Experience the Unique Festivals of Israel
You can find festivals in Israel all year long, which are centered around art, music, film, and community. From massive multi-day events to more intimate affairs, festivals in Israel are not only a ton of fun: they’re incredibly unique. You can often find festivals in the middle of the deserts of the south, or nestled in the forests of the north of Israel, and the communities that organize these festivals are often tight-knit, lively, and welcoming.
InDNegev
This music festival is a massive three-day event in the Negev Desert region with more than 100 live performances by bands and other live performers. The festival grounds for this event are sprawling, and while you’ll usually find indie music performances here, there is a wide array of genres. This event usually occurs in mid-October, and you can find information about it on their InDNegev’s Facebook page.
Time of Year: October
Tamar Festival
The Tamar Festival is another one of the best festivals in Israel which takes place in the Negev Desert, around the Dead Sea. This festival has been happening for 20 years, and it’s a 4-day Israeli music festival in mid-October that has several venues (including Masada National Park, Kibbutz Ein Gedi, and the Kikar Sdom Villages). During this festival you’ll find music by Israel’s most talented musicians, along with other activities such as hiking and tours of the area.
Time of Year: Sukkot (September/October)
Midburn
Perhaps one of the most well-known festivals in Israel is Midburn, Israel’s version of Burning Man festival. It’s the second-largest regional Burning Man festival in the world, and it’s a five-day festival during October where participants transform the desert into a bustling city. Midburn is not a music festival in the traditional sense, as there are no “stages,” and it’s considered to be a celebration of self-expression, creativity, and communal living that is based on the principles of Burning Man.
Participants of Midburn are organized into camps, and there are art installations, as well as a central “Man” structure that is burned on the final night. Participants are encouraged to express themselves through art, music, performance, and fashion, and the result is a vibrant and eclectic mix of styles and personalities. You can learn more about Midburn on the event’s official website.
Time of Year: Changes
Jazz Festival
The Red Sea Jazz Festival is a weekend music festival which is held in Eilat, the southernmost city in Israel. The Red Sea Jazz festival is an event packed with incredible music, and includes performances by both local Israeli artists, as well as international acts. There are plenty of talented main performers, but many attendees also enjoy the jam sessions, which keep the great vibes going all night long. The Red Sea Jazz festival occurs seasonally, and you can read more about it on the Red Sea Jazz Festival’s official website. If you’re looking for a place to stay during the Red Sea Jazz Festival, Abraham Eilat is waiting to host you. Our hostel is in a central location in Eilat, and you can easily travel to the location of the Jazz Festival by bus or with a quick taxi ride. Plus, you’ll enjoy our comfortable rooms, nightly activities, and tasty food options during your stay. Find out more about Abraham Eilat!
Time of Year: February/August-September
Docaviv
Calling all documentary film lovers – you’ll want to mark your calendars for the Docaviv International Documentary Film Festival. Held annually in the spring in Tel Aviv, this event is an Oscar qualifying festival which screens about 120 films every year. It’s the largest film festival in Tel Aviv, and the only festival in Israel dedicated to documentary films.
During the event you can find documentary cinema, debut films, seminars, outdoor screenings, artist talks, and other industry events.
Time of Year: May-June
Illustration Week
This art festival in Tel Aviv features dozens of exhibitions by hundreds of Israeli illustrators, designers and artists, and these exhibitions are located all over the city of Tel Aviv. Many of the exhibitions during the Illustration Week are free and open to the public, and you can see a wide variety of visual art mediums represented during this event.
Don’t forget, Abraham Tel Aviv hosts art exhibitions during Illustration Week, and we also curate rotating exhibitions in our gallery space throughout the year.
Time of Year: November
The Israel Festival
This festival in Jerusalem has been held for more than 60 years, and it’s one of the longest-running festivals in Israel. The Israel Festival is a multidisciplinary event typically held in September, and includes many different types of performing arts and creators, both locally from within Israel, and from abroad. You can find music, dance, and theater, for example, and are likely to see original performances at the festival. More than 35,000 attend this festival, which also includes conferences, master classes, and workshops. The events for the Israel Festival take place at historical sites around Jerusalem, including at the Tower of David, the Jerusalem Theater, Sultan’s Pool, Hansen House, and the Israel Museum.
Looking for somewhere to stay during the Israel Festival? Abraham Jerusalem is perfectly located in Jerusalem’s city center, and it’s ranked the #1 hostel in Jerusalem. We have excellent rooms, a great bar, fun lounge, and are within walking distance from all of the main sites in Jerusalem.
Time of Year: Spring/Fall
Hutzot Hayotzer
This outdoor festival is a 10-day event held in August, and it’s also called the International Jerusalem Arts and Crafts Fair. Hutzot Hayotzer is a summer staple in Jerusalem, where artists from all over the country come to show their work, display what they’ve created, and sell their wares. This event has been going on for more than 35 years, and it takes place in the Hutzot Hayotzer area, which is opposite the Tower of David.
Festival goers will enjoy art, workshops, live performances, sculptures, and live music.
Time of Year: August
Haifa Film Festival
This annual film festival is held in September in Haifa, and it’s been happening for more than 38 years. The Haifa Film Festival screens both Israeli films, as well as films from all over the world. In 2022, the film festival screened more than 280 films, and more than 300,000 people participated in the activities, which included screenings, workshops, and other events. This film festival includes competitions and awards, and there are also masterclasses, tributes, outdoor events, and other industry events.
Time of Year: September
