For thousands of years, Ashdod has served as a vibrant cultural center for the region, for traders, and essentially for anyone passing through the Great Sea. Since then and until today, the city, which also absorbs the large immigration to Israel, continues to be a fascinating melting pot of traditions, cultures, and communities from all over the world. Many of its cultural institutions, most of which are located in the Kiryat “Tzilkar” complex, have received national and international recognition. Beyond the institutions themselves, Ashdod is adorned with hundreds of magnificent sculptures and monuments that decorate every corner of it. Throughout the city’s streets, a wide variety of cultural events take place every year.

Monart Center for the Arts

Visitors who come to the lively heart of the city cannot help but be amazed by the multi-disciplinary cultural center overlooking Ashdod’s seashore, resembling a copy of the famous Louvre Museum in Paris, thanks to its large glass pyramid roof. The center includes the Ashdod Museum of Art, the Opera, the Chamber Orchestra, the Municipal Conservatory “Akadma,” and more. The many cultural and artistic events in the complex attract numerous visitors every year.

Urban Theater

The urban cultural hall, considered one of the most interesting and beautiful architectural buildings in Israel, has over the years become one of Ashdod’s symbols. In the city’s main performance hall, one of the largest of its kind in the country, a variety of cultural events take place, including concerts, theater performances, public events, and performances by the best artists from Israel and around the world.

Yad Labanim House

The Urban Cultural Center, also located in Ashdod’s culture complex, hosts many shows and events, including theater shows (for children and adults), music and Hebrew singing evenings, comedy shows, stand-up performances, ethnic shows, dance performances by urban groups, memorial ceremonies, urban events, and more.

Ashdod-Yam Amphitheater

The largest open-air theater in the country, located in Ashdod-Yam Park, accommodates 6,400 spectators and offers an unforgettable experience. The impressive amphitheater is designed as a conch shell consisting of title arches that open as if interpreting the sea in the background, allowing the audience to sit and watch performances in front of stunning sunsets. Throughout the year, many cultural events and impressive productions with artists from Israel and abroad take place here.

Ashdod Art Museum

The impressive public museum, designed by architect Moshe Lofenfeld as part of the Monart complex, presents modern art – both local and international – and fosters ongoing dialogue between generations through exhibitions of young and professional artists alike. The exhibitions at the museum combine various media, and many exhibitions relate to the city’s unique multi-culturalism. In addition to the diverse exhibitions, the museum also has an interactive section for children focused on environmental quality, called “The Green Submarine.”

The Museum of Philistine Culture named after Korin Maman

The only museum of its kind in the world for Philistine culture presents the enchanting past of the city during the Biblical period and is entirely devoted to Philistine culture. Despite being an archaeological museum, you will find here a contemporary and relevant discussion of our society, for receiving and embracing the different and the other, despite differences and ancient opinions. Many of the displayed items in the museum intersect with the city’s multiculturalism, with a guiding line of tolerance and patience.