As 2026 dawns, Metro Vancouver residents are preparing to uphold a century-old New Year's Day ritual: the exhilarating, shiver-inducing polar bear swim. While the wellness trend of cold plunges has surged in popularity recently, the tradition of greeting the year with a leap into icy waters is deeply rooted in the region's history.
A Century-Old Chill: The Granddaddy of All Swims
The iconic Vancouver Polar Bear Swim at English Bay is celebrating its 106th anniversary on Thursday, January 1, 2026. What began in 1920 with Peter Pantages and a few friends has exploded into a massive costumed spectacle, drawing thousands of participants dressed as Santas, in bikinis, or in wild costumes ready to brave waters around 7 degrees Celsius.
The event's growth has been remarkable, with the notable exception of the COVID-19 pandemic years when swimmers were encouraged to take the plunge in their own icy tubs. The 2025 swim shattered attendance records with 13,265 participants, surpassing the previous year's numbers and signaling a roaring return for the beloved tradition.
Beyond English Bay: A Metro-Wide Plunge
While the English Bay swim is the most famous, communities across Metro Vancouver host their own frigid festivities. Here is a list of planned swims for New Year's Day 2026.
Deep Cove Penguin Plunge
This North Shore tradition started on January 1, 1983, when Merv Ovesen, three friends, and a dog took the first plunge. Now held at Panorama Park to accommodate crowds, the event runs from 12:30 to 3 p.m., with the main plunge at 2 p.m. Attendees can enjoy a bonfire, food, drinks, and live music from Gary Comeau & the Voodoo Allstars.
Delta Polar Bear Swim
From noon to 3 p.m., plungers from Tsawwassen, Ladner, and Beach Grove will gather at Centennial Beach in Boundary Bay Regional Park. New for 2026 is a dedicated kids' plunge zone for those 12 and under with their caregivers. The event also features a costume contest, live music from The Exchange, a warming tent, marshmallow roast, and food trucks. A shuttle service will run from the South Delta Recreation Centre.
Fort Langley Community Swim
This informal, chill gathering began in 2014. Participants meet on the beach at Brae Island Regional Park around 11:30 a.m. and jump into Bedford Channel at precisely high noon.
Port Moody Penguin Plunge
This annual event supports a good cause as a fundraiser for the Crossroads Hospice Society. Registration opens at 11:30 a.m. at the Rocky Point boat launch. Welcome remarks are at 12:30 p.m., followed by the plunge into Burrard Inlet at 1 p.m.
The Cold Plunge Phenomenon Meets Tradition
The renewed interest in the health benefits of cold exposure has dovetailed with these longstanding community events. Metro Vancouver has seen a rise in dedicated "cold" sauna clubs and spas like Aetherhaus and Circle Wellness. Notably, the City of Vancouver introduced a zoning initiative in the fall of 2025 aimed at enabling more outdoor cold plunge sites, indicating the trend's staying power.
Yet, the communal joy of the New Year's Day polar bear swims remains unique. They represent not just a personal wellness challenge, but a shared, often costumed, celebration of resilience and community spirit—a perfectly brisk way to plunge into the possibilities of 2026.
