and existing tools, positioning the event as a short, accessible prompt to stay active. For Apple Watch users who already track workouts regularly, it is a small addition to their routine. For others, it may serve as a reason to move a bit more on Valentine’s Day.
