The Royal Pavilion Ice Rink has not announced its 2026 season. Last year it opened on 25 October, sessions ran 10am to 9.45pm, and tickets were from £15.

The Royal Pavilion Ice Rink has not announced a 2026 season yet. On 29 September its own website still says “The 2025/26 season has now come to an end”, with no new dates, no ticket link and no news post for this year. That is not a sign it has been dropped: in 2024 the announcement did not come until 10 October.

What follows is what the rink’s operator published about last season, marked as last season’s, so you know what to expect and what to check when the 2026 dates land.

When it usually opens, and when it is announced

The rink is run by Laine Ltd on the Royal Pavilion estate, and it has been there every winter since 2010. The last two seasons, from the operator’s own news posts:

Season Opened Closed Announced
2024/25 Saturday 26 October 2024 Sunday 5 January 2025 10 October 2024
2025/26 Saturday 25 October 2025 Sunday 4 January 2026 18 September 2025

Both seasons opened on the last Saturday of October. In 2026 that Saturday is 24 October, and Brighton’s half term runs from 26 to 30 October. The operator has not confirmed any of that for this year. It is the pattern, not a date, and this page will be updated when the operator publishes.

What last season cost and how it ran

These are the 2025/26 terms from the rink’s announcement of 18 September 2025 and its opening times page. Treat the prices as a guide only until 2026 tickets go on sale.

  • Tickets: from £15 for anyone aged 12 and over, and £12 for juniors under 12.
  • Sessions: 45 minutes on the ice, starting on the hour from 10am to 9pm, so the last one finished at 9.45pm.
  • Booking: online in advance is strongly advised. Arrive 20 minutes before your session; late arrivals can skate, but not for the full 45 minutes.
  • Refunds: none. October and November tickets could be moved to another session of the same price with seven days’ notice. December and January tickets were valid only for the session booked.
  • Remembrance Sunday: the first two sessions were dropped and skating started at noon. With Remembrance Sunday on 8 November this year, expect the same, though the operator has not said so.
  • Weather: it is an outdoor rink and skating goes ahead in the rain.

Watching is free. Spectators can stand in the outdoor area to the north of the rink or sit in the rinkside bar and kitchen.

Skating with children

The operator’s family page sets out the rules, and they are strict on age:

  • Children under 8 must have an adult aged 18 or over with them on the ice.
  • Children under 12 must come to the venue with an adult aged 18 or over.
  • Skate sizes run from a child’s size 25, about age 3 or 4, up to UK 15. Double-bladed “bob skates” are available for younger children.
  • Penguin skate aids are for children 1.2m tall or under and cost £6. Numbers on the ice are limited.
  • The quietest time for pre-school children is the 11am session on weekdays, which the operator recommends for beginners.

There is a separate beginners’ rink next to the main one. The operator says long coats, skirts and scarves should not be worn on the ice, for safety.

Getting there and parking

The rink’s address is Royal Pavilion Ice Rink, Brighton BN1 1FN, and walkers get in from the north end of Pavilion Gardens. It is about 10 minutes’ walk from Brighton station. There is no parking on the Royal Pavilion estate; the operator points drivers to the NCP in Church Street, and our Brighton parking guide has the other central car parks and their charges. Dozens of bus routes stop within a few minutes’ walk, and there is a taxi rank opposite the Indian Gateway at the south end of the estate.

Late October is also when the seafront gets busy: the Veteran Car Run takes over Madeira Drive on Sunday 1 November. Check our roadworks and travel page before driving in.

The rest of Christmas at the Pavilion

The rink is separate from the Pavilion’s own winter season, which has been announced: A Fairy Tale of Frost and Fire runs inside the palace from 21 November. Our Royal Pavilion Christmas page has the dates and prices, and the Christmas lights and markets page covers the rest of the city.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an ice rink in Brighton in 2026?

Not confirmed yet. The Royal Pavilion Ice Rink, which has run every winter since 2010, had not announced a 2026 season on 29 September. Last year it announced on 18 September; the year before, on 10 October.

When does the Royal Pavilion Ice Rink open?

For 2026 the operator has not said. The last two seasons opened on the last Saturday of October: 26 October 2024 and 25 October 2025.

How much is the Brighton ice rink?

In the 2025/26 season, tickets were from £15 for ages 12 and over and £12 for under-12s, for a 45-minute session. 2026 prices have not been published.

Can I just watch?

Yes. Watching from the outdoor area to the north of the rink or from the bar is free.

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