The festive season often brings some of the simplest moments into focus: long lunches that extend into the afternoon, children discovering somewhere new, and conversations without the pressure of being elsewhere. In the Maldives, that time together unfolds naturally between ocean and shore, with each island establishing its own rhythm for multigenerational families, couples and groups of friends.

This year, the Luxury Group by Marriott International portfolio of resorts in the Maldives is inviting travellers to experience the festive season through art and design, marine discovery, local culture, gastronomy, wellness and time spent outdoors. From the creative shores of the Fari Islands and the house reefs of North Ari Atoll to the secluded northern reaches of Shaviyani Atoll, each destination offers a different setting in which guests can reconnect, celebrate traditions and create new ones, with the Maldives itself at the heart of the experience.

Available to book from 15 September to 15 November 2026 for stays between 20 December 2026 and 10 January 2027, the Festive Early Bird Offer adds tailored inclusions to each island stay. These range from resort credits of up to USD 400 per stay and complimentary non-motorised water sports to complimentary stays and dining for children under 12 and festive activities at selected participating resorts.

For guests looking to make the most of their time in the Maldives, two island experiences are within easy reach of Malé. The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands and JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll Island Resort are both accessible by speedboat, while scenic seaplane journeys lead farther into the atolls to The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, W Maldives and JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa.

A Canvas of Festive Wonder at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

A 50-minute luxury speedboat journey from Malé leads to The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, where the 2026 festive season brings contemporary art into conversation with the light, colour and landscape of the Maldives.

From 20 December, the island will become a festive canvas through bespoke installations by French artist Alexandre Benjamin Navet in collaboration with the House of Ruinart. His expressive use of shape and colour will appear throughout the resort, from a specially conceived Christmas tree and ornaments inspired by the destination to playful installations culminating at Beach Shack.

The experience brings a new creative dimension to the resort’s Circle of Island Life, while leaving room for guests to shape their days at their own pace. Couples can move between the spa, lagoon and intimate dining experiences, while families and groups can gather in 100 ocean- and lagoon-facing villas designed by Kerry Hill Architects.

Larger parties can stay in expansive two-bedroom villas or the four-bedroom The Ritz-Carlton Estate, with an Aris Meeha island butler available to personalise their time together.

The Festive Early Bird package includes daily breakfast at La Locanda, New Year’s Eve celebrations and festive experiences.

A Season of Endless Wonder at JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll Island Resort

Close to Malé yet removed from the pace of the capital, JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll Island Resort is preparing a festive season centred on joy, discovery and wellbeing.

A 15-minute speedboat journey from Malé, the island will host ‘Enchanted Soirée: A Season of Endless Wonder’, with a programme featuring culinary experiences, restorative moments at Spa by JW, lagoon adventures and activities for younger travellers. In the evenings, multigenerational families, couples and groups of friends can come together over shared meals and festive celebrations.

Residential-style two-bedroom beach and overwater villas provide space for guests to gather and retreat, while the three-bedroom Ocean Residence includes a private gym, spa treatment room and waterslide with direct lagoon access.

Dedicated Safeeru ambassadors personalise each stay, while the Family by JW Kids’ Club provides creativity and exploration for younger guests. Other experiences include dolphin cruises, nurse shark snorkelling and dining across seven venues inspired by Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, South American and Nikkei cuisines.

The Festive Escape package includes a full-board meal plan, complimentary dining for children under 12, and access to festive activities and celebrations throughout the stay.

Ten Years of Island Stories at The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort

In Dhaalu Atoll, The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort will mark its 10th anniversary with ‘Chapter X: Celebrating 10 Years Through the Island’s Story’, a festive programme inspired by the landscapes and communities that have shaped a decade on Vommuli Island.

The celebration follows the resort’s four ecological zones — Lagoon, Beach, Jungle and Coast — providing families, couples and friends with different ways to discover the island through marine life, nature, cuisine, wellness and Maldivian heritage.

Children and grandparents can explore the biodiversity surrounding Vommuli House, turning shared discoveries into new family traditions, while days by the lagoon showcase the resort’s house reef and nature-inspired design.

Along the coast and beach, shared meals, storytelling and seasonal gatherings draw on the Maldives’ fishing and seafaring heritage. Christmas celebrations will include a tree-lighting ceremony, Santa’s arrival and family programming, while curated dining and wellness experiences will lead into a New Year’s Eve celebration overlooking the Indian Ocean.

The Festive Getaway includes breakfast for two and resort credits ranging from USD 200 to USD 400 per stay, depending on the villa category. St. Regis Butler service will also be available throughout each stay.

Children aged 11 and below stay and dine with compliments.

Made the Revelry List at W Maldives

For travellers looking for a more energetic festive season, W Maldives brings together North Ari Atoll’s marine life, newly refreshed villas and the resort’s social island atmosphere.

A 25-minute seaplane journey from Malé takes guests to the resort’s house reef, where days can begin underwater, continue with a nurse shark excursion or sunset cruise, and end with dinner by the beach.

From 23 December to 1 January, ‘Made the Revelry List’ will move between relaxed daytime experiences and after-dark celebrations. Christmas Eve will bring guests together at FIRE Beach for flame-grilled dining and live entertainment, while New Year’s Eve will take its cue from ‘The Velvet Revelry’, a speakeasy-inspired soirée moving from golden-hour cocktails and dinner to performances, music and a midnight countdown on WAVE Beach.

Beyond the festive programme, 77 beach and overwater villas with private pools provide space for couples and friends to settle into island life, while the two-bedroom Oasis Beach Villa with Slide is designed for families and groups.

For a change of setting, Gaathafushi, W Maldives’ private island, offers an intimate location for private dining and time away from the main island.

The Festive Favors package includes a full-board meal plan for two adults and USD 200 in daily resort credit.

An Enchanted Island at JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa

The journey north forms part of the experience at JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa, which is reached by a scenic 50-minute seaplane flight from Malé.

In the quieter reaches of Shaviyani Atoll, spacious villas, tropical gardens and open stretches of ocean provide a setting for different generations to spend time together. Duplex Overwater Pool Villas and Two-Bedroom Duplex Beach Pool Villas provide generous living spaces for families and groups of friends, while dedicated Thakuru private butler service takes care of arrangements throughout the stay.

This year, ‘Enchanted Island, Midnight in Paradise’ will bring aerialists, fire performances, live music and a DJ into a festive calendar that balances celebrations with opportunities for families to spend time together.

Younger travellers can choose from more than 100 activities at the Family by JW Little Griffins Kids’ Club, one of the largest children’s clubs in the Maldives. Cooking experiences using ingredients from the JW Garden and Boduberu evenings will also bring different generations together during the festive period.

The Festive Splendor package includes daily breakfast for two at Aailaa and a one-time 30-minute photography session with one printed photograph.

Guests booking a Duplex Overwater Pool Villa receive a complimentary upgrade to half board, while children aged 11 and below stay and dine with compliments.

JOALI Maldives, the Maldives’ first art-immersive resort, has retained One MICHELIN Key, reaffirming its place among the MICHELIN Guide’s recognised hotel experiences and celebrating an island shaped by creativity, meaningful connection and discovery.

At the heart of JOALI Maldives is the Joy of Creative Living – a philosophy that extends far beyond its art collection. Here, creativity becomes a thread connecting the entire island experience, from art and design to culinary expression, wellbeing, nature and experiences created for every generation.

More than a resort, JOALI Maldives is conceived as a destination within the destination: a world to explore at its own pace, where guests are invited not only to encounter creativity, but to engage with it, draw inspiration from it and find new ways to express and discover themselves.

An island shaped by art and imagination

Art is woven throughout the landscape of JOALI Maldives, transforming the island into an immersive creative journey. Contemporary artworks and installations appear across unexpected corners of the resort, encouraging moments of curiosity and discovery as guests move through the island.

This creative spirit extends beyond observing art. At the Ceramics Studio and through artist-led experiences, guests can experiment with materials, ideas and forms of expression, turning inspiration into something personal. Creativity becomes participatory – an opportunity to make, learn and see the world from a different perspective.

Culinary art as a form of discovery

Across JOALI Maldives, gastronomy becomes its own creative language. Diverse culinary concepts bring together craftsmanship, storytelling, culture and imagination, inviting guests to experience food not simply as dining, but as another form of artistic expression.From refined culinary journeys to interactive experiences and unexpected flavours, each table offers an opportunity to discover something new. Chefs become storytellers and creators, using ingredients, techniques and presentation to transform each dining experience into an exploration of the senses.

Creativity through wellbeing

Creative Living also finds expression in moments of wellbeing and reconnection. Through immersive wellness experiences, movement, mindfulness and encounters with the natural surroundings, guests are encouraged to slow down and create space for themselves.

Wellbeing at JOALI Maldives becomes part of a broader journey of discovery – an opportunity to reconnect with the body and mind, explore new practices and return to everyday life with renewed inspiration and perspective.

A creative world for every generation

At JOALI Maldives, creativity has no age. The island invites children, parents and grandparents to discover together, while offering each generation the freedom to follow its own curiosity.

At Muramas Kids Club, younger guests enter a world centred around four themes – Create, Play, Discover and Move – with experiences designed to encourage imagination, exploration and self-expression. Through art, nature, movement and hands-on discovery, children are given the space to explore what inspires them and create from it.

Beyond the Kids Club, shared island experiences bring generations together through creativity, nature, gastronomy and play. Rather than simply spending time side by side, families are invited to discover something new together, exchange perspectives and create meaningful memories across generations.

A destination within the destination

From its artworks and architecture to its restaurants, wellbeing experiences, natural surroundings and spaces dedicated to creativity, JOALI Maldives has been designed as an island to be discovered.

A walk may lead to an unexpected artwork; an afternoon may become an opportunity to create; a meal may introduce a new culture or perspective; and an experience shared as a family may inspire a new interest. Each encounter contributes to a larger journey shaped by curiosity and the freedom to explore.

The retention of One MICHELIN Key recognises this distinctive approach to hospitality and reinforces JOALI Maldives’ commitment to creating experiences that go beyond the traditional idea of an island escape.

Through the Joy of Creative Living, JOALI Maldives continues to offer a place where guests of every generation can be inspired by their surroundings, discover new perspectives and, through creativity, discover more of themselves.

This festive season, Pullman Maldives Maamutaa invites guests to leave tradition ashore and dive into a world where imagination knows no limits. From 22nd December 2026 to 06th January 2027, the island transforms into a MALDIVIAN OCEAN FANTASY — an immersive celebration where tropical paradise meets festive magic through extraordinary dining, captivating entertainment, wellness experiences, family adventures, and unforgettable moments beneath the Maldivian stars.

Inspired by Pullman’s spirit of inciting new exchanges between people, cultures and ideas, the festive programme blends the nostalgia of a Maldivian Christmas with the vibrant energy of an island escape, creating experiences designed to surprise, connect and inspire.

Sun-kissed Christmas in paradise

The celebrations begin with the holiday launch of the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, setting the tone for a season filled with warmth, discovery and celebration.

Throughout Christmas week, guests can savor seafood feasts, beachside grill nights and a vibrant Sunset Splash Pool Party beneath tropical skies, while Santa Claus makes a memorable sunset arrival across the lagoon — a uniquely Maldivian take on a timeless festive tradition.

On Christmas Eve, Mélange Beach metamorphoses into a whimsical Tropical Yuletide Bliss, where an abundant festive buffet follows an elegant sunset soirée at Water Sports. Christmas Day continues the celebration with Pullman’s signature, leisurely breakfast-to-brunch experience, inviting guests to gather, reconnect and bask into the afternoon.

Maldivian ocean fantasy New Year

As the year draws to a close, the island dives deeper into the vibrant world of Maldivian Ocean Fantasy.

Music, live performances and unexpected moments unfold across the resort, progressing towards an energetic bash filled with refreshing cocktails, festive bites and golden sunset moments at Water Sports Beach.

On New Year’s Eve, guests kick off the evening with cocktails overlooking the Indian Ocean before stepping into the spectacular Grand Gala Dinner at Mélange Beach. As midnight approaches, dazzling performances, immersive entertainment and a breathtaking fireworks display illuminate the beach, welcoming 2027 with unmistakable Pullman energy.

New Year’s Day celebrations continue with an indulgent breakfast-to-brunch experience served until 2:30 p.m., allowing guests to ease into the year ahead at their own pace.

Festive magic extends well beyond the dining table. Younger explorers can enjoy a vibrant programme of daily activities designed to spark creativity, curiosity and new friendships, while adults can recharge with exclusive festive spa rituals at Pullman Spa or simply embrace the slower rhythm of island life between celebrations.

The festive calendar also embraces cultural diversity with a special celebration marking Russian Orthodox Christmas on 06th January 2027, reflecting Pullman’s commitment to creating meaningful connections between cultures and welcoming guests from around the world.

“At Pullman Maldives Maamutaa, we believe the festive season should be more than a celebration — it should be an experience that surprises, connects and lingers with you long after you return home. MALDIVIAN OCEAN FANTASY is our invitation to discover the unexpected, where cherished traditions meet the vibrant spirit of the Maldives. Whether gathering around the Christmas tree, celebrating beneath spectacular fireworks or sharing unforgettable moments with loved ones, every experience has been designed to inspire new memories and meaningful connections,” said Riaan Drever, Cluster Resort Manager, Mercure Maldives Kooddoo.

From Christmas tree lightings and Santa’s sunset visit to immersive gala dinners, beachfront fireworks and leisurely island brunches, MALDIVIAN OCEAN FANTASY welcomes guests to celebrate the festive season differently.

At Pullman Maldives Maamutaa, every moment is designed to spark curiosity, foster connection and transform the holidays into stories worth sharing — long after the New Year begins.