Dogtember 2026 dog swim opens at Saltdean Lido

The first dogs have taken to Saltdean Lido as the four-weekend fundraiser returns. Here are the dates, session rules and details organisers have confirmed.

Edited by Scoop · 4 minute read · 12 September 2026

A September dip usually calls for a brave face. At Saltdean Lido, the first dog swimmers of Dogtember 2026 arrived with buoyancy aids and rather less concern about keeping their hair dry.

The annual dog-swimming festival opened on Saturday 12 September for its 10th year. BBC News reported from the first day that thousands of dogs and owners are expected across four weekends at the restored open-air lido near Brighton.

This is a current event rather than a promise for some distant summer: the organiser lists sessions on 12 and 13 September, 19 and 20 September, 26 and 27 September, and 3 and 4 October. The programme includes quieter swims and size-specific sessions as well as general access.

What happened on Dogtember’s opening day

BBC News published photographs from the opening day showing dogs diving, paddling, using the pool steps and being coaxed towards the water by their owners. Reporter Tanya Gupta dated the story 12 September at 13:48 BST.

The BBC says organisers expect more than 16,000 dogs and owners across the full run. That is an organiser forecast for all four weekends, not a count of animals already through the gate on day one.

The event’s scale is part of its appeal, but the format is divided into sessions rather than one continuous canine crowd. That distinction matters for anyone deciding whether the day suits their dog.

Dogtember 2026 dates and session format

Saltdean Lido’s official Dogtember page lists four 90-minute sessions and one quiet session on each event day. The remaining weekends after opening day are 13 September, 19–20 September, 26–27 September and 3–4 October.

Most sessions are open to all dogs. The programme also separates small-dog and large-dog swims, while breed meet-ups are listed through the event’s dog-swimmer group and ticketing page.

A quiet session is intended for dogs that do not enjoy crowds. It is still a shared public event, so owners should use the organiser’s live timetable and ticket information rather than assuming a general session will have the same atmosphere.

How the pool works for dogs and people

The main attraction is the heated 40-metre pool, which has wide shallow steps. A separate sloping splash pool offers water jets and a slide for dogs that are less inclined to launch themselves into the deep end.

Every dog needs a dog-swim ticket. People who want to enter the main pool need a human-swim ticket; those staying poolside can choose a spectator ticket. The organiser says under-16s cannot enter the main pool, although they may use the splash pool with suitable supervision.

Saltdean Lido says the site is secure and the gate is permanently staffed during the event. It also advises human swimmers to wear long sleeves to reduce scratches. These are the event’s rules and recommendations, not general veterinary guidance about whether an individual dog should swim.

Why Dogtember is more than a novelty swim

Dogtember is run by volunteers as a fundraiser for the Saltdean Lido Trust, the registered charity behind the Art Deco pool. Ticket income therefore supports the venue as well as buying entry to the event.

The lido says every human-and-dog swim ticket sold out across 40 sessions last year. That is the organiser’s account of 2025 demand; it does not guarantee availability this year, so the live booking page remains the relevant record.

For spectators, the first-day pictures supply the uncomplicated answer to why the event keeps returning: some dogs approached carefully, some needed persuasion, and others treated the pool edge like a starting block. Ten years in, Dogtember still lets every swimmer reveal their own definition of enthusiasm.

Sources and update record

Published 12 September 2026. The BBC’s opening-day report and the live Dogtember event page were checked shortly before publication. Dates and session details may change, so prospective visitors should rely on the organiser’s current ticket information. The illustration is conceptual and does not depict a particular dog or moment from the event.