Transformative luxury retreat Patina Maldives, Fari Islands unveils a new stage of The Perpetual Journey, its ongoing programme of art, culture, wellness and conscious dining experiences. Highlights from August to November include acclaimed multidisciplinary artist Shezad Dawood’s inaugural Patina Art Residency, a junior football camp led by FC Bayern Munich coach Jonas Caryot and a three-day Diwali celebration bringing together chef Atul Kochhar, mixologist Giancarlo Mancino and DJ Sakré.

The Perpetual Journey is Patina’s evolving programme of experiences designed to inspire couples, families and solo travellers to embrace connection, growth, wellbeing and nourishment at their own pace through collaborations with global and local guest talent.

Aishath Shuaila – Art Gallery Malé Collaboration, 22 September – 10 October

Developed in partnership with Art Gallery Malé, the rolling creators in residence programme at Patina Maldives’ Fari Art Atelier provides an ongoing international platform for contemporary Maldivian artists.

Following the success of Ahmed Khaleel’s residency in June and Hassan Najih’s residency in July, Patina Maldives will collaborate with Aishath Shuaila as part of its commitment to nurturing and showcasing local talent. Rather than simply displaying her paintings, the Fari Art Atelier will become Aishath’s working studio during the residency, allowing guests to encounter her work and creative process through an open-studio format, alongside workshops and informal exchanges.

Drawing on her love for nature and background in sustainable development, Aishath’s signature style uses vivid colours and bold brushstrokes to represent the patterns and textures found in the natural world. The resulting works encourage viewers to better understand and appreciate Maldivian flora and fauna.

Patina Art Residency: Shezad Dawood, 18 October – 8 November

Winner of the inaugural Patina Art Residency, London-based multidisciplinary artist Shezad Dawoodwill undertake extended fieldwork at Patina Maldives, deepening his practice that connects art, science and environmental advocacy. With more than a decade spent in dialogue with marine biologists and environmentalist, Shezad will take this time to explore the island’s environment and marine ecology to create a piece of work shaped by the 2025 Theme, Fluid Worlds, which invites artists to examine how boundaries shift and change, whether between cultures, ideas or elements.

Bayern Munich Football Camp, 25 – 29 October

Designed for young players aged six to 17, this exclusive camp takes place across five days with FC Bayern Munich’s Coach Jonas Caryot, blending expert coaching, small-group sessions, and up to five hours of focused training every day. With two days reserved for rest, the camp offers participants a rare opportunity to refine their football skills in the island’s serene setting.

Yakido by Yardbird Hong Kong, 6 – 10 October

Hong Kong-based modern izakaya and bar Yardbird brings its travelling Yakido concept to Brasa for two nights alongside a week of pop-ups and collaborations, including ALWAYS FRIENDS BY ALWAYS JOY on October 8; a pop- up at Veli Bar with Max Levy’s pizza project, MR. IKO; and a series of strength and mobility movement sessions led by Lindsay Jang.

Moments of Connection: Diwali

Chef Atul Kochhar, 7 – 9 November

Widely recognised as a pioneering figure in Indian fine dining, Atul Kochhar is the first Indian chef to be awarded a Michelin star, receiving his first at Tamarind in 2001 and a second at Benares in 2007. With over 30 years in the culinary world, he brings a contemporary expression of India’s regional cuisine through bold flavours, refined technique and premium ingredients. For Diwali, Kochhar brings the culinary identity of Kanishka by Atul Kochhar, his acclaimed London restaurant, to Helios, presenting a special menu that reinterprets his signature contemporary Indian cuisine for the Maldivian setting.

Giancarlo Mancino

Internationally renowned bartender and the creative mind behind SeiBellissimi, a luxury sparkling bottled cocktail line, Giancarlo Mancino returns to Patina Maldives with a series of guest shifts and cocktail experiences.

Sakré

Bangalore-based producer, DJ and sound artist Sakré brings his genre-blurring approach to electronic music to Patina Maldives during Diwali. Drawing on ambient textures, lo-fi beats and South Indian cinematic influences, his immersive soundscapes offer a contemporary interpretation of India’s evolving music culture.

Patina Resonance: Visiting Practitioners

Jasmin Küster – Holistic Bodywork, 14 September – 14 October

Jasmin is a holistic therapist and aquatic bodyworker whose practice brings together Water Therapy, Chi Nei Tsang abdominal massage, fascia-focused Somatic Bodywork and other specialised treatments to encourage deep relaxation, release tension and restore balance between body, mind and emotions. Her approach focuses on deep relaxation, release and greater connection with the body, with each experience adapted to the individual.

Minako Saito – Japanese Wellness Innovator and Founder of Platinum Ritual Series, 15 October – 15 November

Minako Saito specialises in Japanese thermal therapy and women’s wellness counselling. She is the founder of the Platinum Ritual Series, a holistic treatment collection designed to calm the nervous system, encourage deep relaxation and restore inner balance. Each ritual combines gentle, deep-reaching warmth with therapeutic techniques to support harmony between body and mind. Guests can choose between rituals promoting relaxation and restorative sleep, a neuro-relaxing facial ritual, or women’s wellness-focused rituals that support hormonal balance, nervous system regulation, pelvic wellbeing and hip mobility.

Thalia Jones – Breathwork Practitioner and Holistic Therapist, 15 December – 15 January 2027

Thalia Jones returns to Patina Maldives, working with guests on personal transformation with her rounded approach that integrates the mind, body and soul. Through guided breathwork and holistic therapies, Thalia creates space for guests to pause, reconnect and develop a greater awareness of body and breath.

To book, email reservations.maldives@patinahotels.com, tel. +960 4000555, or visit patinahotels.com/maldives-fari-islands.

Soneva has unveiled the latest Soneva Stars calendar, seeing out the year with a line-up spanning space, sport, gastronomy, craftsmanship and wellbeing. Across Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani and Soneva Secret, guests are invited to train, learn and interact with remarkable personalities who have spent their careers at the top of their fields.

Among the year’s headline residences is Tim Peake, the first British ESA astronaut to visit the International Space Station. Peake will host talks, interactive sessions and stargazing experiences at Soneva Fushi from 19 to 29 December, sharing insights from his extraordinary career in space exploration beneath some of the clearest night skies on Earth.

The sporting calendar will welcome a series of internationally recognised athletes. A Premier League record goalscorer and former Manchester United striker, Andy Cole will lead football sessions from 25 October to 1 November, while former world No. 8 Marcos Baghdatis (25 October to 5 November) and current ATP star Karen Khachanov (12 to 22 November) will host tennis clinics and coaching experiences, giving guests a rare chance to train with players who have competed at the sport’s highest level. In September, Olympic medallist and world champion decathlete Leo Neugebauer will lead a session at Soneva Fushi’s outdoor gym as part of his residency.

In the world of wellbeing, Sarah Chapman, the facialist whose client list reads like a who’s who of the beauty world, will bring her treatments to Soneva Secret from 27 October to 5 November, offering guests the kind of skin expertise usually reserved for a waiting list.

The culinary programme features acclaimed chefs including Chantelle Nicholson (22 October to 6 November), known for her ingredient-led cooking and commitment to sustainable gastronomy, and champions of elevated Scandinavian dining, Niclas Jönsson (22 October to 6 November) and Fiskebar’s Jamie Lee (14 to 26 December), who will present special experiences throughout the season.

The Soneva Stars calendar runs even deeper. Astronomers Dr James Gilbert and Dr Lars Lindberg Christensen amplify the resorts’ celestial programme, while glass artists Adam Holtzinger and Susan Špiranović lead a residency at Soneva Fushi’s glass studio. Enhancing the wellbeing offering, guests can work with osteopath Hortensia Corredoira, East Asian healing specialist Alexander Scrimgeour, performance coach JP Liendi, Bodyism’s Nathalie Schyllert and wellbeing expert Richie Norton, alongside football freestyler Marcel Gurk, across residencies running through to the end of the year.

“The most memorable moments unfold through the power of human connection,” said Neil Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer of Soneva. “With Soneva Stars, our guests train with Andy Cole, sit with Tim Peake to find out what it’s truly like up there and get a fresh taste of the ocean’s bounty with Jamie Lee. These experiences spark conversations and memories that stay with them long after they leave.”

No two Soneva Stars seasons are ever the same. Each residency is an expression of Just What Matters: meaningful connections, new perspectives and moments of genuine wonder and discovery.

Guests can explore the full Soneva Stars calendar to book remarkable experiences.

Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) welcomes Chef Romain Dupeyre, executive chef and founder of Michelin-starred Racines in Hong Kong, to the Maldives.

On 20 September, Chef Dupeyre will lead the inaugural masterclass at the ‘Studio of Culinary Excellence’, a model kitchen donated by BBM to the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Studies (FHTS) at The Maldives National University (MNU).

The masterclass will feature a live cooking demonstration followed by an interactive food appreciation session. All participants will receive a certificate of participation.

After the masterclass, Chef Dupeyre will head to OBLU SELECT Sangeli to host a guest culinary event.

A native of Nice on the Mediterranean coast in the South of France, Chef Dupeyre began his career at 15 as an apprentice at the two-Michelin-starred restaurant, La Chèvre d’Or. He later worked in Ireland, Paris, Melbourne and Bangkok before moving to Hong Kong in 2019, where he was the chef de cuisine at Petrus in the Island Shangri-La.

In November 2022, he founded Racines, a restaurant inspired by the culinary traditions of southern France. Racines earned its first Michelin star in 2024 and retained the distinction in 2025 and 2026.

The Studio of Culinary Excellence is an initiative by the Chairman and Managing Director of BBM, Mr Ismail Hilmy. The Studio gives culinary students access to world-class facilities and training aligned to international industry standards.

Bringing leading international chefs to the studio is central to this initiative. Chef Dupeyre’s visit marks the first step in that programme.

BBM is a leading importer and distributor serving Maldivian hospitality, food-service, FMCG retail and consumer-durables sectors. The company represents a broad portfolio of international brands and provides products and solutions to businesses throughout the Maldives.

Through its philosophy, “…because tomorrows start today,” BBM supports initiatives that promote long-term industry development, professional growth and opportunities for the people and communities connected to the Maldivian hospitality sector.