Summarizing the 2026 Swimming Season at the 'Kinneret Cities Association'

The Kinneret, one of the main attractions of Israeli tourism, was impacted this year, and the number of vacationers decreased. The 'Kinneret Cities Association' summarizes the 2026 swimming season at the Kinneret:

The swimming season at the Kinneret Cities Association beaches closed on October 10, 2026, in accordance with Ministry of Interior guidelines. With the season's end, lifeguard operations at all association beaches have ceased. The Association reminds the public that swimming without a lifeguard is dangerous and prohibited, and invites the general public to hike the 'Kinneret Trail' and enjoy a pleasant stay in nature at the beaches, without swimming.

Reasons for the decline in vacationers: In this context, the Kinneret Cities Association summarizes the swimming season with approximately 2.5 million vacationers since the beginning of the year across the Association's 16 'Quiet Beaches,' compared to 3.3 million vacationers last year. The primary reasons for the decline in the number of vacationers are the closure of the Kinneret beaches under the guidance of the Home Front Command due to the 'Lion's Roar' war from February 28 to April 9—a period that included Passover and Eid al-Fitr, which are usually busy with vacationers—as well as the unfortunate incident involving a child infected with an amoeba reported on September 6 by the Ministry of Health, following which vacationer occupancy during the Tishrei holidays was significantly lower than in previous years.

Receding Water Level: A second consecutive year of low rainfall in the Kinneret drainage basin has caused the lake's water level to deteriorate further. According to Water Authority measurements, the level has reached a low point of -213.645 meters (as of October 8, 2026), lower than the low point measured last year at -213.445 meters (December 4, 2025). These special conditions required ongoing adjustments and the moving of lifeguard stations toward the receding waterline. Additionally, the Kinneret Cities Association, in collaboration with the Water Authority and the Kinneret Limnological Laboratory, led extensive activities to minimize the ecological damage caused by the receding waterline in the level-fluctuation zone. This included guided initiatives involving volunteer groups and students from across the country to save endangered mussels and remove invasive plant species.

Rescue Services: Lifeguard services operated at the Association's beaches throughout the swimming season, with reinforced presence during peak days. Beach managers and staff handled dozens of unusual incidents; similarly, dozens of rescue and extraction cases were recorded and handled by beach lifeguards and the Marine Police.

Regulation of Vessel Traffic in the Kinneret: In a joint venture between the Tiberias Municipality and the Kinneret Cities Association, a new vessel launch and retrieval ramp was established this year at Shikmim Beach to channel vessel traffic safely and maintain the safety of swimmers and boat operators. From October 12 to November 1, the Shikmim ramp will be active from Thursday to Sunday (inclusive), after which it will close until the next season. The service is paid and requires prior coordination with the beach staff.

Enforcement: Approximately 530 security shifts, 442 paid police shifts, and 74 combined police shifts (police officer and inspector) were deployed at the beaches to maintain public order.

As part of the Kinneret Cities Association's inspection and enforcement activities, over 1,924 citations were issued for littering, sailing safety violations, the prohibition of driving on the beach, and traffic and parking offenses. Additionally, the Association filed indictments against perpetrators of serious offenses; in one case, the Tiberias Magistrate Court imposed a fine of 15,000 NIS, or 75 days in prison, on a defendant for a sailing offense in the Kinneret. Furthermore, starting in June of this year, at the Association's request, enforcement policies for life-threatening sailing safety violations were toughened, including doubling the distance from the low waterline that allows for an indictment due to violations of sailing safety regulations 68A and 68B, from 50 meters to 100 meters.

The Association's Security Camera Center, "Safe Kinneret": Funded by the Ministry of National Security, it handled 211 incidents, about 80% of which were due to noise complaints. The center also handled incidents involving traffic violations, sailing safety offenses, violence, vandalism, medical emergencies, swimmers in distress, searches for missing persons, and more.

Waste: From the beginning of 2026 until the end of the swimming season, approximately 1,300 tons of waste were removed from the Association's beaches, compared to about 2,000 tons in an average year (due to the decrease in vacationers). Most of the waste came from collection bins. During 60 peak days throughout the swimming season, about 25 workers per day were employed at the Association's beaches for cleaning, along with an additional worker at each beach for cleaning toilets and locker rooms across three shifts.

Educational Activity: 51 information days were held at the beaches, during which Kinneret Cities Association outreach teams patrolled the beaches, explaining the importance of maintaining environmental and water cleanliness to vacationers. They distributed reusable cups to replace polluting single-use cups, trash collection bags, and perks such as beach rackets. Additionally, an information station with educational games was established at Kursi Beach, where the Association is conducting a voluntary pilot of a 'disposable-free beach' to encourage the use of reusable items—aiming to change vacationer habits—in collaboration with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Haifa University, which is conducting research to examine public response to the initiative.

'Kinneret Circuit Line': The Kinneret Cities Association operated a free shuttle to the beaches for the benefit of vacationers in general and youth in particular, ensuring they travel safely. The line operated on 35 peak days throughout the summer months (not including 7 days planned for Passover but canceled due to the security situation).

Public Activities: During the Sukkot holiday (Chol HaMoed), the Kinneret Cities Association held cruises on the 'Floating Lab,' which offers an experiential activity aimed at creating a change in public awareness and behavior regarding the Kinneret, its beaches, and its environment through learning about the scientific and ecological aspects of the Kinneret while experiencing sailing that incorporates the use of modern research tools. The Association also held free guided tours along various sections of the 'Kinneret Trail'.

Throughout the year, tours and briefings were held for students and various groups on the 'Kinneret Trail'. Additionally, volunteer groups assisted in cleaning and clearing the trail.

Blue Flag 2026: Tsemach Beach was awarded the international environmental standard 'Blue Flag 2025' for the third consecutive year by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), through the 'EcoOcean' association, one of the most recognized and prestigious in the world. The certification determines that Tsemach Beach meets strict environmental, maintenance, safety, and accessibility criteria.

Public Service and Information Center of the Kinneret Cities Association - 'Kinneret Star': Handled over 3,000 inquiries on various topics, including reports of hazards at the beaches, which were forwarded to field teams for handling. The Association upgraded its telephone service center by providing the option to receive information and service via a WhatsApp chatbot at 050-900-7283.

The Kinneret Cities Association wishes all the people of Israel a good and rainy winter, which will saturate the wildlands and agriculture and fill the streams and the national lake.