The Tel Aviv-Yafo city council decided on November 9 to open the city’s theater awards, launched this year, to municipal theaters from other Israeli cities for the first time. Until now the awards were limited to Tel Aviv’s own municipal theaters.
Eligible theaters from outside the city are those classified as medium-sized under the Culture Ministry’s funding regulations. Each may submit up to two productions, provided they are staged for the public in theaters in Tel Aviv-Yafo. The city’s four municipal theaters, Habima, the Cameri, Beit Lessin and Gesher, may submit up to four productions each.
Mayor Ron Huldai said the city’s responsibility for culture does not end at its borders, and that the decision answered a request from municipal theaters outside Tel Aviv.
Other changes
- Musical of the year: A new category with no cash prize, awarded only in years when the participating theaters stage at least four musicals between them.
- Acting: The acting category is split into four awards: best actor, best actress, best supporting actor and best supporting actress.
- Jury: The panel will also include an actor or a representative of one of Israel’s recognized acting schools.
- Lifetime achievement: Nominations will come from the participating theaters.
Eligible productions are those that premiered during the calendar year before the ceremony. Winners are chosen by an independent professional jury of seven, whose members remain anonymous until the ceremony. The awards will be given every year.
The ceremony for the 2026 awards, the second since the prize was launched, will be held on Monday, April 19, 2027, at the Cameri Theater, and will also feature productions and artists from all the participating theaters.
