(Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)

Brave swimmers take to the water at Barry Island to see in 2026

by · Wales Online

For decades people have been braving the cold waters of Whitmore Bay, Barry Island's main beach, to celebrate the start of a new year. Hosted by the seafront bar, View 62, hundreds of swimmers headed down to the sand to take a dip.

Originally what started as a joke between a group of friends 40-years-ago, has now become an annual tradition for many people. South Wales Fire and Rescue worker Rob Salter and his friends joked about swimming in the sea at Barry Island whilst sat in a pub on New Year's Eve, and they did just that.

In 2023, after carrying on the event for decades announced that he would no longer be running the Barry Island New Year's Day Swim due to the cost.

But, for the past two years, View 62, has taken over the reigns hosting their own event.

The bar wrote on Facebook before the event: "Barry Island has a long-standing tradition of a New Year’s Day swim, once drawing thousands to the shore.

"Last year, we hosted the very first View Years Day Swim and the response was incredible. With huge demand again this year, we’re proud to keep the tradition alive and help everyone start the year the right way... brave, refreshed and together."

Here are the best pictures as brave swimmers took to the cold waters on New Year's Day 2026.

There were some great outfits(Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)
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The first bit is the hardest(Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)
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Some people dive right in...(Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)
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And others need a bit of help(Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)
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Definitely refreshing(Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)
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