For the first time in its history, the Maccabiah will open its celebrations to the wider Israeli public through a five-day sports festival at Expo Tel Aviv, transforming the venue into what organizers describe as an indoor Olympic Village packed with activities, exhibitions and entertainment for the entire family.
The new initiative, called “Expo Maccabiah City,” will take place from July 6-10, 2026, during the summer vacation, offering visitors a chance to experience the atmosphere of the Maccabiah Games under one air-conditioned roof. The festival will run daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and feature a wide variety of sports attractions, interactive experiences, and live events, with tickets priced at 49 NIS.
Organized by Maccabi World Union, the festival is designed to bring Israelis closer to the Maccabiah experience while providing a family-friendly destination during the school break. Visitors will be able to participate in activities, watch professional competitions, meet Olympic athletes, Ninja stars, and leading gamers, and explore exhibitions on the history of Jewish sports and emerging sports technologies.
Among the main attractions will be the Children’s Maccabiah adventure park, featuring giant inflatable obstacle courses and a professional-style athletics challenge in which participants race against the clock. The venue will also host the 2026 Israeli Ninja Championship, bringing together top stars from “Ninja Israel,” while younger visitors will be able to test themselves on a dedicated 15-meter ninja course.
An indoor sand arena will stage beach volleyball, footvolley, and matkot competitions, alongside official 3x3 basketball tournaments. Sports enthusiasts will also be able to visit Sport-TECH, billed as Israel’s largest sports exhibition, showcasing the latest innovations in fitness, nutrition, cycling, and sports technology from leading brands.
Gaming fans will have access to a dedicated arena combining virtual gaming and physical sports experiences, featuring advanced simulators, arcade games, PlayStation stations, and appearances by well-known gamers. Younger children aged two to six will have their own dedicated area, including safe inflatable attractions, arts and crafts activities, giant LEGO installations, and educational play stations.
Maccabiah joins with museums to create accessible atmosphere
A Maccabiah Museum, created in collaboration with the Jewish Sports Museum, ANU – Museum of the Jewish People, and the Israel Olympic Committee, will offer an interactive journey through Jewish sporting history and identity.
Throughout the festival, stages across the venue will host performances and workshops ranging from circus acts and breakdance to capoeira, Zumba, hip-hop, and jump rope activities. A culinary boulevard with shaded seating and picnic areas will complete the experience, alongside a climbing wall, inflatables, and traditional family games.
Roy Hessing, CEO of the Maccabiah, praised the event for its accessibility.
“At the 2026 Maccabiah, we aim to make the incredible Maccabiah experience accessible to every family in Israel,” Hessing said. “Alongside all the competitions taking place across the country, we established Expo Maccabiah City, an experiential venue where visitors can take part in and enjoy the sporting spirit of the Maccabiah and get a genuine taste of what thousands of athletes from around the world experience when they come here.”
For more information and for tickets, please visit www.maccabiah.com/maccabiah-city