The European Days of Jewish Culture
A Europe-wide initiative celebrating the richness, diversity and living legacy of Jewish heritage.
Full programme, events and past editions are currently available on the existing platform.
Since 1999, the European Days of Jewish Culture has stood as one of the continent’s most meaningful celebrations of Jewish heritage, bringing together communities, institutions, and individuals across Europe in a shared commitment to preserving and sharing Jewish culture.
Each year, beginning on the first Sunday in September, cities and towns throughout Europe come alive with a diverse array of events—conferences, concerts, performances, guided tours, and cultural activities—all unfolding simultaneously across the continent. What makes this festival truly unique is its decentralized and pluralistic spirit: while a central theme unites the celebration each year, individual communities and organizers are free to interpret and express that theme in ways that reflect their own local Jewish heritage and history.
This structure allows the festival to honor the remarkable diversity within European Jewish life itself—recognizing that Jewish culture and its historical significance manifest differently from region to region, city to city, and community to community.
Since the festival’s initiation, the AEPJ has served as the coordinating body at the European level, ensuring that this vast network of activities maintains cohesion, visibility, and cultural relevance. Beyond coordination, the AEPJ actively supports organizers by offering training, resources, and guidance to any organization, institution, or individual wishing to contribute to the festival—making Jewish culture accessible to communities throughout society.
At a Glance
Since 1999, the European Days of Jewish Culture has brought together institutions, communities and audiences across Europe through a shared cultural programme.
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Annual Theme
Each edition is guided by a central theme that encourages reflection, dialogue and new perspectives on Jewish heritage.
2026 Theme — LOVE
Jewish LOVE is romantic and familial, communal and divine, joyful and fierce: from mystical poetry to Yiddish lullabies and from the Song of Songs to the words of Leonard Cohen.
Annual Theme
Each edition is guided by a central theme that encourages reflection, dialogue and new perspectives on Jewish heritage.
2026 Theme — LOVE
Jewish LOVE is romantic and familial, communal and divine, joyful and fierce: from mystical poetry to Yiddish lullabies and from the Song of Songs to the words of Leonard Cohen.
The festival has been significantly enriched through collaboration with the National Library of Israel, whose partnership has enabled the development of high-quality exhibition materials and educational resources. This collaboration has added substantial depth and value to the festival, further strengthening its impact and reach across Europe.