The Bryant Park Winter Village opens for its 25th season on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, with New York’s only free-admission ice rink, more than 180 Holiday Shops kiosks and a heated rink-side food hall, all on the lawn between 40th and 42nd Streets in Midtown. The shops close on January 3, 2027, and the rink stays open until February 28, 2027. Below you’ll find the dates and hours, what skating costs, the Santa events, how to get there and where to leave your bags if you’re arriving with luggage.
Coming straight from Penn Station, Grand Central or the airport? Drop your bags near Bryant Park and walk over to the rink with your hands free.
Bryant Park Winter Village 2026: Key Facts
| Opening day | Wednesday, October 28, 2026 (25th season) |
| Holiday Shops | October 28, 2026 – January 3, 2027, 180+ kiosks run by Urbanspace |
| Shop hours | Mon–Fri 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Sat–Sun 10 a.m.–8 p.m. (check the official site for holiday changes) |
| The Rink | October 28, 2026 – February 28, 2027 |
| Rink hours | 8 a.m.–10 p.m. daily; 8 a.m.–midnight from November 19 to January 3 |
| Entry | Free, including the rink if you bring your own skates |
| Skate rental | About $18.72–$64.48 with fees, priced by demand |
| Location | Bryant Park, 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue, Midtown Manhattan |
| Subway | B, D, F, M to 42 St–Bryant Park; 7 to 5 Av |
Bryant Park Corporation posts schedule changes, weather closures and premium skating slots on the official Bryant Park website. The rink runs rain or shine, but it can close during heavy rain or severe weather.
Holiday Shops: What to Buy
The Holiday Shops are the market part of the village: rows of glass-fronted kiosks wrapped around the rink and the park’s paths, run by Urbanspace. There were 80 vendors when the village launched in 2002; in 2026 there are more than 180, a mix of returning favorites and new names. Expect handmade jewelry, ceramics, knitwear, candles, prints of New York, toys and small-batch food gifts that pack easily into a carry-on.
Four booths go rent-free to New York City small businesses through the Small Business Spotlight program, so it’s worth looking out for those. The shops are busiest on weekend afternoons and in the two weeks before Christmas. A weekday morning visit gives you room to browse.
Skating at the Bryant Park Winter Village Rink
The 17,000-square-foot rink is free to use if you bring your own skates. If you need a pair, rentals cost roughly $18.72 to $64.48 including fees, and the price goes up at busy times, so a weekday morning slot is the cheapest. Bank of America cardholders get 10% off eligible online skate rentals from October 28 to February 28.
Bryant Park also sells Premium Skate packages through its website for people who want a reserved session with extras. From November 19 to January 3 the rink stays open until midnight, and a late skate under the Midtown towers is the calmest time to go.
Food and Drink at The Lodge
The Lodge is a heated food hall right next to the ice, with two full-service bars and views over the skaters. It stays open daily through February 28, so it works as a warm-up stop long after the shops have gone. Many of the Holiday Shops kiosks also sell food, so you can snack on hot chocolate, crêpes, dumplings or pastries while you walk around. Expect lines at The Lodge on weekend evenings in December.
Santa and Special Events in 2026
- Club Santa on November 28 and 29 and December 5 and 6: a ticketed package with Premium Skate perks, skate rental, time with Santa, treats and crafts in the heated Polar Lounge.
- Santa’s Corner from December 14 to 18, behind Le Carrousel. No tickets needed.
- The Bryant Park tree lighting usually happens in early December. The 2026 date hadn’t been announced at the time of writing, so check the official site.
How to Get to the Bryant Park Winter Village
| From | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Central Terminal | Walk west along 42nd Street | About 10 min |
| Penn Station | Walk north up Sixth Avenue, or take the B/D/F/M from 34 St–Herald Sq | 15 min walk |
| Times Square | Walk east on 42nd Street | 5 min |
| Port Authority Bus Terminal | Walk east on 42nd Street | About 10 min |
| JFK Airport | AirTrain to Jamaica, then LIRR to Penn Station or E train to Midtown | About 1 hour |
| LaGuardia Airport | Q70 bus to Jackson Heights, then the 7 train to 5 Av | About 45 min |
Driving into Midtown in December is slow and parking is expensive, so the subway is the easy option. The village is a short walk from other holiday sights: the Rockefeller Center tree is about 10 minutes north, and the Fifth Avenue store windows start one block east.
Tips for Visiting
- Bring your own skates if you have them. Entry to the rink is free, and you skip the rental line.
- Go on a weekday morning for shopping and a weeknight after 9 p.m. for skating.
- Dress for wind. The park sits between tall buildings and gets cold after dark.
- Pair it with a show. Radio City is a 10-minute walk away if you’re seeing the Rockettes this season.
- Travel light. The paths between kiosks are narrow on weekends, and a suitcase makes them hard going for you and everyone around you.
Luggage Storage Near Bryant Park
A lot of visitors reach the Bryant Park Winter Village on check-out day or straight off a train or bus, and Midtown has very few public lockers. Penn Station and Grand Central don’t offer open-access lockers for travelers, and you can’t take a suitcase on the ice.
Radical Storage works with verified local shops and hotels across Midtown, including spots a few blocks from Bryant Park, Grand Central and Penn Station. Book online in a minute, drop your bags and pick them up whenever you’re ready. Your bags are protected, cancellation is free, and travelers rate the service 4.8/5.
- Luggage storage near Bryant Park
- Luggage storage near Grand Central
- Luggage storage near Penn Station
Bryant Park Winter Village FAQ
It opens on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. The Holiday Shops run until January 3, 2027 and the rink stays open until February 28, 2027.
Yes. Admission to the rink is free if you bring your own skates. Skate rentals cost roughly $18.72 to $64.48 including fees, depending on demand.
The Holiday Shops usually open Monday to Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Hours can change around the holidays, so check bryantpark.org before you go.
The rink is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and until midnight from November 19, 2026 to January 3, 2027.
Take the B, D, F or M to 42 St–Bryant Park, or the 7 to 5 Av. Grand Central and Times Square are both within a 10-minute walk.
Radical Storage has verified partner shops and hotels a few blocks from Bryant Park, Grand Central and Penn Station. Book online, drop your bags and collect them after skating or shopping. Bags are protected and cancellation is free.
