Under the slogan MORE THAN EVER, the Maccabiah 2026, postponed from 2025 due to the war, officially began with a musical opening ceremony.

The event was attended by President of Israel Isaac Herzog and his wife, Michal; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara; Minister of Culture and Sport Miki Zohar and his wife, Yamit; Mayor of Jerusalem Moshe Lion and his wife, Stav; Chairman of Maccabi World Union Amir Peled; President of Maccabi World Union Michael Siegel; dignitaries; and tens of thousands of supporters in the audience.

During the ceremony, approximately 5,000 athletes from more than 30 countries marched in, marking the official opening of the Maccabiah 2026 Games—the largest Jewish sporting event in the world.

Israel had a delegation of more than 2,000 athletes, including Paralympians. The United States followed with 900 participants, who received loud cheers when entering the stadium. In previous years, Canada, Australia, and South Africa had large delegations; this year, they did not. Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina were well represented in the procession.

Countries represented by a single athlete included Belgium, Bolivia, Estonia, Finland, Guatemala, Poland, and Taiwan.

The evening, hosted by Assi Azar and Anna Aronov, opened with "Rise Up" in a special new musical arrangement created especially for the opening ceremony. Various musical performances and modest fireworks entertained the crowd.

The ceremony also featured international content creator and American social media personality Montana Tucker. Since October 7, she has become one of the world's most prominent voices advocating for Israel and combating antisemitism.

One of the evening's most emotional moments was the lighting of the Maccabiah Flame. This year, the torchbearers were chosen to represent the resilience, excellence, and mutual responsibility of Israeli society and the Jewish people. The torch was carried by Avitar Zeitouni, an IDF disabled veteran and former officer in the Paratroopers Brigade, who was seriously wounded while defending Kibbutz Kissufim on October 7. He was chosen as a symbol of recovery, heroism, and the healing power of sports. Several athletes also carried flags in memory of fallen soldiers.

For the first time, Pickleball, one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, is included in the Maccabiah. In addition to the competitions, the opening ceremony launched a series of special events taking place as part of Maccabiah 2026, including the "Maccabiah City" sports festival, which is joining the Maccabiah for the first time and will be held at Expo Tel Aviv.

An important day will also be held in the Western Negev (Otef Gaza region) — "The Maccabiah and KKL Hug the Otef" — featuring community sports and volunteer activities, alongside memorial ceremonies honoring the 18 young men and women who were murdered in the October 7 attack or fell during the Iron Swords War.

The sports celebration will take place in Israel from July 1 through July 13, bringing together thousands of athletes, families, and sports fans from around the world. Under the slogan MORE THAN EVER, the Maccabiah expresses strength, hope, and the renewed connection between Israel and world Jewry—at a time when that connection is more meaningful than ever.