- July 17, 2026
- 9:58 pm
- Ukraine
The Israeli jazz band Yogev Shetrit Trio will be one of the main international participants of the ninth international high art festival Bouquet Kyiv Stage, which will take place from August 13 to 16, 2026, at the National Reserve “Sofia Kyivska”.
The concert of Israeli musicians will take place on August 14 at 18:00 on the main stage of the festival. The ensemble will present the program Way of Tradition, combining modern jazz with Moroccan, Andalusian, and other musical traditions of North Africa.
Israeli jazz in Sofia Kyivska
On the Bouquet Kyiv Stage, the founder of the ensemble, drummer and composer Yogev Shetrit, keyboardist David Shetrit, and double bassist Itay Elizri will perform.
The special guest of the concert will be the famous Ukrainian jazz vocalist Yulia Roma. In Kyiv, she will perform new Andalusian arrangements of popular jazz pieces. The program also includes an original interpretation of the famous composition Bésame Mucho.
The organizers promise a bright and dynamic performance built on powerful rhythms, expressive melodies, and free jazz improvisation. In the Way of Tradition program, traditional musical forms are not reproduced literally but become the basis for a modern author’s sound.
This combination of cultural layers has become a recognizable feature of Yogev Shetrit’s work. His compositions reflect the influence of Moroccan and Andalusian music, Gnawa rhythms, Mediterranean motifs, and modern jazz.
For the audience of NAnews — Israel News, this performance is interesting not only as a notable event in the festival program. The appearance of Israeli musicians on stage in the historical center of Kyiv continues the cultural dialogue between Israel and Ukraine, which persists even in the most challenging years for Ukraine.
Who is Yogev Shetrit
Yogev Shetrit is an Israeli drummer, composer, and leader of his own jazz project.
He created his ensemble in 2015 to perform original works. In February 2016, the musician recorded his first studio album as the ensemble’s leader and composer. The album was titled New Path and was presented to the public in September of the same year.
After the release of the debut album, Yogev Shetrit Trio began actively performing in Israel and abroad. The ensemble participated in international jazz festivals and concert programs in Europe, Asia, North and Central America. Israeli musicians also conducted master classes and represented the country on international cultural platforms.
The music of Shetrit is based on a personal connection with the Moroccan heritage of his family. However, traditional motifs in his works interact with modern jazz harmony, improvisation, and complex rhythms. As a result, the music of Yogev Shetrit Trio remains recognizably Israeli and Mediterranean, yet appeals to an international audience.
The program Way of Tradition, which the musicians will present in Kyiv, is based on the album of the same name. It combines Moroccan and Andalusian musical traditions with the energy and freedom of modern jazz.
Return of Yogev Shetrit Trio to Kyiv
For Yogev Shetrit Trio, this is not the first participation in Bouquet Kyiv Stage.
In August 2024, the Israeli ensemble was already among the main international guests of the seventh festival. At that time, the musicians’ concert also took place on the territory of Sofia Kyivska. The group’s participation was supported by the Embassy of Israel in Ukraine.
The return of the ensemble to Kyiv after two years shows that the established cultural connection has continued. In 2026, the Embassy of the State of Israel in Ukraine is again listed among the official partners of Bouquet Kyiv Stage.
The participation of the Israeli band becomes part of a large international program. Among the international guests of the festival are also announced Norwegian saxophonist and composer Bendik Hofset, German pianist and trumpeter Sebastian Studnitzky, Polish pianist Radoslaw Sobczak, Bulgarian pianist Ivan Yanakov, and Georgian conductor and composer Nikoloz Rachveli.
Bouquet Kyiv Stage 2026: “Armed with Beauty”
The ninth Bouquet Kyiv Stage will take place in Kyiv from August 13 to 16, 2026.
The main theme of the festival will be the formula “Armed with Beauty”. According to the organizers, it speaks of culture as a force capable of preserving memory, protecting human dignity, and holding the future.
Over four festival days on the territory of Sofia Kyivska, more than 50 events are planned. The program will combine classical, jazz, ethnic, and electronic music, Ukrainian visual art, theater, cinema, excursions, youth projects, children’s events, and traditional “Conversations under the Ash Tree”.
Among the central projects are the multimedia exhibition “Triumph of the Bouquet,” dedicated to monumental artist Alexander Dubovik, the research program “Liberated Music,” the concert “Unison: Silvestrov, Pärt, Kancheli,” performances by the National Presidential Orchestra and the National Ensemble of Soloists “Kyiv Camerata,” as well as pre-premiere screenings of Ukrainian feature, documentary, and short films.
The festival was founded by the Ukrainian non-governmental cultural center “House of Master Class” in 2018. Bouquet Kyiv Stage is positioned as an international, multidisciplinary, non-commercial, and socially oriented project that takes place annually in Sofia Kyivska and presents separate programs outside Ukraine.
When the concert will take place and how much the entrance costs
The concert Yogev Shetrit Trio — Way of Tradition will take place:
Date: August 14, 2026
Start: 18:00
Venue: main stage of Bouquet Kyiv Stage, National Reserve “Sofia Kyivska”
There is no separate fee for the concert. Visitors will need an entrance ticket to the museum complex.
The performance of Yogev Shetrit Trio will be one of the most notable Israeli cultural events in Ukraine in August 2026. It will not just be a foreign concert in the festival program, but a meeting of Israeli and Ukrainian music scenes, built on a common stage, live improvisation, and respect for cultural traditions.
NAnews — Israel News continues to report on projects that connect Israel and Ukraine through music, art, public initiatives, and direct cooperation between people.