The Israel Festival Jerusalem 2025 opens a new and exciting chapter in the history of Israel’s premier festival. For the first time, the festival expands beyond Jerusalem, bringing world-class arts and culture to communities throughout the country – from the Galilee to the Negev.
One Festival, Many Locations
This year, the festival takes place in collaboration with communities and artists across Israel:
In the North: Majdal Shams, Kiryat Shmona, Kibbutz Kfar Blum, and the lawns of Tel Hai College
In the South: Ofakim, Kibbutz Urim, and Kibbutz Tze’elim
In Jerusalem: The festival’s traditional venues
Each location will present unique content that reflects the spirit of the place and the local community, creating a rich and diverse cultural tapestry.
Featured Performances
Speeches Against Despair – A new concept by Guri Alfi and Eli Haviv that gives fresh interpretations to historical speeches. Featuring Noa Koller, Noga Erez, Norman Issa, Maya Landsman, Michael Ensemble, and Galit Hoogi.
Music People – A unique musical performance bringing together young artists from northern Israel with their sources of inspiration. Leah Shabat, Jane Bordeaux, Amir Lev, Shazamat, and Daniela Spector meet the young and distinctive voices of the north.
Al-Malab (The Pitch) – A new work by Raed Shams and Yonatan Blumenfeld about childhood and memory, performed on the soccer field of Majdal Shams.
From Ashes to Gold – International trumpeter Avishai Cohen will perform his album, written in the wake of the October 7th events, in a specially arranged performance with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra.
Coming Home – A performative Talmud lesson by Chaya Gilboa with Maya Belsitzman, Orit Tshuma, Daniel Engel, and Liat Atzili.
Brothers – An album launch performance by Tuval Haim, a talented musician and brother of Yotam Haim. Special guests include Tomer Yosef and ECHO.
Spurs – A special tribute production marking the 25th anniversary of the Mifal HaPais Sapir Prize for Literature. A “literary takeover” of Hansen House spaces, featuring a rare encounter between writers, stories, and different media. Participants include Sapir Prize winners Etgar Keret, Noa Yadlin, Shimon Adaf, Yair Assulin, and Esther Peled, as well as artists Arkadi Duchin and Daniel Koren, among many others.
A Message from the Organizers
“We operate from a deep belief in artistic creation as a unique tool for strengthening the fabric of shared life in Israel, in the hope that the works will bring light, gentleness, and compassion,” says Eyal Sher, CEO of the festival.
Artistic directors Michal Vaknin and Itai Mautner add: “We want to create a multi-layered picture and make room for something else to enter. This is our humble offering, our prayer.”
Thriving Cultural Life
The festival stands as a testament to Israel’s thriving cultural life and the Israeli public’s deep desire to continue experiencing art and culture at the highest level. The expansion of the festival throughout the country reflects the desire to build bridges between communities and bring the best of Israeli and international art to every citizen.
The Israel Festival continues to position itself as an essential and influential event in Israel’s cultural landscape, offering particularly moving content that challenges the boundaries of creation and provides a platform for brave and original voices.
Supporting Cultural Tourism
The festival’s expansion supports cultural tourism initiatives throughout Israel, particularly in the north through the Restart the Galilee project, which aims to host dozens of cultural, tourism, and sports events that will serve as economic engines for strengthening the region and its residents.
Follow BOTT on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
Subscribe BOTT Channels on WhatsApp & Telegram to receive real time updates
