Polar Bear Club Holds Early Coney Island Plunge
Cold-water swimmers took an unofficial first winter dip at Coney Island nearly two months ahead of the annual New Year's Day plunge.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Swimming
A group of cold-water swimmers held an unofficial first polar bear plunge of the season at Coney Island on Sunday, November 1. The dip came nearly two months before the annual New Year's Day plunge.
Why it matters
The early plunge signals the start of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club's winter season for New York City residents who follow the tradition. The club's long-running Sunday schedule gives the city a recurring winter bathing event.
The Brooklyn high reached 60 degrees on the day of the plunge, and the Coney Island Polar Bear Club has operated since 1903. The number of participants and the timing of the club's next official event were not reported.
The players
Coney Island Polar Bear Club
The Coney Island Polar Bear Club, founded in 1903, is the oldest winter bathing club in the United States and is known for its weekly cold-water swims.
The details
Swimmers entered the Atlantic Ocean at Coney Island during a brisk breeze and stayed in the water for about five minutes after the initial shock. The plunge followed the club's established winter bathing tradition, which runs weekly on Sundays from November through April.
Timeline
1903: Coney Island Polar Bear Club founded.
November 1, 2026: Unofficial first polar bear plunge of the season.
November through April: Weekly Sunday plunges by the club.
January 1: Annual public New Year's Day plunge.
Season Trajectory
The Coney Island Polar Bear Club, founded in 1903, is the oldest winter bathing club in the United States and has held weekly Sunday plunges from November through April. This unofficial dip extends that long-running tradition into the early part of the season.
Anyone planning to join the club's Sunday plunges can expect weekly sessions from November through April, with the New Year's Day plunge as the public highlight. Newcomers should note that participants stay in the cold Atlantic water for only about five minutes after the initial shock.
The takeaway
Cold-water swimming at Coney Island has a continuous tradition stretching back over a century, and its weekly schedule gives New Yorkers a regular way to take part in the winter bathing custom.
What happens next
The club holds its annual public New Year's Day plunge on January 1, and weekly Sunday plunges continue from November through April.
Further reading
For more on local winter swims, see Swimming coverage across New York City.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Brooklyn Paper.
