Vancouver Polar Bear Swim
49°17′ N 123°09′ WFestivalJan 1, 2027Dates projectedSeasonal
The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim fills English Bay Beach every New Year's Day, and it suits anyone who wants to start 2027 in water around 7°C with thousands of other swimmers. The City of Vancouver had not posted 2027 details by 16 October 2026, and the 2026 swim went in at 2:30 pm.
Dates and hours
- January 1, 2027Projected from past yearschecked Oct 16, 2026
- January 1, 2026Confirmedsourcechecked Oct 16, 2026
Date rule: 1 January every year
Peter Pantages led about 10 swimmers into English Bay on New Year's Day 1920, and the Vancouver Polar Bear Swim Club grew out of that first plunge. Registration hit a record 13,265 swimmers on 1 January 2025, when the water was 7°C and the air 6°C.
For the 106th swim the beach opened at 11:30 am, the programme started at 2 pm and everyone ran in together at 2:30 pm. Registering ahead gets you a commemorative certificate, and every swimmer collects a button beside the two warming tents afterwards. A 100-yard race heads for a marker buoy by the lifeguard boat. The beach also has a family area and an accessible mat down to the water.
Worth knowing
- Bring a towel and warm clothes for afterwards, and read the City's page for road closures and drone rules around English Bay before you go.
Quick answers about Vancouver Polar Bear Swim
When is the Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver?
The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim runs at English Bay Beach on 1 January each year. In 2026 the event ran from 11:30 am to 4 pm, and the official swim started at 2:30 pm.
Do you need to register for the Vancouver Polar Bear Swim?
No. Swimmers can join the Vancouver Polar Bear Swim at English Bay on the day, and registering ahead with the City of Vancouver earns a commemorative certificate.
How cold is the water at the Vancouver Polar Bear Swim?
The City of Vancouver recorded English Bay at 7°C for the Vancouver Polar Bear Swim in both 2024 and 2025. Its warmest recorded swim was 9°C in 1992.
What are the opening hours of Vancouver Polar Bear Swim?
Vancouver Polar Bear Swim is open in 2026 the beach event ran from 11:30 am to 4 pm, the programme began at 2 pm and the official swim went in at 2:30 pm.