By The Visit Israel Editorial Team · Last updated
Jerusalem and Tel Aviv hotels fill fast during the Maccabiah Games. Book early to secure a room near the main venues — Teddy Kollek Stadium and the Wingate Institute in Netanya are the two anchor sites.
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Tel Aviv hosts swimming, basketball and track events. The city's North Tel Aviv hotels and Ramat Aviv hotels are well-placed for shuttle connections to the Wingate Institute in Netanya.
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The Maccabiah Games span Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Netanya, Haifa and Beer Sheva. A rental car is the most flexible way to chase your athlete or favourite discipline across sites. Compare rates at Ben Gurion Airport.
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The Maccabiah Games — the world’s third-largest multi-sport event — is held in Israel every four years and draws over 10,000 Jewish athletes from more than 80 countries. The 22nd Maccabiah Games are running 30 June to 13 July 2026, transforming Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Netanya, Haifa, and Beer Sheva into an international Jewish sporting celebration unlike anything else on the calendar.
Whether you are travelling to watch a family member compete, attending as a supporter from the diaspora, or simply visiting Israel during what becomes a nationwide festival of sport and community, this guide covers everything you need to plan your Maccabiah experience.
The Maccabiah is often called the “Jewish Olympics.” It is the third-largest multi-sport event in the world by number of athletes — behind only the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games. The first Maccabiah was held in Tel Aviv in 1932, organised by Yosef Yekutieli as a way to demonstrate Jewish athletic achievement and strengthen ties to the Land of Israel. Fourteen Jewish athletes from across the Mandate were joined by delegations from ten countries; today the event draws more than 10,000 competitors.
The games are organised by the Maccabi World Union and held every four years, always in Israel. Athletes must be Jewish and/or Israeli citizens, or eligible to make aliyah under the Law of Return.
Four divisions compete:
Sports at the 22nd Maccabiah Games include swimming, athletics (track and field), tennis, football (soccer), basketball, basketball 3×3, volleyball, gymnastics, cycling, golf, martial arts, fencing, rowing, sailing, and many others. The full programme is published at maccabiah.com.
The 22nd Maccabiah Games run 30 June to 13 July 2026.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | 30 June – 13 July 2026 |
| Host cities | Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Netanya, Haifa, Beer Sheva |
| Opening Ceremony | Teddy Kollek Stadium, Jerusalem |
| Major swimming venue | Wingate Institute, Netanya |
| Athletes | 10,000+ from 80+ countries |
| Divisions | Open, Junior, Masters, Physically Challenged |
Most competition days run across multiple venue cities simultaneously — a realistic Maccabiah visit requires choosing which disciplines and cities to prioritise. Check the official schedule at maccabiah.com for event-by-event timing.
The Opening Ceremony is the emotional centrepiece of every Maccabiah — a march of athletes from dozens of nations fills Teddy Kollek Stadium. Tickets are sold separately and sell out well in advance. Check maccabiah.com for the current ticketing arrangements; demand from diaspora communities and Israeli spectators makes this the hardest ticket of the games.
Most competition rounds — swimming heats, athletics field events, tennis, basketball pool games, gymnastics sessions — have open spectator access at no charge. Finals can draw large crowds, especially in swimming and athletics, so arrive early for popular disciplines. Venue access policies vary by sport and site; check the specific event listing on the Maccabiah website.
Beyond the sporting action, the Maccabiah creates a festival atmosphere across Israel. The athletes’ village buzzes with languages from 80+ countries; Jerusalem’s streets fill with delegations in national colours; hotels in Tel Aviv and Netanya become informal international Jewish gathering spaces. Spectators who are not accompanying a specific athlete often find the social experience as rewarding as the sport itself.
Jerusalem hosts the Opening Ceremony at Teddy Kollek Stadium (capacity ~21,600) and a range of events across the city. Jerusalem in July is hot (30–34°C peak) but evenings are comfortable. Accommodation near the stadium, in the Malha/Katamon area, fills earliest. The city centre (near Ben Yehuda, Mamilla, German Colony) provides better restaurant and transport access. See our Jerusalem hotels guide for neighbourhood recommendations.
The Wingate Institute for Physical Education and Sports, located between Netanya and Herzliya on Israel’s coast, is the traditional home of Maccabiah swimming and several other disciplines. Netanya is a beach city on the Mediterranean coast, about 30 minutes by train from Tel Aviv. Accommodation near the Wingate (Netanya north end, Poleg Beach area) books out fast for the games period.
Tel Aviv hosts basketball, football (at Bloomfield Stadium in Jaffa), and a range of team and court sports. As Israel’s largest city, Tel Aviv has the most hotel availability and the easiest international access (Ben Gurion Airport is 20 minutes by train). See our Tel Aviv hotels guide for where to stay.
Both cities host specific disciplines — Haifa for some aquatic and court events, Beer Sheva for football and athletics. If your athlete is competing in these cities, consider a one-night stay rather than commuting from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem; the drives are 90 minutes and 1.5 hours respectively, and traffic in Israel during July can be heavy.
The Maccabiah organising committee typically runs official shuttle services between major venue cities for athletes and accredited guests during the games period. Details are published closer to the event on maccabiah.com — check the shuttle schedule there.
Israel Rail connects Jerusalem (Yitzhak Navon station), Tel Aviv (several stations), and Haifa efficiently. Netanya is on the coastal rail line. Beer Sheva has its own rail link from Tel Aviv (about 1 hour). Rail is the best option for Jerusalem–Tel Aviv and Tel Aviv–Haifa movement; see our transport guides for routes. Note: Israel Rail does not run on Shabbat (Friday evening to Saturday night); the final day of the games (13 July 2026) falls on a Monday, so Shabbat is a mid-games consideration on 4–5 July.
For families following an athlete who competes across multiple cities and disciplines, a rental car is by far the most practical solution. Compare rates at Ben Gurion Airport via Discover Cars — booking in advance for a July pick-up is important, as games-period demand significantly increases prices. Drive times: Jerusalem to Tel Aviv ~55 minutes (via Route 1 or Route 443), Tel Aviv to Netanya ~40 minutes (via Route 2), Tel Aviv to Haifa ~60 minutes (via Route 2).
Gett and inDrive operate in all Maccabiah venue cities. Taxis are widely available but can be scarce near venues immediately after popular events — allow extra time. For the Closing Ceremony, coordinate your departure before it ends.
The Maccabiah coincides with Israel’s peak summer tourist season in July, school holidays, and the surge in diaspora Jewish travel accompanying the games. Book early — 3–6 months in advance is a minimum for July stays in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Key accommodation notes:
The Maccabiah is substantially volunteer-run. The volunteer corps handles athlete transportation, venue operations, accreditation, translation, meal services, and community liaison across all venue cities.
Requirements:
Accommodation support is sometimes provided for volunteers, particularly for those travelling from abroad — confirm with the volunteer programme when applying.
Applications are administered through the Maccabi World Union volunteer section at maccabiah.com, typically opening 6–9 months before the games. Roles fill quickly; popular positions (delegation liaison, athlete transportation) are often fully subscribed well in advance.
The Maccabiah is a sporting event first, but Israel in July offers much more:
July weather: Reliably warm and sunny across the country. The coast (Tel Aviv, Netanya, Haifa) is humid 28–32°C; Jerusalem is drier and slightly cooler; Eilat and the Dead Sea are hot (38–42°C) but have the best water for swimming. The Dead Sea is actually very manageable in a morning visit before the midday heat.
What’s open: July is full Israeli summer — restaurants, markets, tourist sites, beaches, and evening culture all run at full activity. Shabbat closures (Friday sunset to Saturday night) apply as always; plan venue visits accordingly. The Maccabiah organising committee schedules many events to accommodate Shabbat.
Combining with sightseeing: Most Maccabiah spectators have gaps in the schedule between their athlete’s events. Jerusalem’s Old City and Yad Vashem are both within 20 minutes of Teddy Kollek Stadium. Tel Aviv beaches and Jaffa are easy filler between Wingate swimming sessions. Our 7-day Israel itinerary provides a framework you can adapt around the games schedule.
Costs: July is Israel’s most expensive month. Hotel rates in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv during the games period run 20–50% above their already-high July averages. Budget ₪800–2,500 per room/night depending on city and standard. See our Israel trip cost guide for a realistic planning budget.
Official source: All schedules, venue details, ticketing, volunteer registration, and delegation information is published at maccabiah.com. The website is updated throughout the games period — check it regularly for schedule changes.
Maccabiah every four years: The 23rd Maccabiah Games will be held in 2030. This guide remains useful for the format, spectator access approach, and volunteering model, which changes relatively little between editions.
Israeli visa / entry: Most Western passport holders (USA, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) enter Israel visa-free. Israel introduced an ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization) for certain nationalities; check your current requirements at the Israeli Ministry of Interior website or our visa guide. Non-Jewish supporters accompanying athletes from non-visa-exempt countries should check requirements 3–6 months before arrival.
Security at events: Israeli security at large public events (particularly the Opening Ceremony) is thorough. Budget 45–60 minutes for entry at the Opening Ceremony. Bag checks, body screening, and identity document verification are standard. Follow the instructions of Maccabiah security staff; prohibited items lists are published on the event tickets.
The Maccabiah Games is an international Jewish and Israeli multi-sport event held in Israel every four years. Founded in 1932, it is often called the 'Jewish Olympics' — the third-largest multi-sport event in the world by participating athletes after the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The 22nd Maccabiah Games (2026) feature more than 10,000 athletes from over 80 countries competing across dozens of disciplines including swimming, athletics, tennis, football, basketball, gymnastics, cycling, and many more. Four divisions compete: Open (elite adult athletes), Junior (under-18), Masters (35+), and Physically Challenged.
Athletes must be Jewish and/or Israeli citizens, or eligible to make aliyah under the Law of Return. The Open division is for elite Jewish athletes worldwide, many of whom hold national rankings in their home countries. The Masters division (35+) is popular with recreational athletes from diaspora communities. The Junior division (under-18) has the largest international junior Jewish representation of any recurring international sporting event. Athletes register through their national Maccabi organisation — the process is administered nationally, not through individual sign-up.
Most Maccabiah sporting events are free to spectate — swimming heats, athletics field events, tennis rounds, and basketball pool games typically have open spectator access at the venue. The Opening Ceremony at Teddy Kollek Stadium Jerusalem and the Closing Ceremony are separately ticketed events that sell out in advance; check maccabiah.com for the current ticketing arrangements. Venue access rules can vary by discipline and site — arrive early for popular finals.
The 22nd Maccabiah Games run from 30 June to 13 July 2026. Venues are spread across Israel: the Opening Ceremony is at Teddy Kollek Stadium in Jerusalem; swimming events are at the Wingate Institute in Netanya; track and field at various athletics venues; basketball, football, and team sports in Tel Aviv, Netanya, Beer Sheva and Haifa. The full schedule and venue map is published at maccabiah.com — check it directly as events are allocated to specific days and sites closer to the games.
The Maccabiah organising committee typically runs official shuttle buses between major venue cities during the games period — check the official shuttle schedule at maccabiah.com. For flexibility, Israel Rail connects Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa (though not all venue sites are station-adjacent). A rental car is the most practical option for families following an athlete across multiple cities and disciplines. Rideshare apps (Gett, inDrive) and taxis are widely available in all venue cities.
The Maccabiah Games coincide with Israel peak summer tourism season (July) and school holidays. Hotels in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv should be booked at least 3–6 months in advance for the games period. Hotels closest to the Wingate Institute in Netanya (walking distance or a short drive) and near Teddy Kollek Stadium in Jerusalem fill earliest. If you are accompanying an athlete, note that many national delegations organise group accommodation through their Maccabi federation — check with your delegation before booking independently.
Yes — the Maccabiah relies heavily on a volunteer corps for logistics, transportation, venue operations, translation, meal services, and athlete liaison. Volunteers must be 18 or older, often need to commit 10–14 days, and accommodation support is sometimes provided. Applications open roughly 6–9 months before the games through the volunteer section of maccabiah.com. Volunteer positions fill quickly for popular roles — apply early and specify your language skills, as translation support for non-Hebrew, non-English delegations is always in demand.
By The Visit Israel Editorial Team · Last updated