The invention discloses an activation method of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack. The activation method comprises the steps of S1, engine heating, wherein the initial temperature is room temperature, the stack temperature is 40-85 DEG C, humidifying gas is introduced into a cathode and an anode, and the temperature is higher than the stack temperature by 5-20 DEG C but not higher than 90DEG C; S2, carrying out current activation, specifically, S21, loading current density in a stepped manner from 0 to X1, wherein X1 is greater than or equal to 100mA/cm<2> and less than or equal to 400mA/cm<2>, and the stack temperature is 40-60 DEG C; S22, loading current density in a stepped manner from X1 to less than or equal to 2000mA/cm<2>; S23, reducing the current density in a stepped manner to X3, wherein X3 is greater than or equal to 100mA/cm<2> and less than or equal to 400mA/cm<2>; S24, reducing the current density in a stepped manner to 0, wherein in the steps S22-S24, the backpressure of the cathode and the anode is 0-50KPa and is not 0; and S3, carrying out voltage activation. According to the invention, the stack can be pre-humidified by effectively controlling the parameters of current activation; and the activation process is low in cost and operates under large current, so that the activation efficiency is improved, and the activation time is shortened.