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, a survivor of Hamas captivity who was held 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 event will begin with attendees entering through the kibbutz gate, walking paths that pass sites affected by the October 7 attacks, and concluding with the concert featuring guest artists, fellow survivors, and bereaved families.

Dekel Chen, who was released on February 15, 2025, described his experience: "I am not a singer, I am a father who sings. I never intended to be a singer or perform. I was kidnapped, lost everything, but the true strength inside me kept hope and sanity alive." He recorded the songs quietly in a hospital room shortly after his release. The performance at Nir Oz is deeply personal, taking place on the kibbutz lawn where he grew up, fought, and lost friends. He emphasized the event is not a celebration or victory but an important part of his story and the community's ongoing recovery.

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 without international artists. Ticket prices range from 50 to 140 shekels, with some free events.

Other notable festival events include an opening ceremony in Jerusalem featuring artists walking on tightropes above the Kidron Valley, a hip-hop collaboration with the Jerusalem Street Orchestra, and a two-day event at the Menorah complex with performances by Ehud Banai, Ninet Tayeb, and Berry Sakharof. The festival also presents anti-war dance productions, theater performances exploring themes of death and resurrection, and a tribute exhibit titled "Demand for Peace 2026." In the north, dance and music performances will be held in Kfar Blum and Nahariya.

The festival website provides full details and schedules for all events.