Entertainment

Kanuhura Maldives to host NYE celebrations with renowned saxophonist Ellie Sax

Published

6 years ago

December 20, 2019

New Year’s Eve always seems to hold so much promise, but for many, it’s often nothing more than a total disappointment. It’s “meant” to be a celebration of things past and wonderful opportunities and experiences still to come, but, ultimately, there’s a lot of pressure on it to be the best night of the year.

Now, when was the last time you had a truly fantastic or memorable New Year’s Eve?

The good news is, this year, you could actually have the New Year’s Eve of your dreams — end off 2019 by indulging in a trip of a lifetime and have the most enviable New Year’s Eve ever at the magical gypset paradise of Kanuhura in the Maldives.

Situated in the Lhaviyani atoll in the heart of the destination, the pristine island of Kanuhura offers guests a sublime mix of excellent service, sublime experience, luxury comforts and chic, gypsy-esque design elements in the most outstanding tropical surrounds.

Here, along the golden shores of Kanuhura and the glittering cyan waters, you can enjoy an unforgettable festive season, with a “cruise ship” party on December 31, that will guide you into 2020 in style to the sounds of some very special music. This New Year’s Eve, Ellie Sax and Harry Lewis Meredith will be gracing the picture-perfect shores of Kanuhura to set the tone for an evening to remember.

Mitigate the chance for another New Year’s Eve let down and spend the last night of the decade at Kanuhura listening to the phenomenal sounds of Ellie Sax. Here’s what you need to know about this sublime performer.

She’s an esteemed saxophonist

Ellie is not just any musician, she’s a highly trained and talented saxophonist. Having graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England — and winning a few awards in the process — this now A-list performer can play everything from chilled beachside music to upbeat tunes to go with lively DJ tracks — she’s wonderfully versatile.

What’s especially exciting is that she will be performing on New Year’s Eve with her DJ husband, Harry, also known as Laser Boy Wonder. This is sure to be a performance to remember.

She’s performed at some of world’s most exclusive events

As a highly sought after saxophonist, Ellie has performed at some of the most exclusive events and parties around the world, not to mention high-end weddings!

She spent the year performing at Nikki Beach in Ibiza and Mallorca as well as in Italy, the UK, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Portugal, the Cote D’Azur, Sweden, Kenya, the US, the Maldives. She even played at the Ocean Beach SIN Sundays closing party in Ibiza.

She’s managed to travel the world, saxophone in hand, and delighting party-goers of every kind as she goes.

She’s worked with top artists

Being a Hedkandi artist, the UK-based record label owned by Ministry of Sound and known for their dance music compilations and specific artist albums, Ellie has been afforded the opportunity to play with other world-renowned artists and DJs from across the globe. From Alison Limerick, Karen Harding and Alesha Dixon to N Trance, Marvin Hulmes, Artful Dodger and Stonebridge and more.

By working with DJs and artists from all over, she has enhanced her live performances and amplified the dance music experience.

She’s not just a musician

Ellie has many titles: saxophonist, musician, blogger and influencer. She has an impressive following on both Instagram and Facebook and posts highlights of her life, travel experiences, glitzy performances and the beautiful people that are fortunate enough to enjoy them.

She’s known for her unique style

Ellie knows how to perform in style and has become increasingly well known for her incredible style; vivid colours, feathers, sequins, her iconic bejewelled hat and lots of sparkles. From her sensational talent and contagious energy to her amazing stage presence and glittering clothing, Ellie is sure to make your New Year’s Eve all the more special and unforgettable.

On December 31, don your cruise ship best, pick up a glass of champagne, dance barefoot on the beach and enjoy the fabulous live music and atmosphere set by Ellie under the Maldivan stars as you set sail into the new decade. This is bound to be a New Year’s Eve for the books.

Want to make sure you don’t miss out? Then book your spot at Kanuhura over the festive season and embrace a holiday of a lifetime.

Located at the heart of Lhaviyani atoll, one of the most spectacular Maldives atolls, Kanuhura is considered one of the most iconic barefoot beach resorts in the Indian Ocean. Part of the Mauritius-based hotel and leisure group Sun Resorts, Kanuhura hosted its first guest in 1999.

A USD42 million reimagining of the resort in 2016 has positioned it for the latest trend travellers have identified as Gypset; part gypsy in their drive for freedom and jetset, reflected in their wealth and craving for luxury living. The gypset muse of Kanuhura is Erin Wasson, famous top model and face representant of Maybelline.

The new rooms are luxury villas and suites with unusual elegance and furnished with natural materials with a touch of refinement and modernism. Whether you stay on the sunrise or sunset side of the island, you will be overwhelmed by the breathtaking view of the sea. The water villas have a private terrace with private access to the lagoon.

With its eight restaurants and three bars, Kanuhura will make you discover various cuisines from all over the world such as Italy, Brazil and the Maldives. The chef also provides interactive cookery demonstrations. Those looking for tranquility and well-being will be able to visit Kokaa, the wellness and spa centre for a unique sensual experience uplifting body and mind.

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Entertainment

Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort sets stage for first music festival in May 2026

Published

23 hours ago

January 8, 2026

m@ldives

Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort will host Your Paradise Maldives from 11 to 16 May 2026, as the boutique, destination-led Your Paradise music festival makes its Maldives debut with a curated roster of global electronic tastemakers. Marking the resort’s inaugural music festival, the award-winning Avani+ Fares Maldives sets the stage for a lifestyle-led escape that pairs sun-soaked sets with easy-going island living.

Designed around the island’s natural rhythm, Your Paradise – with past editions in Fiji and a strong international following – will unfold across a series of open-air stages and social spaces, shifting from golden-hour sets by the lagoon to pop-up beach parties and after-dark sessions with seamless transitions from day to night.

The phase one line-up features Ayybo, Arielle Free, Coco & Breezy, Double Touch, Jordan Brando & William Kiss, Low Steppa, Melé, Niiko x Swae, Sarah Story, Sasha Spielberg, Tom & Collins and Tori Levett, with further names to be announced. Delivering everything from feel-good house through to deeper club sounds, the festival is a limited-ticket experience with dedicated travel packages available.

Set on the natural island of Fares on the western edge of Baa Atoll’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort is ideal for festival crews, solo travellers and couples, with a mix of Beach Pool Villas and Over Water Villas, plus Two and Four-Bedroom Pavilions for groups of up to eight. For those going all in, the resort also offers two 287 sqm Two-Bedroom Overwater Pool Residences and a 368 sqm Three-Bedroom Overwater Pool Residence, each with an oversized terrace, infinity pool and seamless indoor-outdoor dining made for a private after-party. For sundowners with a local twist, the resort’s Ambaa Adventure sees a traditional dhoni cruise the lagoon, delivering handcrafted cocktails and mocktails direct to guests’ overwater pool decks.

Between sets, guests can lean into island life with watersports, diving and snorkelling on the house reef, then reset with sunrise yoga and meditation at AvaniFit and post-party recovery at AvaniSpa. The resort also offers easy access to the atoll’s marine highlights, including Hanifaru Bay, one of the world’s most celebrated manta ray hotspots.

Avani+ Fares has built strong momentum since opening in 2023, named Best Beach Resort 2025 at the TTM Awards, following its Best Dive Resort win in 2024, with General Manager Judd Rabbidge recognised as Resort Manager of the Year 2025 at the Global Hospitality ON Awards.

Rates for Your Paradise Maldives start from USD 2,599 per person, with solo, couple and group packages available. Each package includes five nights at Avani+ Fares Maldives on a half board basis, main stage performances and exclusive parties, as well as group yoga and meditation sessions. For more information and to book, visit www.avanihotels.com/en/fares-maldives, email fares@avanihotels.com or call +960 660 1660.

Entertainment

Hulhumalé’ set for New Year festivities as Visit Maldives and partners launch preparations

Published

2 weeks ago

December 22, 2025

m@ldives

Visit Maldives Corporation, together with the Ministry of Tourism & Environment and the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), has commenced planning for New Year celebrations in Hulhumalé’, building on the success and positive public response of last year’s festivities.

The celebrations are expected to feature signature elements that resonated strongly with the public in 2024, including a special Drone Show, Fireworks, Food stalls, and cultural experiences designed for both locals and visitors. The initiative, running from 30 December 2025 to 1 January 2026, aims to once again create a vibrant, inclusive, and family-friendly atmosphere to welcome the New Year.

At this stage, planning is ongoing and further details regarding the programme, dates, and activations will be announced in due course.

The New Year celebrations are being developed as a joint initiative by Visit Maldives, the Ministry of Tourism & Environment, and HDC.

Organisers are also in discussions with potential partners and sponsors and welcome expressions of interest from organisations keen to be part of this national celebration.

Entertainment

Award-winning singer Nicole Scherzinger to appear at One&Only Reethi Rah’s New Year’s Eve celebrations

Published

3 weeks ago

December 16, 2025

m@ldives

One&Only Reethi Rah, the all-villa resort in the Maldives, has announced the international star and award-winning singer Nicole Scherzinger will make an exclusive live appearance during the resort’s iconic New Year’s Eve celebrations, welcoming guests into 2026 with a special musical performance as part of the countdown.

Renowned for her magnetic stage presence and powerhouse vocals, Nicole Scherzinger originally rose to fame as a member of one of the best-selling female groups of all time, the Pussycat Dolls, before pursuing her career as a solo musician, a judge on various television shows, and a stage actress in theatrical work such as in Cats and Sunset Boulevard. Throughout her career, Scherzinger has received numerous nominations and awards, including the 2024 Laurence Olivier Award and the 2025 Tony Award, both for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in Sunset Boulevard.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Indian Ocean, the resort’s annual New Year’s Eve celebrations take place on 31st December 2025 at the Believe Ball, the Festive program’s main event featuring a refined beachside cocktail reception before unfolding into a joyous evening of epicurean discovery and thrilling entertainment. As the year draws to a close, Scherzinger will take the stage for a highlight live performance as part of the countdown, bringing the New Year’s celebrations to new heights with glamour, energy, and musical prowess.

“We are thrilled and honoured to welcome Nicole Scherzinger to One&Only Reethi Rah for our New Year’s Eve celebrations,” said Jan Tibaldi, General Manager of the resort. “Her global appeal, extraordinary talent, and dynamic energy make her the perfect artist to be part of our most iconic evening of the year, setting the scene for a remarkable welcome to 2026.”

The Festive season at One&Only Reethi Rah invites guests to embrace the spirit of the season with this year’s theme of Believe, centered on celebrating the joy, wonder, and magic of the holidays. From Christmas family traditions and world-class culinary experiences to quiet moments of deep wellbeing and exciting sports tournaments, the resort’s Festive program promises an array of unforgettable moments designed to delight guests of all ages and interests. Scherzinger’s special live appearance will be the highlight of the program, culminating with an exciting countdown to welcome the New Year.

The Festive season at One&Only Reethi Rah commences on 20th December 2025 with the traditional Tree Lighting Ceremony & Cocktail and ends on 13th January 2026 with the Orthodox New Year Gala Dinner.

Reservations and pre-bookings are recommended for most of the Festive events. For inquiries and bookings, please contact the VIP Services team at reethirah.festive@oneandonlyreethirah.com. For bookings, please call +960 664 8800 or contact the Reservations team at reservations@oneandonlyreethirah.com.