Short answer: Late morning on 1 January off East Looe beach, a charity swim for the RNLI with a big crowd, fancy dress carried over from the night before, and no wetsuits by tradition. Register on the beach beforehand; the Ship and a few others open for a restorative lunch.
This is one of our town-by-town winter guides — the full county picture is in Christmas and New Year in Cornwall 2026.
Looe's New Year's Day swim is the sequel to its New Year's Eve: a charity dip off East Looe Beach late morning on 1 January, raising money for the RNLI, with a large crowd along the Banjo Pier and the sea wall, and a good number still in last night's costume. Registration is on the beach beforehand with a donation; the swim itself is a mass charge, a minute of screaming, and out.
2026 dates: 1 January, late morning — Looe RNLI and the town's community pages confirm the exact time in December. We update this line the moment organisers confirm.
The Ship Inn Looe and The Jolly Sailor Looe open New Year's Day; most cafés don't. If you want a walk first, Hannafore on the West Looe side is flat along the front with the island in view.
New Year's Day is a gentler way to see Looe's celebration without the crush — arrive at 10, watch the swim, lunch, walk, home by dark.
See the full Looe guide, filtered by who's with you.
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