NYC Ice Skating 2026: The Rinks, the Prices and When to Go

There are two kinds of New Yorkers in winter: the ones who skate, and the ones who stand at the rail watching the ones who skate. This season both have more reasons than usual to show up. The rink at Rockefeller Center is celebrating its 90th year, Central Park and Bryant Park open their ice the same week, and Brooklyn's Prospect Park rink comes back on Halloween.

Here's every major rink, with this season's dates, what it actually costs, and when to go so you spend your time on the ice instead of in line.

The Rink at Rockefeller Center

Open now for its 90th season
Price: 60-minute General Skate sessions from $22; prices rise with demand on weekends and holidays
Where: the sunken plaza at Rockefeller Center, between 49th and 50th Streets off Fifth Avenue

The most famous rink in the world started as an experiment: a temporary "skating pond," opened on Christmas Day 1936 to bring foot traffic into the new plaza. Ninety years later, Prometheus still watches over the same small sheet of ice. This season brings a new Skate House for rentals, storage and concessions from chef Greg Baxtrom, and an upgraded VIP Skate — priority entry, skate rental and a heated lounge — starting November 14. The rinkside Holiday Chalets open November 6 and run through January 2, closing December 1 and 2 for the tree lighting.

It's small, it's busy and it's the priciest skate in the city at peak times — and once the tree goes up on December 2, there is nothing else like it. Book ahead, and aim for a weekday morning.

Wollman Rink, Central Park

Season: October 28, 2026 to March 16, 2027
Hours: Monday–Tuesday 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; Friday–Saturday 10 a.m.–10 p.m.
Price: adults $16 off-peak, $28 peak, $40 prime; children 4–12 and seniors 65+ $12; 3 and under free; skate rental $12; lockers $8
Where: the southeast corner of Central Park — enter at 59th Street and Sixth Avenue

The view is the point: a big, open oval of ice with the towers of Central Park South rising over the trees. Wollman is roomier than Rockefeller Center and, off-peak, far cheaper. It also has free community days — the opening weekend of October 31 and November 1, and the closing weekend of March 14–16, are free for everyone. With an IDNYC or New York Public Library card, walk-up tickets are $16 at any time. One rule worth knowing: once you leave, there's no re-entry.

Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park

Season: October 28, 2026 to February 28, 2027
Hours: daily 8 a.m.–10 p.m., until midnight from November 19 to January 3
Price: free admission; skate rentals available
Where: Bryant Park, Sixth Avenue between 40th and 42nd Streets

The best deal in the city: a 17,000-square-foot rink with free admission. Bring your own skates and it costs nothing at all. It's surrounded by the park's holiday market and The Lodge, the rinkside bar and food hall, so it doubles as a full Midtown evening — and the late hours from mid-November make it the easiest after-work skate in town.

LeFrak Center at Lakeside, Prospect Park

Opens: October 31, 2026
Where: Prospect Park, Brooklyn — near the Ocean Avenue side of the park

Brooklyn's big rink has two sheets of ice, one covered and one open-air, which makes it the most reliable option when the weather can't make up its mind. The season opens Halloween weekend with free lessons and public skating, and it's the most relaxed, family-friendly rink of the bunch. Check the Lakeside website for current session times and prices.

Which rink is for you

• The once-in-a-lifetime skate: Rockefeller Center, ideally after December 2 with the tree lit.
• The best view: Wollman, at dusk, when the Central Park South towers light up.
• The cheapest: Bryant Park with your own skates (free), or Wollman on an off-peak day or a free community day.
• The after-work skate: Bryant Park, open until midnight through the holidays.
• The family day: LeFrak Center, with room to wobble and a covered rink if it rains.

How to skate smart

• Weekday mornings are gold. Every rink is calmer before noon on a weekday, and Wollman's off-peak price is a fraction of its prime price.
• Book timed tickets where you can. Rockefeller Center and Wollman both sell sessions online, and December weekends sell out.
• Bring your own skates if you have them — it's free at Bryant Park and saves $12 almost everywhere else.
• Dress in layers, not bulk. You'll warm up faster than you think, and a big coat is miserable on the ice.

Ninety years after Rockefeller Center flooded a sunken plaza to see who'd show up, New York still answers the same way every winter: with a pair of rented skates and terrible balance.

Dates and prices confirmed with Rockefeller Center, Wollman Rink and Bryant Park as of October 25, 2026. Prices can change by date and demand — check each rink before you go.