The 27th Jerusalem International Oud Festival Celebrates the Musical Traditions of the Region
From November 5 to 12, 2026, Jerusalem will host the 27th Jerusalem International Oud Festival. Over eight days, the festival will present 16 performances at the Jerusalem Theatre, the Khan Theater, and Confederation House. The festival is produced by Confederation House under the artistic direction of Effie Benaya.
The oud is a pear-shaped, short-necked lute. It has been at the heart of Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Mediterranean and Jewish musical life for centuries. In Israel, it carries the memory of many communities: Jews from Iraq, Morocco, Yemen, Egypt and Syria, as well as Arab, Druze and Christian musicians. Each community has kept its own repertoire, modes and ways of playing, often passed from master to student by ear.
When it was founded in 2000, the festival lasted only two days, with every concert held at Confederation House. It has since grown into one of the country’s leading world music events. This year’s program includes:
guests from Britain, Greece, India and Morocco
new Israeli productions exploring links among the musical traditions of the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Asia
the opening concert by Dudu Tassa and Jonny Greenwood
solo concerts by oud players Wassim Odeh, Taiseer Elias and Charlie Sabah
the premiere of new compositions by percussionist Itamar Doari
a closing performance by Teapacks
The oud repertoire is transmitted orally and lives through performance. Festivals like this one give tradition bearers a stage and connect them with new audiences. They also encourage young musicians to carry these sounds forward.
Discover more on our pages about Israeli folk music and Arab Israeli music.
