- - Thousands brrr-ave icy temps for 2026 Coney Island Polar Plunge: ‘It kicks butt’

Khristina Narizhnaya, Natalie O'NeillJanuary 1, 2026 at 4:14 PM

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Thousands of thrill-seekers brrr-aved frigid 27-degree weather to kick off the New Year with an icy splash at Coney Island's annual polar bear plunge Thursday.

Out with the old, in with the cold!

Thousands of thrill-seekers brrr-aved frigid 27-degree weather to kick off the New Year with an icy splash at Coney Island’s annual polar plunge Thursday.

Some swimmers called the frosty dip — the event’s coldest since 2018, when temperatures fell below 18 degrees — a stinging spiritual cleanse.

A participant runs into the water during the annual polar bear plunge. REUTERS

“I like starting the year fresh. Having something exhilarating to wipe away what happened and start the new year with energy,” said Jack Tokarz, a 33-year-old tour guide from Brooklyn.

Other die-hards said frolicking in the freezing water is the ultimate natural high.

“It kicks butt,” Sidney Edelson,15, marveled. “Everything is numb.”

Alison Dorfman, a 54-year-old psychotherapist from Brooklyn, called it a chance for some frigid family bonding.

“It’s great, very exhilarating,” Dorfman said. “This is what family memories are made of.”

Swimmers took the plunge despite frigid 27 degree weather. Stephen Yang for the NY Post

Tania Brown, 35, who works in hospital administration, said she needed a little liquid courage to take the piercing plunge.

“I feel amazing,” she said. “This is all adrenaline, and just a little bit of cinnamon whiskey. Don’t tell anybody.”

She added, “I recommend everybody try at least once. Cross it off your bucket list.”

More than 6,000 people registered for this year’s plunge, which marked the 123rd year of the Polar Bear Club’s annual tradition.

Participants called it an exhilarating cleanse. Stephen Yang for the NY Post

The event was much colder than recent years, including in 2025 and 2024, when temperatures were in the balmy mid-40s, according to FOX Weather.

On Thursday, temperatures hit a low of 24 degrees but warmed up slightly to 27 degrees by the time swimmers hit the water at around 11 a.m.

Friday, meanwhile, is expected to be mostly sunny with a high of 30 and a low of 22, according to FOX Weather Meteorologist Cody Braud.

Saturday is forecast to be partly sunny with a low of 23 and a high of 33 followed by a low of 27 degrees and a high of 35 degrees Sunday.

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Source: “AOL Breaking”