World Wellness Weekend 2026 marks a special chapter for Mandara Spa Maldives, with all ten participating spa locations achieving Wellness HERO status and becoming the first spa group in the Maldives to do so across every participating property.

Behind this distinction are the people who give it meaning. From therapists sharing their knowledge to colleagues creating welcoming experiences for guests and communities, their contribution reflects a simple belief: wellness should be something people can experience, understand and make part of their lives.

The moment is especially meaningful as World Wellness Weekend celebrates its 10th anniversary. Having participated since the first edition in 2017, Mandara Spa Maldives continues a relationship shaped by the same purpose that brought the initiative to life: bringing people together through movement, mindfulness, learning and human connection.

The People Behind the Weekend

At the heart of the weekend are the therapists and spa teams who turn each activity into a human experience. Guests may know them through massage, body therapies and personalised treatments, but during the weekend they also become guides, sharing their knowledge in a more interactive setting. Therapists share breathing techniques, mindful movement, massage practices, wellness rituals and traditions that have shaped their profession. These exchanges allow guests to understand not only how a practice is performed, but also the purpose behind it.

Colleagues and resort teams also play an important role, supporting each programme and creating an environment where people feel comfortable participating, asking questions and trying something unfamiliar. Together, their contribution reflects the spirit of Wellness For All: creating space for clients, colleagues and communities to experience wellbeing in ways that feel welcoming and relevant.

Experiencing Wellness in the Maldives

Each participating spa creates its own programme, shaped by its resort setting and the expertise of its team. Complimentary activities may include yoga, meditation, massage masterclasses, herbal workshops, movement sessions and other interactive experiences that invite guests to participate rather than simply observe.

The Maldives becomes part of that experience. A yoga session overlooking the Indian Ocean, a workshop surrounded by tropical gardens or a moment of meditation beside a quiet lagoon can offer a different perspective on wellness. The surroundings may differ from one island to another, but each experience is designed to make wellbeing approachable, enjoyable and easy to understand.

Each activity offers something personal to discover, whether it is a new way to pause, move with greater awareness or simply reconnect with oneself and others.

Behind each HERO title is a team that has shaped World Wellness Weekend around its own guests, surroundings and expertise. From one island to another, the programmes may look different, but each reflects the care and involvement of the therapists and colleagues who make the weekend possible.

The 10 spa locations recognised as Wellness HERO 2026 are:

• Chavana Spa at Adaaran Club Rannalhi
• Chavana Spa at Cinnamon Dhonveli
• Chavana Spa at Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon
• Mandara Spa at Adaaran Prestige Vadoo
• Mandara Spa at Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi
• Mandara Spa at Adaaran Select Meedhupparu
• Mandara Spa at Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa
• Mandara Spa at Cinnamon Velifushi
• Th.ari Spa by Mandara at NOOE Maldives Kunaavashi
• Wellness by Mandara at Barceló Nasandhura

Across these ten locations, each team brings its own knowledge, character and approach, reflecting the collective work behind World Wellness Weekend throughout the Maldives.

In a world where being busy has become part of everyday life, making time for wellbeing can easily be pushed aside. World Wellness Weekend offers a simple reminder that caring for the body and mind deserves a place in the present.

For Mandara Spa Maldives, that is ultimately what makes this weekend meaningful. If someone leaves feeling a little lighter, more connected or simply more aware of the importance of making time for themselves, the value of that moment can extend far beyond the weekend itself.

This September, guests and communities are invited to experience World Wellness Weekend across participating Mandara Spa Maldives locations. Explore what each spa has planned for World Wellness Weekend 2026 through the World Wellness Weekend map.

While the Maldives has long captivated travellers with its turquoise lagoons, overwater villas and barefoot luxury, one part of its story has remained largely untold: its cuisine.

Across the islands, visitors often dine on flavours from around the world, rarely discovering the ingredients, traditions and recipes that have shaped Maldivian life for generations. At JA Manafaru, the secluded luxury resort in the northern Haa Alifu Atoll, that narrative is beginning to change with the launch of Kuri, an intimate treetop dining experience that celebrates the country’s culinary heritage in one of its most extraordinary settings.

Meaning “treetop” in Dhivehi, Kuri offers a dining experience unlike any other in the Maldives. Hidden within the branches of a living banyan tree, it welcomes just two guests as standard, or up to four for private celebrations, for an evening where the island itself becomes both the setting and the inspiration. Rather than looking out across the ocean, diners are invited to journey into the heart of the island, discovering a side of the Maldives that few visitors ever experience.

Rather than chasing global dining trends, Kuri begins with a simple question: what does the Maldives truly taste like? The answer unfolds through a five-course tasting menu built around a genuine zero-kilometre philosophy, where reef fish, coconut, pandan, screwpine and other native ingredients are sourced from the surrounding atoll, many travelling only metres from where they are grown, caught or harvested. Each course honours traditional Maldivian flavours while presenting them through a refined contemporary lens.

The menu itself tells the story of the Maldives through food. Guests begin with Muru Muru, delicate crispy tuna crackers inspired by the islands’ rich fishing heritage, before progressing through vibrant cured snapper, comforting pandan rice congee with grilled coconut and tuna floss, and the signature Ihi Musamma – a beautifully balanced Maldivian lobster curry served with coconut crepe and locally inspired accompaniments. The experience concludes with young coconut, screwpine ice cream and candied Maldivian nuts, a dessert that captures the tropical flavours of the island in every bite.

Bringing this story to life is Executive Chef Moosa Nazeeh, whose menu is deeply rooted in the flavours of his homeland. Instead of recreating international fine dining in paradise, he shines a spotlight on recipes, ingredients and techniques that have been passed through generations, inviting guests to experience a side of the Maldives that is rarely found within the country’s luxury resorts.

Every detail surrounding the meal has been thoughtfully designed to reflect the same philosophy. Carefully built around a living banyan tree, the timber platform sits beneath a natural canopy illuminated by lanterns after sunset, creating an atmosphere that feels both intimate and entirely immersed in nature. Even the ceramics tell part of the story, with every plate, bowl and cup handcrafted at JA Manafaru’s own on-island clay studio and finished with a delicate watercolour illustration of the very banyan tree that shelters the dining table above.

And while the experience celebrates craftsmanship and culinary artistry, Kuri never takes itself too seriously. After dessert, guests swap the staircase for a gently curving slide back down to the sand, bringing the evening to an unexpected and joy-filled close that leaves almost everyone smiling long after dinner has ended.

Already recognised for creating experiences that connect guests with the culture and natural beauty of the northern Maldives, JA Manafaru continues to look beyond traditional luxury. Kuri is the latest expression of that philosophy, proving that some of the most memorable moments in the Maldives aren’t found over the water, but beneath the shade of an ancient banyan tree, where every meal tells the story of the island itself.

When: Available for dinner daily

Offer Inclusions: An intimate five-course treetop dining experience celebrating authentic Maldivian cuisine through a thoughtfully curated 0km tasting menu, set within the canopy of a living banyan tree.

Price: USD 175++ per person

Terms & Conditions:

• Advance reservation is required
• Subject to availability
• Maximum of four guests per seating
• For reservations and more information, please email at manafaru@jaresorts.com

JOALI Maldives has announced two exclusive tennis residencies with Grand Slam champions Elena Rybakina and Ana Ivanović, bringing world-class tennis to the island across November and the festive season.

Designed for both adults and younger players, the residencies offer guests the rare opportunity to step onto the court with two of the sport’s most accomplished athletes through intimate clinics and camps that combine technique, confidence, discipline and the joy of the game.

Set within JOALI Maldives’ philosophy of Creative Living, the programme brings a dynamic sporting dimension to island life, creating meaningful opportunities for guests to learn directly from champions while enjoying a highly personalised experience in the Maldives.

Game. Set. Inspire. with Elena Rybakina | 17–23 November 2026

Wimbledon Champion and Australian Open Champion 2026 Elena Rybakina invites guests to experience the game through the eyes of a Grand Slam champion.

Known for her powerful serve, precision and calm determination, Elena made history as Kazakhstan’s first Grand Slam singles champion when she claimed the Wimbledon title in 2022, before adding the 2026 Australian Open title to her achievements. She also reached a career-high ranking of World No. 2 in women’s singles.

Through two exclusive workshops for adults and younger players, guests will have the rare opportunity to train alongside one of the world’s leading athletes while discovering the discipline, focus and joy behind championship-level tennis.

Play Like a Champion with Ana Ivanović | 22–27 December 2026

Former World No. 1 Ana Ivanović brings her passion for tennis and Grand Slam-winning legacy to JOALI Maldives for an exclusive festive-season residency. Celebrated for her powerful forehand, competitive spirit and elegant style of play, Ana captured the 2008 French Open title before becoming World No. 1 in women’s singles and earning global acclaim as a modern tennis icon.

Guests will be invited to share the court with Ana across two exclusive workshops. The 60-minute Tennis Clinic for adults, ages 16 and above, focuses on the techniques, strategy and discipline that shaped her career. The 60-minute Tennis Camp for children ages 4 to 15 offers a lively introduction to tennis, helping young players develop skills, build confidence and find their rhythm on court.

From November through the festive season, the two residencies bring together championship-level sport and JOALI Maldives’ distinctive approach to meaningful guest experiences. With programming created for adults and families alike, guests can discover tennis in an intimate island setting while learning directly from two Grand Slam champions.