Jerusalem International Oud Festival
Produced by the Zionist Confederation House and launched in 2000 under artistic director Effie Benaya, the Jerusalem International Oud Festival has grown from a modest two-day showcase into one of Israel’s leading world-music events. Built around the oud — the pear-shaped lute at the heart of Arabic, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern musical traditions — the festival was conceived as “a natural bridge” between cultures, giving equal stage time to time-honored repertoire and boundary-crossing new work.
Held annually each November, concerts spread across roughly ten days at cultural venues throughout Jerusalem, drawing performers and audiences from Israel and abroad.
Festival Highlights:
- World-Class Oud Artists: Leading oud soloists and ensembles from Israel and across the region take the stage, alongside guest musicians performing music built around the instrument.
- Cross-Cultural Fusion: The program weaves together Arabic, Mediterranean, Ladino, and Iraqi-Jewish musical traditions with jazz, rock, and other contemporary genres.
- Multiple Historic Venues: Performances are staged across a rotating set of Jerusalem cultural institutions, including the Jerusalem Theatre, Confederation House, the Jerusalem Cinematheque, and other landmark halls.
- Tributes & Special Projects: Expect dedicated tribute evenings honoring giants of Arabic music alongside one-off collaborations and premieres commissioned specially for the festival.
Tips for Visitors & Trip Planning:
- Tickets: Most concerts are individually ticketed and tend to sell out for headline shows, so booking specific performances in advance through the festival’s official ticketing partners is recommended.
- Multiple Venues: Since shows are spread across different halls on different nights, check the venue for each concert you plan to attend and allow time to get across town between them.
- Getting There: Jerusalem’s venues are well served by the city’s light rail and bus network, with taxis a convenient option for evening travel between shows.
- What to Wear: Bring a layer for cool November evenings; performance halls themselves are indoors and climate-controlled.
- Accommodation: Central Jerusalem hotels fill up quickly during the festival, so booking well in advance is strongly recommended.
- Explore Jerusalem: Pair the festival with a look at the city’s historic and cultural sites — browse top Jerusalem tours and activities here.
The full lineup and venue-by-venue schedule are published closer to the festival by Confederation House. See details below, under “Event Related Information” section.
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