Every winter, a square of Midtown Manhattan turns into a small European village with a skating rink in the middle. The Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park returns on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 for its 25th season, and it is still one of the few big holiday plans in New York that you can enjoy for free.
We have updated this guide for the 2026-27 season. Here you will find the full calendar, how the free rink works, what the skate rentals cost, the story of the park and the tips we give our own travelers. At the end we tell you how to turn a day at Bryant Park into a complete Christmas night with the lights of Dyker Heights.
Last updated: October 15, 2026.
What Is the Bryant Park Winter Village?
The Winter Village is the seasonal transformation of Bryant Park, between 40th and 42nd Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues, right behind the New York Public Library. It has three main pieces: a 17,000-square-foot ice rink with free admission, more than 180 Holiday Shops in glass kiosks inspired by European Christmas markets, and The Lodge, a rinkside food hall with full-service bars.
Bryant Park calls its rink New York’s largest free-admission ice skating rink. You pay only if you rent skates or choose an extra service, which makes it a favorite for families and for travelers on a budget.
A Little History: From Reservoir to Winter Village
The site has had many lives. In 1847 the first park opened here as Reservoir Square, named after the Croton Distributing Reservoir next door. In 1853 it hosted the New York Crystal Palace, an iron and glass exhibition hall built for the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations, which burned down in 1858. In 1884 the square was renamed Bryant Park in honor of the journalist and abolitionist William Cullen Bryant.
By the 1970s the park had deteriorated badly. The Bryant Park Restoration Corporation, founded in 1980, led a full renovation: the park closed in 1988 and reopened in 1992, and it became a model of urban recovery. The Holiday Shops arrived in 2002, inspired by European Christmas markets, and the ice rink followed in 2005. Le Carrousel, the French-style carousel with 14 animals that still spins next to the park, also arrived in 2002.
Bryant Park Winter Village 2026 Calendar
| Date | What happens |
| Wednesday, October 28, 2026 | Opening day: rink, Holiday Shops and The Lodge |
| November 18 and 19 to January 3 | Extended hours: The Lodge until 11:30 p.m. and the rink until midnight |
| November 28 and 29, December 5 and 6 | Club Santa, a VIP experience with Premium Skate |
| Early December (date to be confirmed) | Tree lighting, free (in 2025 it was December 2 at 5:30 p.m.) |
| December 14 to 18 | Santa’s Corner behind Le Carrousel, no tickets needed |
| December 19 to 24 | Live After Dark evening program (details to be confirmed) |
| January 3, 2027 | Last day of the Holiday Shops |
| January and February 2027 | Rosy Igloos and Bumper Cars on Ice (dates to be confirmed) |
| January 31, 2027 | Rink closes early, at 8 p.m. |
| February 28, 2027 | Last day of the rink and The Lodge |
How the Free Ice Rink Works
The rink is open daily, holidays included, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and until midnight from November 19 to January 3. Sessions last about 50 minutes, and your ice time starts 20 minutes after the time on your ticket.
If you bring your own skates, you skate for free, but you still need a free “Bring Your Own Skates” ticket. These are released every day one week in advance, with one time slot per skater per day. If you need skates, rentals start at about $18.72 and go up at peak times, with an Express Lane option for 75 minutes and a Premium Skate package with extra perks.
A few rules worth knowing: children under 14 must skate with an adult, bags, phones and food are not allowed on the ice, there is no re-entry, and the rink stays open rain or shine unless there is heavy rain or severe weather. Helmets are free, and skate aids for beginners are free before 10:30 a.m., subject to availability.
Holiday Shops and The Lodge
The Holiday Shops by Urbanspace bring together more than 180 vendors, with artisans from New York and around the world in small “jewel box” kiosks along the paths of the park. You will find handmade gifts, ornaments, jewelry, clothing and seasonal treats. The 2026 season page lists Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., through January 3.
The Lodge is the warm stop after skating: a rinkside food hall with full-service bars and views of the ice, open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and until 11:30 p.m. from November 18 to January 3. If you are a group, the Cozy Igloos fit up to eight people for 90-minute sessions, but they do not include rink access.
The Bryant Park Tree Lighting
Every year, a giant tree anchors the rink. In 2025 the tree was 45 feet tall, with more than 12,000 lights and 1,200 ornaments, and the lighting show was a free evening of figure skating and live music on Tuesday, December 2. Entry was first come, first served, starting two hours before the show, and the rink closed to the public for part of the day.
The 2026 date had not been announced at the time of writing. If it follows tradition, it will be in early December, shortly after the Rockefeller Center tree lighting, scheduled for December 2, 2026.
Insider Tips for Visiting Bryant Park at Christmas
Go early on a weekday. Mornings from Monday to Thursday are the calmest time for both the rink and the shops, and beginners get free skate aids before 10:30 a.m.
Book your skates as soon as you know your date. Free “Bring Your Own Skates” tickets open one week ahead and sell out fast in December.
Choose off-peak hours. Rental prices change with demand, so a weekday morning is usually the cheapest session.
Bring a lock and travel light. Lockers are limited, bags are not allowed on the ice and bag check has a fee, while shoe check is free.
See the village at night. After sunset, which comes before 4:30 p.m. in December, the tree and the kiosks light up against the Midtown skyscrapers. It is the best time for photos.
Getting there is easy. Take the B, D, F or M trains to 42 St to Bryant Park, the 7 train to 5 Av, or walk from Times Square or Grand Central in a few minutes.
From Bryant Park to the Christmas Lights of Dyker Heights
Bryant Park is the perfect afternoon plan, and the night is perfect for the most famous Christmas lights in New York: the houses of Dyker Heights, in Brooklyn, where neighbors compete every year with giant decorations, music and thousands of lights.
Our Christmas Lights Tour in New York City: Dyker Heights stops at Hudson Yards and The Vessel, spends about an hour walking among the lights of Dyker Heights, continues to DUMBO and the base of the Brooklyn Bridge, and ends near Rockefeller Center, just a short walk from Bryant Park. If you want to see much more of the city on the same day, the New York City Contrasts Tour + Dyker Heights Lights combines the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn with about 45 minutes among the Christmas lights. Both are guided in Spanish and run in heated vehicles, so you can enjoy the city without fighting the cold or holiday traffic.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Bryant Park Winter Village open in 2026?
On Wednesday, October 28, 2026. The rink and The Lodge stay open until February 28, 2027, and the Holiday Shops until January 3, 2027.
Is ice skating at Bryant Park really free?
Yes. Admission is free, and if you bring your own skates you skate for free with a free ticket reserved in advance. You only pay for skate rentals and optional services.
How much does it cost to rent skates at Bryant Park?
Rentals start at about $18.72 and increase at peak times. Express Lane and Premium Skate options cost more.
How long is a skating session?
About 50 minutes, or 75 minutes with Express Lane.
When is the Bryant Park tree lighting in 2026?
The date had not been announced at the time of writing. In 2025 it took place on December 2 at 5:30 p.m., and it was free.
What are the Holiday Shops hours?
The 2026 season page lists Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Holiday hours may change, so check before you go.
Can I visit Bryant Park and see the Dyker Heights lights on the same day?
Yes. Visit Bryant Park in the morning or afternoon and join a Christmas lights tour at night. Our Dyker Heights tour ends near Rockefeller Center, a short walk from Bryant Park.
Related Articles
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights: Complete Guide and House Map (2026)
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree 2026: Lighting Date, Hours & History
New York’s Spanish-Language Christmas Lights Tour: Contrasts + Dyker Heights
Sources
Sources: Bryant Park Corporation, Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park, The Rink, Holiday Shops and Tree Lighting pages (bryantpark.org); Time Out New York, Bryant Park’s Winter Village returns in October (2026) and Bryant Park tree lighting (2025); Wikipedia, Bryant Park. Dates, hours and prices are subject to change.
Real’s Tours NYC is not affiliated with Bryant Park Corporation, Bank of America, Urbanspace or any organization mentioned in this article. Dates, hours and prices may change, so please confirm current information at bryantpark.org before your visit.
