Greetings

Greeting from the Minister of Culture and Sports

Dear guests of the Meridiano Ashdod Festival,

You are about to experience a colorful and diverse celebration of culture, music, film, and culinary arts – an event that places Ashdod on the map of Israel’s most important international festivals.

The Meridiano Festival weaves together creative threads from around the globe – from Greek melodies and Spanish guitars, the harmony of the Andalusian Orchestra and the Revivo Project, to a tribute show to ABBA.

This is not only a celebration of culture, but also of community, innovation, and local pride.

The Ministry of Culture and Sports will continue to support and encourage initiatives that bring worlds together and create unforgettable experiences for all citizens of Israel – from north to south.

I send my warmest regards to the organizers, artists, partners, the Mayor of Ashdod Dr. Yehiel Lasri, and all festival goers.

Warm regards,
Miki Machluf Zohar
Minister of Culture and Sports

Greeting from the Mayor

Dear community,

I am happy and excited to invite each and every one of you to the Meridiano Ashdod Festival – a brand-new international festival of music, theater, film, and culinary arts, held in our city for the first time.

Meridiano is a cross-continental cultural event, lasting eight days and featuring a wide range of artists from Israel and abroad, including: Gipsy Kings with Ishtar, Yehuda Poliker in a debut performance, With Shimon Parnas at the Taverna, Glykeria, Yuval Dayan, the Revivo Project, Haim Moshe, Yoav Itzhak, Avner Gadasi, Zehu Zeh! – singing on stage, Greek singer Nikolopoulos, and the London ABBA tribute band, among many others.

We are in the midst of a challenging time, which began with the outbreak of the Iron Swords War and continues to require us to fight for our security and future. Yet it has also revealed the beautiful face of Israeli society – through unity, mutual accountability, tolerance, and resilience of our communities and society. Especially now, this festival offers a moment of hope, optimism, unity, and human connection.
I want to thank everyone who worked hard to make this unique festival possible, and our partners from the Ministry of Culture and Mifal HaPais.

Together, we send blessings and prayers for the safety of our soldiers and security forces, and for the safe return of all the hostages. I hope this festival and all the experiences it brings will offer us all moments of light and comfort during this time.

Yours,
Dr. Yehiel Lasri
Mayor of Ashdod

Greeting from the Chairman of the Board

As Chairman of the Board of the Ashdod Performing Arts Center, I am honored and excited to invite you to Meridiano – a multicultural, international festival taking place for the first time in June 2025.

The Meridiano Festival was born out of a deep desire to bring light and hope following the difficult times our people have endured. This is a festival of resilience, of spirit and of faith in the unifying power of culture.

Throughout the festival, Ashdod will host cultures, languages, and sounds from Israel and around the world, with spectacular performances in music, dance, theater, cinema, and visual arts. All of these reflect the artistic and human mosaic that defines Israeli society and the global community.

In a time when unity is more essential than ever, Meridiano will transform Ashdod into a vibrant center of creativity, inspiration, and hope – a place where artists and audiences meet, dream, share, and heal through art.

I would like to thank Mayor Dr. Yehiel Lasri for his vision and unwavering support; the Center’s CEO, Adv. Yossi Atar, for leading the planning and production; and to all the creators who took part in this extraordinary journey.

Together, we pray for the swift return of the hostages, carry in our hearts the memory of the fallen, and send love and endless appreciation to the IDF soldiers.

See you in June – in Ashdod, a city of culture, emotion, and hope.

Yours,
Adv. Gabriel Knafo
Chairman of the Board

Greeting from the CEO

Dear audience,

In your hands is a booklet filled with goodness – an artistic program crafted with care and love for music, theater, cinema, and culinary culture.

Meridiano is a festival where everyone can find their place. The arrival of artists from all corners of the world is a vote of confidence in the festival, in our wonderful city, and in our small but mighty country.

The cultural connection on which Meridiano is based is strong, balanced, and genuine. It is the connection of the artists, the ensembles, and the wonderful team at the Ashdod Performing Arts Center, and above all, of you, our beloved audience.

Special thanks to Mayor Dr. Yehiel Lasri, Deputy Mayor and Chairman of the Board Adv. Gabriel Knafo, and my dear friend, Minister of Culture Miki Zohar.

May we receive good news, and may this be an experience full of creativity, discovery, and inspiration.

We look forward to seeing you at the shows, screenings, performances, and of course, at the culinary fair, discovering new worlds of excitement, creativity, and flavor.

Warmly,
Adv. Yossi Atar
CEO