Israel is preparing to host what organizers say will be the largest LGBT festival ever held in the Middle East, with a multi-day event planned at the Dead Sea this summer. When Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, one of their targets was the Nova Music Festival, where the terrorists parachuted in and massacred young people.
The festival, called Pride Land, is scheduled to run from June 1 to June 4, 2026, and will take place in the Judean Desert. Organizers say the event will turn the area into a temporary “Pride City,” operating around the clock with hotels, entertainment venues, and public spaces set up for attendees.
The event will include 15 hotels, beach complexes, and a central performance arena, all running 24 hours a day. It’s meant to go beyond a typical festival setup, with programming spread across nightlife, cultural activities, and family-oriented spaces.
“This is not just another festival, it's the biggest thing we've done here,” said Aaron Cohen, the organizer of the event, to the Jerusalem Post. “We chose to grow. To take an investment of millions, purchase entire hotels for 4 days, and build a city from scratch in the middle of the desert. It's an experience that lives 24/7, from quiet visits to nights of pride, with a living envelope of music and people.”
Organizers say the event is also intended to promote the Dead Sea region as a destination for LGBT tourism, expanding beyond the country’s more established pride events in Tel Aviv.
The festival will feature performances from Israeli artists including Harel Skaat, Dana International, Ran Danker, Shahar Tabuch, and Ivri Lider, along with DJs from the local LGBT community.
Jonathan Gadol, CEO of X Production, said the event is designed to complement existing celebrations rather than replace them. “Pride Land does not come to replace Tel Aviv's traditional Pride Parade, but rather to add to the community an event that is tailored to its development and is crafted from within the community with the community's people,” he said.
The festival, called Pride Land, is scheduled to run from June 1 to June 4, 2026, and will take place in the Judean Desert. Organizers say the event will turn the area into a temporary “Pride City,” operating around the clock with hotels, entertainment venues, and public spaces set up for attendees.
The event will include 15 hotels, beach complexes, and a central performance arena, all running 24 hours a day. It’s meant to go beyond a typical festival setup, with programming spread across nightlife, cultural activities, and family-oriented spaces.
“This is not just another festival, it's the biggest thing we've done here,” said Aaron Cohen, the organizer of the event, to the Jerusalem Post. “We chose to grow. To take an investment of millions, purchase entire hotels for 4 days, and build a city from scratch in the middle of the desert. It's an experience that lives 24/7, from quiet visits to nights of pride, with a living envelope of music and people.”
Organizers say the event is also intended to promote the Dead Sea region as a destination for LGBT tourism, expanding beyond the country’s more established pride events in Tel Aviv.
The festival will feature performances from Israeli artists including Harel Skaat, Dana International, Ran Danker, Shahar Tabuch, and Ivri Lider, along with DJs from the local LGBT community.
Jonathan Gadol, CEO of X Production, said the event is designed to complement existing celebrations rather than replace them. “Pride Land does not come to replace Tel Aviv's traditional Pride Parade, but rather to add to the community an event that is tailored to its development and is crafted from within the community with the community's people,” he said.
