2025 YIR: Maccabiah Games Postponed Until 2026

Thousands of Jewish athletes from dozens of nations had been expected to stream into Israel for the 22nd Maccabiah Games, the largest and most extravagant edition of the “Jewish Olympics.” The opening ceremony, slated for July 10 at Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium and hosted by popular television personalities, Anna Aronov and Assi Azar, had a star-studded lineup featuring Israeli musicians Itay Levy, Eden Golan, and Idan Raichel. Paralympic gold medalist Asaf Yasur and Olympic silver medalist Raz Hershko were all set to light the ceremonial torch.

Unfortunately, no such grand athletic events and festivities actually happened — at least not this summer.

Back in June, the Maccabi World Union, the Maccabiah Organizing Committee, and Israel’s Culture and Sports Minister, Miki Zohar, officially postponed The Maccabiah Games to July 2026 amidst heightened tensions triggered by the Israel-Iran conflict. The organizers felt compelled to push back this year’s games after a state of national emergency was declared — and later extended through at least June 30 — and travel to and from Israel was severely restricted. It was a heartbreaking decision, but ultimately one that was undeniably necessary.

“Despite our strong desire to hold the Maccabiah [Games] in the summer of 2025 as a symbol of hope, we are forced to postpone it due to the complex security situation created by the attack on Iran, the instructions of the Home Front Command, the continued suspension of flights to Israel, and the necessary security measures required of all of us,” Maccabiah’s chair, Assaf Goren, said in a statement. “Together with the Ministry of Culture and Sports, and after considering several alternatives, we realized that although we are almost at the starting line, the most prudent step from a security, safety, and logistical perspective is to postpone the event by a year to a quieter and safer time.”