The Winter Dreams light festival is returning to the University Botanical Gardens in Jerusalem’s Givat Ram neighborhood this winter, featuring two million LED lights, more than 44 illuminated sculptures and 17 themed attractions. The festival will open on November 17, 2026, and continue through January 31, 2027, offering an evening cultural attraction during the city’s colder months.
The event follows the model of winter light festivals held in European cities, including Berlin, Paris, London and Rome. Along a walking route stretching more than two kilometers, illuminated installations will be integrated into the gardens’ vegetation, pathways and lakeside surroundings. The production will also feature a specially composed musical soundtrack and interactive displays allowing visitors to control certain lighting effects.
Among the 17 themed areas will be a World of Hearts, a World of Butterflies and Fairies, a Japanese-themed world, a Lake of Stars, a laser installation and a World of Sweets. The route will also feature illuminated sculptures depicting an airplane, a camel, a buffalo and a gift-filled sleigh. Another section will display glowing penguins and bears alongside an artificial snowfall effect designed to recreate a European winter atmosphere.
What Attractions Will Winter Dreams Offer at the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens?
Beyond the illuminated walking route, the festival will feature a winter market inspired by traditional European markets, with food stalls, handmade products and artwork created by Jerusalem-based artists and artists serving in the Israeli military reserves.
A covered, heated dining area near the lake will offer food prepared under the direction of chefs Moshik Roth and Guy Gamzu. Planned dishes include sausages, hamburgers, pulled meat sandwiches, soups, fish and chips, roasted chestnuts, Belgian waffles and hot beverages.
According to Tom Amit, director general of the University Botanical Gardens, more than 150,000 people attended last year’s event. A new entrance to the gardens is expected to open for this year’s festival, improving visitor access and reducing the need to find parking nearby.
How Much Are Tickets to Jerusalem’s Festival of Lights, and What Are the Opening Hours?
The festival will operate Sunday through Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. On Saturday evenings, it will open half an hour after Shabbat ends and close at 10:00 p.m. Last admission will be at 9:00 p.m.
Standard admission will cost NIS 139, while early-bird tickets will be available for NIS 119. Groups purchasing four or more tickets will pay NIS 89 per person. Students and senior citizens will pay NIS 99, while children under three and Botanical Gardens members will be admitted free of charge. Additional discounts through consumer clubs and credit card companies will offer tickets starting at NIS 49.
The festival will take place at the University Botanical Gardens, 1 Zalman Shneour Street, Givat Ram, Jerusalem.
