The 39th International Klezmer Festival in Safed 2026

When is the Safed Klezmer Festival 2026?

• Tuesday: August 18, 2026

• Wednesday: August 19, 2026

• Thursday: August 20, 2026

• Street performances and main festival activities: 19:00–23:00

• Admission: Free entry to all festival performances

Performances will take place at HaMaayan HaRadum Square, Beit Yosef Street, the Bank Hapoalim Plaza on Jerusalem Street, the General Exhibition Complex, City Hall Plaza, Arlozorov Street, and Jerusalem Street.

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

The Main Stage – "Roots of Melody" Stage, HaMaayan HaRadum Square

• 19:00 and 20:10 – Klezmers Around the World with Yarden Maidan

• 21:30 – Gabriel Shoraki and Friends host David D'Or

Eshtam Stage – Beit Yosef Street

• 19:00 and 20:10 – Sounds of Klezmer

• 21:15 – Maqamat and Yohai Cohen – Andalusian Piyyut

"Sounds of Klezmer" Stage – Bank Hapoalim Plaza, Jerusalem Street

• 19:00 – "Kavanah": Amitai Man, soloist of Guta

• 20:30 – "Neshama": A musical meeting between saxophonist David Digilov and pan flute virtuoso Avraham Schwab

• 21:30 – Ira Goyfeld

"Spirit of the Soul" Stage – General Exhibition Complex

• 19:00 – Tzof Ensemble

• 20:15 – Hiba Band

• 21:30 – Purple Groove

"Rising Sounds" Stage – City Hall Plaza

• 19:00 – "Times," Yuri Hainson

• 20:20 – Sania Kreitor and his band – Sanias Band

• 21:40 – "Klezmershpil," Arkady Goldstein

Street Performances

Artistic performances will take place along Jerusalem Street and Arlozorov Street between 19:00 and 23:00.

Participating artists and ensembles include:

• Tova Bova

• Aviv Pollak – Electro-Ethnic Performance

• Melody of the Flute

• Secrets of the Klezmer

• HaKlezmeria

• Yalla Ensemble

• Teplitzky Klezmer

• Klezmer, Tango, Gypsy and Everything in Between

• Keitlin Sounds

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

The Main Stage – "Roots of Melody" Stage, HaMaayan HaRadum Square

• 19:00 and 20:10 – Nir Saroussi and his band in "Strings of Fire"

• 21:30 – Lev VeHaMaayan host Bar Tzabari

Eshtam Stage – Beit Yosef Street

• 19:00 – Kol Israel Ensemble – "From Exile to Redemption"

• 20:10 – Oded and Friends

• 22:00 – Marrakesh Express – Andalusian Electro-Acoustic Celebration

"Sounds of Klezmer" Stage – Bank Hapoalim Plaza, Jerusalem Street

• 19:00 – Pavel Levin – "Soul Violin"

• 20:30 – Daniel Ahaviel – "The Magic Violin"

• 21:30 – Niv Trio – "Kolil HaHoresh"

"Spirit of the Soul" Stage – General Exhibition Complex

• 19:15 – Ha'arat HaLev HaElyon

• 21:00 – Israel Nachman Hazin

• 22:00 – The Tzarum Brothers – Brider

"Rising Sounds" Stage – City Hall Plaza

• 19:00 – "Gefilte Drive," Alexander Kotler

• 20:20 – "Expressia," Ella Levitsky

• 21:40 – Blaksea Swing, Andrei Ilyin

Street Performances

In addition to the regular performances along Jerusalem Street and Arlozorov Street, the following artists will also perform on Wednesday and Thursday:

• Kol Maidan Ensemble

• Ita and Dov Silberman

All street performances take place between 19:00 and 23:00 along the participating streets.

Thursday, August 20, 2026

The Main Stage – "Roots of Melody" Stage, HaMaayan HaRadum Square

• 19:00 and 20:10 – Folkes

• 21:30 – Gershon Leizerson and the Israeli Klezmer Orchestra host Yishai Lapidot

Eshtam Stage – Beit Yosef Street

• 19:00 and 20:10 – Moshe "Musa" Berlin and Kachu – "Songs of the Land"

• 21:15 – Mosaica

"Sounds of Klezmer" Stage – Bank Hapoalim Plaza, Jerusalem Street

• 19:00 – Hanan Bar Sela – "Klezmer Around the World"

• 20:30 – Emil Aivinder – International Accordion Virtuoso

• 21:30 – Hablakania

"Spirit of the Soul" Stage – General Exhibition Complex

• 19:00 – Peret Ensemble

• 20:30 – Safed Sampli

• 21:30 – Kabbalah Dream Orchestra

"Rising Sounds" Stage – City Hall Plaza

• 19:00 – Jerusalem Keytlin Band, Konstantin Keytlin

• 20:20 – "Chokorlia," Arkady Aptaker

• 21:40 – "Moldova," Alex Moldavsky

Street Performances

On the final day of the festival, street performances will continue along Jerusalem Street and Arlozorov Street from 19:00 to 23:00, featuring artists and ensembles participating throughout the three-day festival.

Special Musical Tours in Safed's Old City

During the festival, visitors can also enjoy a special experience called "Ruach Safed – Sounds in the Alleys."

11:00 – Musical Walking Tour Through the Alleys

A musical tour through Safed's Old City with musical guides, including:

• Stories about Safed's past and present

• A visit to the area of the ancient synagogues

• Meetings and stories connected to local figures

• Visits to art galleries

• Exploring thousands of years of history in Safed, the city of Kabbalah

• Music and melodies along the way

16:30 – Traveling Klezmer Performance

A musical experience through the alleys of Safed's Old City, led by Miel Oman, accompanied by singing guides and authentic Safed klezmer musicians.

Meeting point: The entrance to the General Exhibition of Safed Artists, near the stage, on 15th Street.

Cost: Free of charge.

Advance registration is recommended, as the number of places is limited.

Important Information About Transportation, Parking and Road Closures

Special traffic arrangements are expected during the festival:

• The Eshtam Parking Lot will be closed from Sunday, August 16, until Friday, August 21.

• HaAliya Bet Street, Jerusalem Street and Arlozorov Street will be closed to traffic, and parking will not be permitted between 15:00 and midnight on festival days.

• Additional road closures may occur according to police instructions.

Parking for Festival Visitors

Parking is available, among other locations, at:

• Safed Academic College Parking

• Market Square Parking – 92 Palmach Street

• Khan HaAdom Parking – 48 16th Street

• Saraya Parking – Palmach Street, corner of HaAliya Bet Street

From Tuesday through Thursday, August 18–20, starting at 14:00, vehicles parked or obstructing traffic within the festival area may be towed to the Market Parking Lot.

In addition:

• Playing music without an event license is prohibited.

• Glass bottles of any kind are not permitted.

• Visitors should follow the instructions of festival staff and posted signage.

Staying in Safed During the Klezmer Festival?

The Klezmer Festival is one of the most special times of the year to visit Safed. For three evenings, the Old City comes alive with music, artists, street performances, and a unique atmosphere unlike anywhere else.

If you are looking for a vacation rental or accommodation in Safed's Old City, staying with Safed Nofesh allows you to enjoy the atmosphere of the festival and return to your accommodation in the heart of the Old City at the end of the evening.

We recommend booking in advance for August 18–20, 2026, and planning your evenings according to the stages and artists you would like to see.

We look forward to welcoming you to Safed for three days of music, klezmer, Jewish melodies, street performances, and the unique atmosphere of the Old City.

The information above is based on the official publication of the Safed Municipality and the Ministry of Culture and Sports for the 39th International Klezmer Festival, August 2026. The schedule, stage locations, and list of performers may be subject to change. We recommend checking the latest details with the Safed Municipality closer to the event date.