Opening Ceremony Plaza
The stage where Eurovision 2019 began its journey on May 12th.
Habima Square served as the historic venue for the Opening Ceremony of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019. This major public space, also known as The Orchestra Plaza, is situated in the heart of Tel Aviv at the intersection of Rothschild Boulevard, Hen Boulevard, Dizengoff Street, and Ben-Zion Boulevard. Home to iconic cultural institutions like the Habima Theatre and the Culture Palace, the square transformed on 12 May 2019 into a focal point for global music fans. The event marked a significant moment in the venue's modern history, adding to its legacy of hosting major national ceremonies since the IDF declaration in 1948.
- Role
- Ceremonial Hub & Welcome Stage
- Affiliation
- European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
- Function
- Kickoff for the Grand Final
- Key Feature
- Dynamic Host Interactions
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Habima Square has long been a cultural core for Tel Aviv, a vision first proposed in the Geddes Plan of the late 1920s as a modern 'Acropolis.' The square's transformation into an event hub is deeply rooted in its architecture and history. Originally housing an educational farm with Sycamore trees between the 1930s and 1950s, the area was later redeveloped to include the Fredric R. Mann Auditorium in 1957, home of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. A comprehensive renovation by architect Dani Karavan launched in 2007 replaced temporary parking with a massive underground 'Culture Parking Lot' containing 1,000 spaces, freeing the surface for large-scale gatherings. This infrastructure allowed the square to evolve from a transit node into a premier ceremonial ground, capable of hosting the 2019 Eurovision Opening Ceremony alongside other major events like the 2011 housing protests led by Daphne Leef.
In Their Own Story
On 12 May 2019, Habima Square became the epicenter of international celebration as it hosted the Opening Ceremony of the Eurovision Song Contest. The event took place within a space that had previously witnessed pivotal moments in Israeli history, such as the declaration of the IDF as the national army on 28 June 1948. By May 2019, the square's recent renovations had cleared its surface of decades of temporary parking, creating an expansive plaza ready for global audiences. The ceremony utilized this open space to unite fans from around the world, leveraging the square's unique position at the crossroads of four major boulevards. The event followed a tradition of high-profile gatherings in Tel Aviv, building upon the momentum of the 2011 housing protests that had also turned the square into a major focal point just eight years prior.
Reader's Guide
Visitors to Habima Square can access this central venue via Rothschild Boulevard, Hen Boulevard, Dizengoff Street, or Ben-Zion Boulevard. The area is surrounded by preserved International style buildings forming part of Tel Aviv's White City heritage site. Key landmarks within the immediate vicinity include the Habima Theatre (cornerstone laid in 1935), the Culture Palace, and the Helena Rubinstein Pavilion for Contemporary Art, which was established in 1952. For those exploring the grounds, note that the Ya'akov Garden renovation was completed in September 2010, connecting Chen Boulevard directly to the square. The underground 'Culture Parking Lot,' opened on 7 June 2010 with an area of 40,000 m2, ensures ample parking for large events. The square's layout allows for seamless integration between the cultural institutions and the open plaza space used for ceremonies.
Did You Know?
- Habima Square was the site where the IDF was declared the national army of Israel on 28 June 1948.
- The square's underground 'Culture Parking Lot' opened on 7 June 2010 and provides 1,000 parking spaces across an area of 40,000 m2.
- Between the 1930s and 1950s, the area now occupied by the plaza housed an educational farm with a grove of Sycamore trees.
- The Fredric R. Mann Auditorium was constructed alongside the square but not inaugurated until 1957 due to budgetary considerations limiting initial plaza development.
- Daphne Leef pitched her tent in this same square in July 2011, sparking the 2011 housing protests that turned it into a major focal point.