More than 5,000 participants are expected to take the icy leap into Lake Michigan when Polar Plunge Chicago returns to North Avenue Beach on Sunday, March 1, 2026 beginning at 10 AM.
Benefiting Special Olympics Illinois and presented by Special Children’s Charities, the annual event remains one of the city’s most visible and spirited fundraisers supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities in Chicago.
Registration is now open at specialchildrenscharities.org.
As the largest plunge event in the Midwest, the 2025 Polar Plunge drew 4,800 participants across approximately 274 teams and raised more than $1.8 million. Organizers anticipate even stronger turnout in 2026 as the event continues its more than two-decade tradition along the lakefront.
The cause behind the cold is rooted in a global movement that began in 1968 at Soldier Field, where the first International Special Olympics Games were held. Founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics has grown into a worldwide organization serving millions of athletes. Polar Plunge Chicago directly supports that mission at the local level, funding year-round sports training and competitions for thousands of Chicago athletes who participate through the Chicago Park District and Chicago Public Schools.
Funds raised help cover transportation to competitions, sports equipment, uniforms, and intramural training programs that keep athletes active throughout the year.
For more than 20 years, Polar Plunge Chicago has attracted celebrity participants and national attention. Past plungers have included Jimmy Fallon; Vince Vaughn; Dax Shepard; Lady Gaga; cast members from Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med; and Al Roker and Craig Melvin of NBC’s Today.
Participants are asked to raise a minimum of $200 and will receive free parking at Lincoln Park Zoo or complimentary bus transportation for groups of 20 or more, a souvenir T-shirt, a towel upon exiting the water, and free photo downloads. High school–aged plungers 17 and under may register for $100 per person. Onsite registration will be available, though organizers encourage advance sign-up.
What began nearly six decades ago as a call for inclusion has become a global movement. On March 1, thousands of Chicagoans will again step into Lake Michigan to make sure that legacy continues — one brave plunge at a time.
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