Johann Sebastian Bach Festival in Israel 2026: Concerts in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv Featuring Conductor Philippe Pierlot
The 10th Bach Festival will take place from June 25 to July 3, 2026. Organized by the Jerusalem Baroque Orchestra, this cultural milestone stands as the only major event in Israel dedicated to annually celebrating the birthday and legacy of Johann Sebastian Bach. For its anniversary year, the festival once again draws leading international artists, offering audiences a profound immersion into the aesthetics of authentic classical music.
The centerpiece of the festival will be a magnificent performance of the solemn hymn of praise, the *Magnificat*. Concerts will be held from June 26 to 28 across venues in Ein Hashofet, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem. These performances will be led by special guest conductor Philippe Pierlot, the eminent Belgian maestro and a renowned master of historically informed performance. The evening programs will also feature Orchestral Suite No. 1 and the celebrated Cantata No. 61.
For those eager to trace Bach’s influence across different eras, the “Bach – Then and Now” concert will take place on June 25 at the Jerusalem International YMCA. The Jerusalem Academy of Music Orchestra, under the baton of conductors David Shemer and Zvi Carmeli, will perform classical masterpieces alongside works by contemporary composers. Original interpretations by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt and Israeli composer Tzvi Avni will demonstrate how the Baroque legacy resonates within both Nordic and Middle Eastern musical traditions.
A highly anticipated highlight of the festival will be an organ recital by the acclaimed musician Yulia Shmelkina, scheduled for June 27 at the Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem. The program’s biggest surprise is the Israeli premiere of two recently discovered chaconnes attributed to Bach. This concert will allow audiences not only to experience new facets of the composer’s genius but also to explore his creative connection with the North German school of Dieterich Buxtehude.
Tickets for all events, as well as a detailed festival schedule, are available online through the official Jerusalem Baroque Orchestra website: jbo.co.il.
