Sukkot in Jerusalem 2026
Sep 25 – Oct 4, 2026 · updated daily
Sukkot 2026 (5787) begins on Friday evening, 25 September. The first day of the festival falls on Saturday 26 September, Chol HaMoed runs from Sunday 27 September to Thursday 1 October, Hoshana Rabbah is Friday 2 October, and Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah — a single day in Israel — fall on Saturday 3 October.
The full guideHow Much Does Sukkot in Jerusalem Cost? Prices for 21 Sites, and 35 That Are Free →Sukkot is the peak of the Jerusalem year: the city fills with festivals, the Jerusalem March, the Priestly Blessing (Birkat Kohanim) at the Western Wall, Hakafot Shniyot celebrations, and Chol HaMoed activities for the whole family.
Chol HaMoed Sukkot is the busiest week of the year in Jerusalem — tens of thousands of visitors arrive in the city. Book accommodation and tickets in advance, and get to the main events early. Most attractions run special holiday programs.
Sukkot 2026 day by day
Friday 25 Sep · Erev Sukkot
- The Four Species market at Valero Square, beside Mahane Yehuda, runs 08:00 until an hour before the holiday — its last day.
- Candle lighting in Jerusalem is at 17:52. Shops and restaurants close through the afternoon.
Saturday 26 Sep · First day of the festival
- The city stops: no public transport, almost everything closed. The holiday ends at 19:07, and Chol HaMoed begins.
Sunday 27 Sep · Chol HaMoed day 1
- Seharane, the Kurdish-Jewish festival, at the Museum of Tolerance on Hillel St, 16:00–23:00, main show at 21:30, free.
- The Derech Beit Lechem street festival, 15:00–22:30.
- The Green Inside and Out festival opens — dozens of free activities in community gardens and Deer Valley, through 29 September.
Monday 28 Sep · Chol HaMoed day 2
- Birkat Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing, at the Western Wall: Shacharit 8:45, first blessing 9:30, Musaf 10:15, second blessing 10:30. Come before 8:45 — the plaza fills in the hour beforehand. Free, no booking.
- The Jerusalem March crosses the city and ends in Sacher Park.
Tuesday 29 Sep · Chol HaMoed day 3
- The Asif harvest festival at Ein Yael — crafts and harvesting for families, today and tomorrow.
- The Ushpizin poetry festival opens at Confederation House and runs through 1 October.
Wednesday 30 Sep · Chol HaMoed day 4
- Ushpizin runs all day at Confederation House, one performance after another.
- The quietest day of the week for crowds — the day to visit the Tower of David and the museums.
Thursday 1 Oct · Chol HaMoed day 5
- The second Birkat Kohanim at the Western Wall, same times: 8:45, 9:30, 10:15, 10:30.
- The Ein Kerem festival opens in the village — a fair, music and workshops, through 2 October.
Friday 2 Oct · Hoshana Rabbah
- The last day of Chol HaMoed; the night before is traditionally spent awake studying.
- Candle lighting at 17:43, and Shemini Atzeret begins.
Saturday 3 Oct · Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
- In Israel these are one day, not two — a visitor's diary that says 4 October is using the diaspora calendar. The holiday ends at 18:58.
- Hakafot Shniyot at the Western Wall plaza at 22:00: dancing with around 100 Torah scrolls, with music. Free.
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Join the WhatsApp channelSukkot 2026 is over — this page will be updated with next cycle's dates and events. Meanwhile: all upcoming events in Jerusalem
FAQ — Sukkot in Jerusalem
When is Sukkot 2026?
Erev Sukkot falls on Friday 25 September 2026. The first festival day is Saturday 26 September, Chol HaMoed runs Sunday 27 September to Thursday 1 October, Hoshana Rabbah is Friday 2 October, and Shemini Atzeret with Simchat Torah is Saturday 3 October — one day in Israel, not two.
What is there to do in Jerusalem during Chol HaMoed Sukkot?
The classics: the Jerusalem March, the Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall, street festivals across the city, family activities at the museums and the Biblical Zoo, and Hakafot Shniyot as the holiday ends. The calendar on this page is updated with every scheduled event.
How do you get to the zoo and the museums during Chol HaMoed?
Since 21 August 2026 a new light rail section runs between HaTurim and Malha, by way of Binyanei HaUma, Givat Ram and Pat Junction. This is the first Sukkot you can reach both clusters by rail — Malha, with the Biblical Zoo, the aquarium, Teddy Stadium and the Pais Arena, and Givat Ram, with the Bloomfield Science Museum, the Israel Museum, the National Library and the Botanical Garden. HaTurim is itself a Red Line station and the new section terminates there, so from the city centre it is a single change at that one stop. Parking around these sites is at its worst during Chol HaMoed, which is why this matters.
Are Jerusalem's attractions open during Chol HaMoed?
Yes — most attractions are open and even ramp up their activity during Chol HaMoed, with extended hours and special programs. On the holiday days themselves (Yom Tov), most places are closed, much like on Shabbat.
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