See You in Summer 2026 – Together, Stronger Than Ever

In light of the recent war with Iran and the heightened security risks in Israel at the time, Maccabi World Union and the Maccabiah leadership, together with Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar, officially announced the postponement of the 22nd Maccabiah Games to summer 2026. The Games will now take place from June 30 to July 14, 2026. The Opening Ceremony will be held on July 1, and the Closing Ceremony on July 13.

This difficult yet responsible decision was made during a period of national uncertainty, following the extension of Israel’s state of emergency as part of Operation Rising Lion. Although final preparations were already underway, most venues were ready, and anticipation was growing — with Israel’s airspace temporarily closed and safety no longer assured, postponing the Games was clearly the right course of action.

“Despite our deep desire to hold the Maccabiah this summer as a symbol of resilience and hope, we are forced to postpone it due to the complex security situation created by the attack on Iran, the instructions of the Home Front Command, the continued suspension of flights to Israel, and the necessary security measures required of all of us", said Assaf Goren, Chairman of the Maccabiah."Together with the Ministry of Culture and Sports, and after considering several alternatives, we realized that although we are almost at the starting line, the most prudent step from a security, safety, and logistical perspective is to postpone the event by a year to a quieter and safer time. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the partners and the dedicated employees of Maccabiah 2025, who have worked tirelessly and demonstrated the highest professionalism throughout. I am confident that we will be able to hold a truly significant Maccabiah in the summer of 2026.”

 Assaf Goren, Chairman of the Maccabiah. Photo credit: Ronen Topelberg. 

Maccabiah 2025 was set to be the most meaningful Maccabiah of our generation - bringing together over 8,000 Jewish athletes from 55 countries to compete in 45 sports across dozens of cities and locations in Israel, including Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Jerusalem, Haifa, Herzliya, Sderot, and several towns near the Gaza border.

Expo Maccabiah City in Tel Aviv-Jaffa was designed as a vibrant celebration of sports and culture, filled with interactive exhibits, innovative showcases, and activities for the whole family.

The opening ceremony, scheduled for July 10 at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem, was to feature some of Israel's top artists, including Itay Levy, Eden Golan, and Idan Raichel, hosted by beloved TV personalities Anna Aronov and Assi Azar. The ceremonial torch was to be lit by Paralympic gold medalist Asaf Yasur and Olympic silver medalist Raz Hershko.

 Raz Hershko and Asaf Yasur. Photo credit: Ronen Topelberg. 

Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar summed up: "I thank the Maccabiah organizers, Jewish organizations around the world, and the sports unions, for their willingness and joint efforts. I am confident that we will gather here next year with a stronger and braver Israel than ever before.”

We can't wait to see you next summer — with even more athletes, more delegations, and with all our hostages safely back home — for a powerful celebration of Jewish unity, pride, and resilience!