Jerusalem is preparing for a busy summer season in July and August 2026, with major festivals, live performances, sporting events and activities for children and families. Alongside long-running events such as the Hutzot Hayotzer Festival and the Jerusalem Film Festival, the city will also open a new water park and an ice-skating complex in the Malha Sports District.
Events will take place at leading venues including Sultan’s Pool, the Bell Park, the Hinnom Valley, the Armon Hanatziv Promenade, the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens, Hansen House and Mishkenot Sha’ananim. Additional activities are planned in neighborhoods and community centers across the city.
What new attractions will open in Jerusalem in summer 2026?
The new Arena Park is expected to open in July in the Malha Sports District. The family water park will include inflatable slides, pools, water-based activity areas and obstacle courses.
Next to it, the Ice Box complex will offer approximately 1,300 square meters of real ice. Both attractions are scheduled to operate throughout July and August.
The Auto-Ochel food festival will also return to the Armon Hanatziv Promenade, combining food stands with a laser show. The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens will host the Lotus Flower and Indian Culture Festival, as well as its Magic in the Forest summer activity.
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion said the summer program includes “dozens of festivals, hundreds of cultural and sporting events, and new attractions,” together with benefits for visitors.
When are the Hutzot Hayotzer and Jerusalem Film festivals taking place?
The Jerusalem Film Festival will open on July 9 with an event at Sultan’s Pool and continue for ten days. Jerusalem Design Week is also expected to take place at Hansen House during the same period.
The Hutzot Hayotzer Festival will celebrate its 50th anniversary at Sultan’s Pool, with performances by Eden Hason, Shlomi Shabat, Yehuda Poliker, Nasrin Kadri, Idan Amedi and other Israeli artists.
The Israel Festival will open in the Hinnom Valley with a tribute to French high-wire artist Philippe Petit, who crossed the valley on a wire during the 1987 festival.
Other events include the International Puppet Festival, the Jerusalem Opera Festival, the Moon Festival at Kfar Shaul and the On the Roof Festival at Mishkenot Sha’ananim.
What hotel discounts are available in Jerusalem this summer?
Visitors booking at least two nights at participating Jerusalem hotels may receive discounts of 20 percent or more, depending on each hotel’s terms. The offer also includes a digital wallet worth 100 shekels for every guest aged two and over, for use at participating events and attractions.
Shimon Album, director-general of the Ministry of Jerusalem and Jewish Tradition, said the initiative is intended to help families from across Israel plan a holiday in Jerusalem with access to cultural events and special benefits.
Jerusalem Development Authority director-general Tzachi Namir added that the connection between hotels, festivals, attractions and local businesses is designed to help families “plan a complete holiday in the city.”
