The ice goes back down in Bryant Park next week. Bank of America Winter Village opens on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at noon, bringing back The Rink, the Holiday Shops and The Lodge bar and food hall to the park between 40th and 42nd Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues.

The Rink runs through Sunday, February 28, 2027, and is open every day of the season, holidays included. Skating itself is free. Visitors who bring their own skates pay nothing, and rentals are available for those who don't.

The Rink

The 17,000-square-foot rink sits at the center of the village and also hosts free skating shows and events through the winter. Regular hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. From November 19 to January 3, the rink stays open until midnight, and on January 31 it closes early at 8 p.m.

Every skater needs a ticket, including those bringing their own skates. Free own-skates tickets are released daily for dates one week ahead, and the park limits each skater to one time slot per day and five tickets per booking. Most sessions give skaters 50 minutes on the ice, with ice time starting 20 minutes after the ticket time to allow for lacing up.

Rental skates cost $18.72 to $64.48 depending on the time slot, with off-peak hours on the cheaper end. An Express Lane ticket, which skips the line and stretches ice time to 75 minutes, is $87.52 with rental skates and $18.42 to $36.86 for skaters with their own. A Premium Skate package, at $156 to $182, adds a skate concierge, snacks and a drink, a shared lounge, rentals, bag check and extra ice time. Prices are listed before tax.

Helmets are free to rent. Skate aids cost $26 and are free before 10:30 a.m. while supplies last, which the park points to as a good time for families with small children. Shoe check is free, and bag check costs $6.24 per item. Bags are not allowed on the ice, and coats must be worn or checked. Bank of America cardholders get a discount on eligible skate rentals booked online through the end of the season.

For those who want to learn, the rink offers group lessons by age and skill level on Saturday and Sunday mornings and Tuesday afternoons, plus private lessons with coaches seven days a week.

Holiday Shops and The Lodge

The Holiday Shops, curated by Urbanspace, open at the same time as the rink. The open-air market fills the park's tree-lined walkways, plazas and terraces with custom-built kiosks selling crafts, gifts and food goods from New York City makers and vendors from around the world. Shop hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends, with later hours from November 19 to January 3.

The Lodge, the bar and food hall on the northeast corner of the rink deck, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and until 11:30 p.m. on select peak days. It has two full-service bars, a big screen for games and food counters run by local businesses. The Chalet, a smaller snack bar at the northwest corner of the deck, serves drinks and light bites from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Igloos arrive November 5

The village's Cozy Igloos return on Thursday, November 5. Each private dome holds up to eight people for a 90-minute session with food and drinks included. Packages for one to four guests or five to eight guests start at $259.61 with taxes and fees, and prices rise for larger parties and holiday dates. An igloo booking does not include rink access, so skaters need to reserve a separate session.

Getting there

Take the B, D, F or M train to 42 St-Bryant Park, or the 7 train to Fifth Avenue. Times Square and Grand Central are each a short walk away.

Winter Village opens at noon on October 28. Skate tickets, including free own-skates reservations, are booked through the Reserve tickets button on the Bryant Park website, and group visits of 30 to 100 skaters need an advance group reservation.

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