The Israel Festival, which started in 1961 with mostly classical music, has expanded to several weeks every spring and now features ballet, theater, jazz, visual arts and lectures.

The festival attracts performers from around the world, as well as premieres by Israeli groups. Most of the events are held in the Jerusalem Theater complex and other venues in the capital city.

To mark its jubilee year, the May 23-June 13 Israel Festival performance schedule included 50 events, such as the Israeli Ballet Ensemble with Bolshoi Ballet soloists, the Batsheva Dance Company and Teatro Cinema, from Chile.