Happening in DUMBO: A Creative Calendar for the Quarter

Even as the crowds thin and temperatures hit seasonal lows, from January through March, Brooklyn's most design-forward neighborhood, DUMBO, leans heavily into its creative identity.

In fact, defined by working artists, gallery openings, hands-on workshops, and iconic public spaces, winter draws out the creative class in DUMBO, which has long functioned as Brooklyn's creative nucleus. Former industrial buildings now house galleries, studios, tech firms, and design shops, all within a few tightly packed blocks between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges (hence DUMBO - Down Under the Manhattan Bridge for those recently relocated or looking to make a move here).

And winter, perhaps more than any other season, showcases the neighborhood's collaborative spirit. Events feel genuinely local, accessible, and tailored to a local crowd before a broader array of visitors descends in the spring and summer.

Below, we explore one of Brooklyn's, and indeed, one of New York City's most unique neighborhoods. From seasonal highlights to standout events to everyday creative opportunities, this is what's happening in DUMBO  in Winter 2026.

Stretching from December 2025 through February 2026, DUMBO's Holiday Projections transform the neighborhood's brick facades into moving canvases. A collaboration between NYC DOT Art and NYC Parks, and local animation studio Augenblick Studios, among others, whimsical animations, equal parts playful yet architecturally sensitive, are projected onto select buildings. Even after the holidays pass, the projections keep winter evenings lively, encouraging evening walks through Washington Street and the surrounding blocks.

While the Rink at Rockefeller Center gets all the press, arguably the coolest ice-skating experience in NYC is in DUMBO beneath the Brooklyn Bridge. Roebling Rink at Brooklyn Bridge Park, which is open daily through February 1, 2026, offers skyline views that rival any in the city. The rink's location, tucked between historic infrastructure and the river, reinforces the neighborhood's talent for blending recreation with design-forward placemaking.

DUMBO's gallery scene remains active year-round, but winter offers the best opportunity to engage deeply with ongoing exhibitions at several neighborhood galleries. Several shows anchor the Winter 2026 season, including:

• Night Traveling in the Early Country of the Imagination at Springs Project, through January 24, 2026
• The Clocks Were Striking the Hour at Adams Street Library, through January 26, 2026
• Found Time at ZAROLAT, through February 28, 2026

Beyond these headliners, smaller galleries throughout the neighborhood maintain rotating exhibitions that reward regular visits.

The neighborhood's popular First Thursday Gallery Walk, where DUMBO based art galleries keep their doors open late, and restaurants and bars get in on the act with First Thursday specials, returns for another year on January 1, February 5, and March 5, 2026. Winter's quieter pace allows for more meaningful conversations with gallerists and artists, an experience that feels increasingly rare elsewhere in the city.

First Thursday is especially appealing to newer residents or those looking to deepen their understanding of DUMBO's creative infrastructure. It's a perfect platform for exploring the neighborhood and getting to know neighbors, business owners, and creatives.

DUMBO's role as a bridge between art and innovation comes into focus at the Brooklyn Tech Expo beginning on February 11, 2026, at 26 Bridge Street. With a focus on AI and emerging business solutions, and billed as Brooklyn's largest expo-conference, it brings together AI and Tech-savvy founders, designers, and technologists—more than 1,000 professionals in all—many of whom already live or work in the neighborhood.

The event, held in one of DUMBO's renovated factory buildings, offers extraordinary access to decision-makers and creatives through in-depth seminars, a dynamic exhibitor floor, and endless networking opportunities.

The city-wide NYC Restaurant Week returns in January with the winter edition of one of New York's most popular events. Though offering a more pared down list of participants versus its summertime peer, the city's winter based event, which runs from January 20 through February 12, 2026, provides diners a seasonal excuse to get out and explore Brooklyn's growing lineup of destination restaurants—without the premium price tag and many offering curated prix-fixe menus for both lunch and dinner, with options that highlight signature dishes and seasonal ingredients.

Though participating restaurants and menus have yet to be announced, expect a few of DUMBO's favorite eateries to partake in the festivities (prior DUMBO restaurants week established include Bar 56 and Gair). Beyond DUMBO, Restaurant Week offers a reason to cross into neighboring Brooklyn neighborhoods, including Brooklyn Heights, Downtown, and Williamsburg, to sample the fare at the borough's acclaimed kitchens. Reservations open January 7.

DUMBO's Winter 2026 calendar reflects what the neighborhood does best by naturally creating space for creativity to flourish. Events are thoughtfully curated, venues are architecturally compelling, and the community remains deeply engaged in the work being produced around it.

For those drawn to art, design, and the urban serenity of Brooklyn's iconic waterfront, winter in DUMBO is the perfect time to pursue new passions or rediscover old ones.

If you're seeking even more of what DUMBO has to offer, including its landmark real estate offerings, contact the Coldwell Banker Warburg team today to begin your Brooklyn real estate journey.