By The Visit Israel Editorial Team · Last updated
Pair Tamar Festival evenings with daytime adventures at Masada and Ein Gedi. GetYourGuide lists guided Masada sunrise tours, Dead Sea float experiences, and Ein Gedi canyon hikes — book well in advance as Sukkot week sells out fast.
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The Ein Bokek resort cluster — Dead Sea's main hotel strip, 20 minutes from the Tamar Festival site — fills months in advance for Sukkot. Isrotel, Herods, and Leonardo properties are the main options. Book 3–4 months ahead for reasonable rates and availability.
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The Tamar Festival is Israel’s largest annual Sukkot music event — a week of orchestral, chamber, jazz, and world-music concerts performed on an open-air stage by the Dead Sea, with the Judean Desert cliffs rising behind the audience and the lights of Jordan reflected across the water at night. Since its founding in 1999, the festival has drawn Israel’s leading orchestras and international soloists to one of the world’s most dramatic natural concert settings.
This guide covers the 2026 festival format, Dead Sea hotel strategy for Sukkot week, how to combine the festival with a Masada sunrise, and practical logistics from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
The Tamar Festival (Hebrew: פסטיבל תמר) was established in 1999 in the Tamar Region of the southern Dead Sea area and has grown into Israel’s signature Sukkot cultural event. The festival runs during the Chol HaMoed intermediate days of Sukkot — typically 4–6 evenings spread across the holiday week — with concerts ranging from afternoon chamber recitals to late-night orchestral programmes.
The lineup each year spans classical repertoire (symphonies, concertos, chamber music), jazz, and world music, featuring a mix of Israeli ensembles — including regular appearances by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the Israel Chamber Orchestra — alongside international soloists and ensembles. Attendance across the festival week runs to approximately 25,000 visitors.
The setting is fundamental to the festival’s identity: an open-air amphitheatre stage at the Dead Sea shore, with the Judean Desert hills behind the stage and the dark salt-water expanse of the Dead Sea — the lowest point on Earth — forming the natural backdrop. Late September and early October evenings at the Dead Sea are warm (25–30°C at dusk), calm, and reliably clear — conditions that make outdoor classical music here genuinely special.
Sukkot 2026 begins the evening of Thursday 24 September (first night). The Chol HaMoed intermediate days run from Saturday 26 September through Thursday 1 October, with Hoshana Raba on Thursday 1 October and Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah closing the festival on Friday 2 October (evening) through Saturday 3 October.
The Tamar Festival occupies the Chol HaMoed days — expect the main concert programme to run across Saturday 26 September through Wednesday or Thursday (1 October). Exact 2026 dates, programme, and ticket details are published on the official Tamar Festival website (tamarmusicfest.com) approximately 6–8 weeks before the festival. Simchat Torah closures can affect the final festival day, so check the calendar before confirming your travel.
The Sukkot period is the Dead Sea’s peak demand week of the year: Israeli families flock to the resort hotels, and occupancy in Ein Bokek reaches 95–100% by mid-July for the holiday week. Book accommodation and transport well in advance.
From Jerusalem (approximately 70 km south via Route 90; 1 hour 15 minutes by car):
Route 90 hugs the western shore of the Dead Sea south from Jericho — one of the most atmospheric drives in Israel, descending past sea-level markers to −430 m at the Dead Sea shore. Drive south past Qumran, Ein Gedi, and Kibbutz Ein Gedi to reach the festival area near Ein Gedi/the Tamar region.
Festival shuttle buses from Jerusalem have been offered in previous editions for ticketholders — check tamarmusicfest.com for the 2026 shuttle programme and pick-up locations. Without a shuttle, a taxi from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea festival site runs approximately ₪300–₪450 one way; agree the price before departing.
From Tel Aviv (approximately 100 km; 1 hour 30 minutes by car):
Take Route 1 east toward Jerusalem, then Route 90 south along the Dead Sea shore. Driving directly is more convenient than routing through Jerusalem — the Route 1–90 junction near Jericho/Almog is well signposted.
From the Ein Bokek resort strip:
If you are staying at the main Dead Sea resort hotels (Isrotel, Herods, Leonardo), the festival site is approximately 20 minutes north along Route 90. A hire car is the simplest option for the evening commute. Taxis are available from the Ein Bokek taxi rank but demand is high on festival evenings — arrange your return in advance.
Parking at the festival site fills quickly. Festival-goers who arrive later than 60–90 minutes before the first concert often park along Route 90 and walk. Check the official site for 2026 parking arrangements.
The Ein Bokek hotel strip is the most practical base for Tamar Festival visitors — it places you 20 minutes from the festival site with the full range of Dead Sea beach and spa activities on your doorstep.
Main resort options (Ein Bokek):
Alternative base — Kibbutz Ein Gedi (approximately 20 minutes north of Ein Bokek): the Kibbutz Ein Gedi hotel and guesthouses offer a quieter, more nature-focused alternative with access to the Ein Gedi oasis and botanical garden. This base is closer to the festival site (15 minutes) but further from the main spa and beach infrastructure of Ein Bokek.
Jerusalem as base: viable for those who cannot secure Dead Sea accommodation. The ~1h15m drive from Jerusalem to the festival site is manageable, but late-night return after a long concert programme is tiring — particularly on Shabbat-transition evenings when fuel stations along Route 90 may have reduced hours.
Booking window: Sukkot Dead Sea hotels sell out 3–4 months in advance at reasonable rates. By July, only higher-priced rooms and last-minute cancellations remain. If you are reading this in July or August 2026, check immediately — availability narrows quickly.
The classic Tamar Festival day:
07:30 — Masada cable car ascent at sunrise. Masada National Park is 20 km south of the festival site on Route 90. The cable car opens at 08:00; late September sunrise is around 06:20–06:30 — arriving at the lower cable car station by 06:00 for the queue on a Sukkot Chol HaMoed morning is advisable (the site is popular). The summit circuit covers Herod’s northern palace, the Roman siege ramp view, the casemate wall, the synagogue, and the Byzantine church — allow 2–3 hours.
11:00 — Descend and drive to Ein Bokek for the Dead Sea float. The Ein Bokek public beach allows free floating access. The buoyancy of the Dead Sea water (33–34% salinity) is a genuinely distinctive experience — unlike swimming in any other body of water on Earth. Limit time in the water to 15–20 minutes and rinse the salt thoroughly afterward. Shade becomes important from midday onward.
13:00–18:00 — Lunch and rest at your hotel or Ein Bokek promenade restaurants. The long afternoon before the evening concert is a good time for the spa, pool, or a quieter walk to the shoreline.
19:00–20:00 — Drive to the Tamar Festival venue (20–30 minutes from Ein Bokek) and take your seats for the evening programme.
This sequence makes use of the Dead Sea’s geography — Masada and the festival site are both on the same Route 90 corridor south of Jerusalem — and avoids the midday desert heat for strenuous outdoor activity.
Ein Gedi Nature Reserve and National Park is approximately 10 km north of the festival area along Route 90 — a worthwhile half-day add-on for hikers.
The reserve protects two river canyons (Nahal David and Nahal Arugot) fed by year-round freshwater springs descending from the Judean Hills to the Dead Sea shore. The Nahal David trail (2.5 km return; moderate; no technical equipment needed) passes Shulamit Spring and David’s Waterfall — a 20-metre cascade with a natural pool at the base, surrounded by date palms and ibex that are accustomed to visitors. The canyon temperature is noticeably cooler than the Dead Sea shore below.
Enter via the INPA ticket gate (Israel National Parks Pass valid). The reserve is best visited in the morning before midday heat — plan entry by 08:00–09:00 and exit by 11:30.
See the Ein Gedi guide for the full trail map and practical details.
The Tamar Festival runs during the Sukkot holiday week. In 2026, Sukkot begins the evening of Thursday 24 September (first seder night) and the Chol HaMoed intermediate days run through Thursday 1 October. The Tamar Festival traditionally occupies the Chol HaMoed days — typically 4–6 evenings spread across the festival week. Exact dates vary each year and are announced on the official Tamar Festival website (tamarmusicfest.com); Simchat Torah closures can affect the final festival day. Check the official calendar before booking travel. Sukkot hotel rates are highest from Thursday 24 September through Saturday 3 October, so book accommodation for your chosen nights as early as possible.
The Tamar Festival is held at the Dead Sea shore near Kibbutz Ein Gedi, approximately 70 km south of Jerusalem via Route 90. The main outdoor stage sits against the backdrop of the Judean Desert cliffs with the Dead Sea and the Jordanian mountains beyond — one of the most dramatic open-air concert settings in the world. The specific site is accessible by car from the Ein Bokek resort strip (approximately 20 minutes north along Route 90) or from Jerusalem (approximately 1 hour 15 minutes). The name "Tamar" refers to the Tamar Region in the southern Dead Sea area where the festival was first established. Check tamarmusicfest.com for the confirmed 2026 venue address, as staging locations have shifted between editions.
The Tamar Festival is Israel's largest Sukkot classical music and world music festival. The programme spans orchestral concerts, chamber music, jazz, and world music from Israel and internationally — spanning both familiar classical repertoire and contemporary commissions. Since its founding in 1999, the festival has featured the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, leading chamber ensembles, international soloists, and world-music artists. Each edition typically includes 15–20 concerts spread across the festival days, running from afternoon or early evening until late night. The open-air setting under the desert sky with the Dead Sea visible from the audience area is the defining atmosphere. Programmes are announced 4–6 weeks before the festival — check tamarmusicfest.com for the 2026 lineup.
Tickets are sold through the official Tamar Festival website (tamarmusicfest.com). Options typically include single-concert tickets (attending one performance) and multi-day festival passes (covering multiple evenings). Single-concert tickets offer the most flexibility if you are visiting the Dead Sea for several days; multi-day passes are better value if you plan to attend most evenings. Based on previous editions, single-evening tickets have ranged from approximately ₪150 to ₪450 depending on the concert and seating tier — these are historical estimates only; check tamarmusicfest.com for current 2026 pricing. Tickets sell out quickly from the late August release date; purchase as soon as tickets open, particularly for headline orchestral evenings. Festival shuttle buses from Jerusalem to the festival site may be available for ticketholders — check the official site for 2026 transport options.
The Ein Bokek resort cluster — Dead Sea's main hotel strip — is the primary accommodation base, located approximately 20 minutes south of the festival site along Route 90. The main hotel options are Isrotel Dead Sea, Herods Dead Sea, Leonardo Club Dead Sea, and Leonardo Inn Dead Sea; smaller guesthouses and kibbutz accommodation at Kibbutz Ein Gedi are also available. Sukkot is the Dead Sea's peak season: hotels fill 3–4 months ahead and rates are highest of the year. Book as early as possible. Alternative bases: Jerusalem (1 hour 15 minutes from the festival site) is viable if Dead Sea hotels are fully booked, but factor in the late-night return drive after concerts. Check Booking.com for live availability across the Dead Sea resort strip.
Yes — and the combination is one of the great Israel day-and-night pairings. Masada National Park is approximately 20 km south of the festival site along Route 90. The classic itinerary: take the Masada cable car up at sunrise (gates open at 08:00; sunrise in late September is around 06:30 — arrive by 05:45 for the cable car queue); spend 2–3 hours on the summit exploring Herod's palace, the Roman siege ramp, and the panoramic Dead Sea views; float in the Dead Sea at Ein Bokek beach in the afternoon; and attend the Tamar Festival concert in the evening. The Masada cable car closes at 16:00 (Oct) so the scheduling works well. See the Masada visitor guide for full practical details.
Public transport to the Dead Sea festival site is limited. The festival organisers have historically run shuttle buses from Jerusalem for ticketholders — check tamarmusicfest.com for 2026 shuttle information, as this service varies by edition. Without a shuttle, options are: a pre-booked taxi or private transfer from Jerusalem (approximately 70 km, ₪250–₪400 one way; agree the price in advance); an organised guided tour from Jerusalem that combines Masada, the Dead Sea, and festival attendance; or staying at an Ein Bokek resort hotel with a hire car for the short drive to the festival site. The Route 90 bus (Egged) stops near the Dead Sea hotel strip but does not run frequently in the evening — not suitable for late-night festival returns. A hire car or pre-booked transfer gives the most flexibility.
By The Visit Israel Editorial Team · Last updated