Sunrise cold plunge for ReBalance Bath at The Holburne Museum to champion mental wellbeing

At sunrise on 1 February 2026, the Holburne Museum will host a powerful and symbolic Cold Plunge Event as part of the ReBalance Bath Festival of Wellbeing, in partnership with IceBreakers. This dawn dip—led first by members of IceBreakers before opening to the public—spotlights the festival’s mission to make wellbeing accessible, inspiring, and rooted in community connection.

The event represents a standout moment within ReBalance Bath’s city‑wide celebration of wellbeing, bringing together three Bath‑based organisations united by a shared commitment to creativity, connection, and inclusive self‑care.

ReBalance Bath has quickly become one of the UK’s most distinctive wellbeing festivals, transforming the city each winter with a programme that encourages residents and visitors to explore practices that support mental, physical, and spiritual health. From yoga in historic venues to mindful craft workshops, spa experiences, and talks from leading wellbeing voices—including Joe Wicks in 2026—the festival positions Bath as a vibrant hub for holistic wellbeing.

The Cold Plunge embodies the festival’s ethos: low‑cost, community‑led, energising experiences that invite people to try something new at a time of year when motivation can be at its lowest. By hosting the plunge at sunrise, the festival highlights the power of shared rituals and the restorative potential of nature, cold water, and collective intention.

“ReBalance is about helping people discover practices that support their wellbeing. The Cold Plunge is a bold, energising way to start the day—and a reminder that wellbeing can be simple, communal, and transformative,” said Allison Herbert, CEO of Bath BID, the organisation that runs the ReBalance Bath Festival.

As a charity, the Holburne Museum leads Pathways to Wellbeing, a nationally recognised programme that uses art, creativity, and heritage to support young people and adults with lived experience of mental health challenges and social isolation. By opening its historic grounds for a sunrise plunge, the Holburne extends its commitment to community wellbeing beyond the gallery walls—offering a moment of renewal, reflection, and shared experience at the heart of the ReBalance Festival.

Spencer Hancock, Head of Operations at The Holburne Museum said, “We are proud to host this event, which aligns so closely with our mission to support wellbeing through creativity, community, and connection. The Cold Plunge is a powerful symbol of resilience and shared strength.”

IceBreakers was founded by men who had experienced the devastating impact of poor mental health and recognised the need for accessible, stigma‑free support. Their approach is simple and powerful: cold water, community, nature. Not therapy—yet therapeutic. Not clinical—yet deeply supportive. The IceBreakers Way, enables men to safely access the benefits of cold water immersion without equipment, training, or cost. Their vision is a global network of local chapters—men supporting men, freely and openly.

Their participation in the ReBalance Bath Festival highlights the growing evidence behind cold water immersion as a tool for resilience, emotional regulation, and mental wellbeing.