Israeli Hostage Survivor Sagi Dekel Chen to Perform Songs Written in Captivity at Nir Oz Festival

The 2026 Israel Festival, marking its 65th anniversary, will take place from July 28 to August 20, primarily in Jerusalem, with additional events in the western Negev and northern Israel. Among the highlights is a special performance by Sagi Dekel Chen, who was held captive by Hamas for 498 days. On August 10, he will perform at Kibbutz Nir Oz, the very community from which he was abducted, presenting nine songs he composed during his captivity.

The festival, directed by Uri Vaknin with artistic leadership by Michal Vaknin and Dafna Kron, focuses on original productions in dance, music, and theater. Due to ongoing security concerns, this is the third consecutive year the festival excludes international artists. Ticket prices range from 50 to 140 shekels, with some free events.

Dekel Chen’s concert will begin with attendees entering through the kibbutz gate, walking paths that pass sites affected by the October 7 attacks, and concluding with the performance on the kibbutz lawn. He will be joined by a band, guest artists, fellow former captives, and bereaved families. Dekel Chen shared, "I am not a singer, I am a father who sings. I never intended to be a singer or perform. Music was my strength during captivity, helping me maintain hope and sanity."

Other notable festival events include an opening act in Jerusalem’s Gei Ben Hinom featuring artists walking on aerial lines, a hip-hop collaboration with the Jerusalem Street Orchestra, and performances by Ehud Banai, Ninet Tayeb, and Berry Sakharof. The festival also features dance productions addressing themes like war and remembrance, theater performances, and a public movement event inspired by the 1925 Workers’ Olympics.

In northern Israel, from August 19 to 20, the dance show "Portraits of Falling" will be staged in Kfar Blum, alongside "Love Music (Now!)" at Nahariya’s Culture Hall, a joint production by choreographer Yasmin Goder and singer Dikla. The festival’s program reflects a blend of cultural resilience and remembrance amid ongoing regional challenges.