Guides Prices checked November 5, 2026
The Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge on New Year's Day 2027: how to sign up, when to get there, and what to bring
Friday, January 1, 2027, 11 a.m., the Atlantic at Stillwell Avenue. Entry is free, the registration line shuts at 1 p.m. sharp, and the certificate only comes from the check-in table.
The short answer
The Coney Island Polar Bear Club's New Year's Day Plunge is Friday, January 1, 2027, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Coney Island Beach at Stillwell Avenue, per the club's registration page. There is no fee to plunge, and the club encourages a $30 minimum donation. Online registration opens November 14, 2026, and the on-site registration line closes at 1 p.m. Checked November 2026.
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- Date Fri, Jan 1, 2027, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Cost Free; $30 minimum donation encouraged
- Registration Online from Nov 14; line closes 1 p.m.
- Check-in Stillwell Ave at the Luna Park Scream Zone entrance
- Subway D, F, N, Q to Coney Island-Stillwell Av
The day, the cost, the cutoff
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Date and time | Friday, January 1, 2027, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. |
| Place | Coney Island Beach at Stillwell Avenue, Brooklyn |
| Cost | No fee to participate; a minimum donation of $30 is strongly encouraged, and donations are non-refundable |
| Online registration | Opens Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. |
| Registration line | Closes at 1 p.m. sharp on the day |
| Age | No minimum. Under 18s need a waiver signed by a parent or guardian, who must be at check-in |
| Fundraising thank-you | A limited-edition beanie for anyone who raises $50 or more, while supplies last |
The club has run the plunge since 1903, and its weekly winter swims are for members only, with new membership closed this season. New Year's Day is the one swim open to everyone. Money raised goes to Coney Island nonprofits; the club names the New York Aquarium, the Coney Island History Project, the Coney Island Public Library and Coney Island USA among them.
Register before you go
Everyone who goes in the water registers and checks in, even if they are not donating. Registration is how you sign the waiver and get the wristband, and nobody reaches the beach without one. Register online and you get a QR code by email to scan at the table, which is the faster line. You can also register on the day by phone while you queue, but the line closes at 1 p.m. and the club will not stretch it, so arrive well before.
Check-in is on Stillwell Avenue at the Luna Park Scream Zone entrance. The table is the only place to collect the "I DID IT" certificate and the fundraising beanie, while supplies last; neither can be picked up later at the merchandise table, which closes at 2 p.m.
What to bring, and getting there
Wear whatever you like: swimsuits and costumes have both turned up over the years. The club's list is short and worth following: a towel, warm clothes for afterward, an old pair of shoes you do not mind soaking, and something to keep the certificate dry, or a friend on the sand to hold it.
Take the train. The D, F, N and Q all end at Coney Island-Stillwell Av, a short walk from check-in, and the B36, B64, B68, B74 and B82 buses run to Coney Island, with the X28 express from Midtown. Street parking on Stillwell Avenue and West 10th and 15th Streets is limited. Services across the city change on January 1, so check the holiday hours guide before you set out, especially after a late New Year's Eve.
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Register on the club's event page
Online registration puts a QR code in your inbox and keeps you out of the slower on-site line. It is also where the donation and fundraising page live.
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The Coney Island Polar Bear Club
The club's own site, with its history, its FAQ and the link to the event page.
The questions people actually ask
What time is the Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge on New Year's Day 2027?
The club's registration page lists Friday, January 1, 2027, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The on-site registration line closes at 1 p.m. (checked November 2026).
How much does the Polar Bear Plunge cost?
Nothing to enter. The club strongly encourages a minimum donation of $30, which is non-refundable, and gives a beanie to anyone who raises $50 or more (checked November 2026).
Do I have to register for the Polar Bear Plunge?
Yes. Every participant registers and checks in on the day to sign the waiver and get a wristband. Online registration opens November 14, 2026; you can also register on site until 1 p.m.
Can kids do the Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge?
Yes. There is no minimum age. Participants under 18 need a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian, who must be present at check-in.
How do I get to the Polar Bear Plunge?
Take the D, F, N or Q to Coney Island-Stillwell Av. Check-in is on Stillwell Avenue at the Luna Park Scream Zone entrance.
The sources
Where the prices and rules above come from. Check them yourself:
- Coney Island Polar Bear Club: New Year's Day Plunge event page (RunSignup) — January 1, 2027 date and hours, Coney Island Beach at Stillwell Avenue
- Coney Island Polar Bear Club: plunge info and FAQ (RunSignup) — $0 entry, $30 encouraged donation, November 14 registration opening, 1 p.m. cutoff, check-in, age rule, what to bring, transit
- Coney Island Polar Bear Club: 2026 schedule (RunSignup) — the January 1, 2026 hour-by-hour schedule
- The Coney Island Polar Bear Club — history since 1903, weekly member swims, membership closed
- The Coney Island Polar Bear Club: Contact and FAQ — who can swim, membership status
Get an email if the club posts the 2027 schedule or changes the plunge time.
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