Chol HaMoed Sukkot in Jerusalem 2026: the dates, what is open, and what is free

Sukkot 5787 falls in late September 2026, and the intermediate days — Chol HaMoed — are the busiest week of the year in Jerusalem. Our listings hold 361 published events in the city that week. This is how to plan it.

The dates, exactly

• Erev Sukkot: Friday, 25 September 2026
• First day of Sukkot (yom tov): Saturday, 26 September
• Chol HaMoed: Sunday 27 September through Thursday 1 October
• Hoshana Rabbah: Friday, 2 October
• Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah: Saturday, 3 October — one day in Israel, not two

So: five full days of activity, Sunday to Thursday. If you are asking whether 30 September 2026 is Chol HaMoed — yes, it is the fourth of the five.

Opening hours change three times

During the Tishrei holidays most Jerusalem institutions run three different schedules, not one. The Botanical Garden publishes its own as: holiday eves 9:00–16:00, festival days 9:00–18:00, Chol HaMoed 10:00–16:00. Many sites follow the same shape.

What this costs you: during Chol HaMoed a great many places close at 16:00 and stop admitting visitors at 15:00. Arriving at two in the afternoon means arriving at a locked door. Put the main attraction in the morning.

Three things that happen once a year

The Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall. Twice during Sukkot only: Monday 28 September and Thursday 1 October, from around 08:45. Tens of thousands of people, hundreds of kohanim under prayer shawls, and one moment of silence before the blessing. Free, no ticket.

The Jerusalem March. Monday 28 September, setting out from Sacher Park. Thousands of walkers and delegations from abroad; the city is full of it all day. You can walk it or you can watch it.

Concerts at the foot of the Temple Mount. Four evenings in the Davidson Garden, beside the Southern Wall: Yehoram Gaon on Monday 28.9 at 20:30, Shuli Rand on Tuesday 29.9 (two shows, 18:45 and 21:30), Pini Einhorn on Wednesday 30.9 (19:15 and 21:45), and The Revivo Project on Thursday 1.10 at 20:30. 30 ILS a ticket, seating by order of arrival. It is outdoors — bring a layer.

Free, with nothing attached

• Sukkot in the Jewish Quarter — guided visits to the Hurva Synagogue and to the Herodian Quarter's Priestly Mansions, every one of the five days from 09:00.
• High LIGHT JLM — a laser and music show on the Armon HaNatziv promenade, every evening Sunday to Wednesday at 20:30. The view from up there is worth the trip on its own.
• The Priestly Blessing, on both dates.
• The Jerusalem March, if you are watching rather than walking.

With children

The Botanical Garden in Givat Ram runs all five days, 10:00–16:00: guided tours, the Japanese house, the garden train, craft workshops with natural materials, face painting, a kosher sukkah and picnic areas. Adult 40 ILS, child 3–18 and seniors 35, students 30 — and a Jerusalem-resident child under 18 enters free. Last entry 15:00.

The Tower of David runs family programming through the holiday alongside morning tours and a real archaeological sifting activity from the Kishle excavations. The Bloomfield Science Museum and the Israel Museum are open through the week with holiday programmes.

Book now, or arrive early

Anything with a guide and a headcount fills up during Chol HaMoed before you get there: guided tours, workshops, evening shows. The large museums can almost always absorb more people — but midday entry is a queue.

Rule of thumb: if it needs a guide, book it. If it is a museum, go early.

Getting there

During Chol HaMoed the city centre and the Old City are crowded all day, not only in the evening. The car parks around Jaffa Gate fill early.

• Karta car park — facing Jaffa Gate, open 24/7 including Shabbat.
• Mamilla car park — under the mall, closest to the Old City.

On the day of the March and on the Priestly Blessing mornings, take the light rail. This is not a close call.

The whole week, kept current

Every event in the city on each day of the holiday, with times and prices: Sukkot events in Jerusalem

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Hours and prices were checked against their sources on 19 September 2026. Events change — the binding details are the ones on the organiser's own ticket page.