Brighton Pavilion Ice Rink 2026 update and where to skate instead
If you’ve been eagerly awaiting news about this year’s Brighton ice rink, you’re not alone. Here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening with the Brighton Pavilion Ice Rink in 2026, why it’s taking a year off, what’s planned for 2027 and where you can still get your festive skating fix near Brighton this Christmas.
If the Pavilion rink is usually part of your family’s Christmas traditions, don’t panic. There’s still a packed schedule of seasonal events, family-friendly activities and other things popping up across Brighton & Hove this year.
Is the Brighton Pavilion Ice Rink open in 2026?
If skating in front of the Royal Pavilion is part of your Christmas tradition in Brighton, we’ve got some disappointing news. The Brighton Pavilion Ice Rink won’t be opening for Christmas 2026.
The rink has been in Pavilion Gardens since 2010, with its last season running from October 2025 into January 2026. The £8 million restoration of the historic gardens means that the usual site us currently unavailable.
The company behind the ice rink in Brighton, Laine Ltd, did look for another place to host it for 2026, but said:
“ Since ice rinks are power-hungry, we have proudly chosen not to run off diesel generators for many years now, choosing mains power and a renewable tariff instead. Unfortunately, we have been unable to locate a venue with sufficient mains electrical capacity for 2026, so we have made the difficult decision to stand the rink down for one year. ”
So, if you’ve been searching for Brighton ice skating this Christmas, don’t turn up at Pavilion Gardens with your gloves and expect to find the rink. It won’t be there this year.
Where will the Brighton ice rink be in 2027?
Thankfully, the Brighton ice rink isn’t gone for good.
Brighton ice skating is due back in 2027, and Old Steine is currently the preferred spot for its new home.
Laine Ltd and Brighton & Hove City Council are still working through the details for 2027, so we don’t have opening dates, ticket prices or the final setup just yet.
Old Steine keeps the rink right in the middle of things. The Royal Pavilion is opposite, Valley Gardens alongside it, and you can easily walk over to The Lanes, North Laine or the seafront before or after your skate.
It will definitely feel different without the Pavilion lit up in festive lights as we skate around in front of it, but we’d much rather see it find a new home nearby than disappear completely.
We’ll update this guide as soon as the 2027 Brighton ice rink dates, tickets and plans are confirmed.
Where can I go ice skating near Brighton in 2026?
You don’t have to hang up the skates completely.
Head west along the coast and you’ll find Worthing Ice Rink in Steyne Gardens. It opens on Saturday 7th of November 2026 and sticks around until 21st of February 2027, so there’s plenty of time to get a skate in.
Unlike the old Brighton Pavilion Ice Rink, Worthing’s rink is under cover, which is handy when the weather decides to chuck it down.
Sessions last an hour, and children can skate from the age of four. Families can hire penguin skate aids for younger skaters; the rink is wheelchair accessible with a café for the inevitable hot drink to warm up afterwards.
If you’re thinking of going on a weekend or during the Christmas holidays, book ahead. With Brighton taking a year off, Worthing is the nearest option for anyone missing their usual festive skate, so it’ll likely be in high demand.
What can you do for Christmas in Brighton instead in 2026?
No ice rink is disappointing, but there’s still loads happening for Christmas in Brighton.
You’ve got Christmas shows, makers’ fairs and festive markets, events at the Royal Pavilion and museums, family activities, live entertainment and other Christmas activities in Brighton throughout November and December.
There’s also the Santa Bus, festive trips on Volk’s Electric Railway and plenty more being added as Christmas gets closer.
Check out our What’s on guide for the latest festive events across Brighton & Hove. We’re adding new events constantly, so it’s worth checking back before you make plans.
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Find out more about Brighton ice skating plans
Check out answers to some of the more popular questions about ice skating in Brighton over Christmas.
Is there an ice rink in Brighton for Christmas 2026?
No. The Brighton Pavilion Ice Rink is taking 2026 off and, at the moment, there isn’t another ice rink replacing it in Brighton this Christmas. Worthing Ice Rink is the nearest option if you still fancy a festive skate.
Is the Brighton Pavilion Ice Rink permanently closed?
No. This is a 2026 break, not the end of the rink entirely. The plan is for the ice rink in Brighton to return in 2027, with Old Steine currently lined up as its preferred new location.
Is the ice rink returning to the Royal Pavilion in 2027?
The ice rink will not return to Pavilion Gardens in 2027. The current plan is to move the rink over to Old Steine instead, just across from the Royal Pavilion.
When does the Brighton ice rink open in 2027?
The official dates for Brighton ice rink haven’t been announced yet. The rink is due to return at Old Steine in 2027, but dates, tickets and session times are yet to be confirmed.
Where is Old Steine in Brighton?
Old Steine is right in central Brighton, opposite the Royal Pavilion and next to Valley Gardens.
If you’re trying to place it, it has the big Victorian fountain with three cast-iron dolphins and intertwined tails.
The Lanes, North Laine and Brighton seafront are all within easy walking distance, so you’ll still be able to easily organise your Christmas shopping, food or drinks plan around your skate.
