Back by popular demand, Niva Kuramathi Maldives has announced the return of Campioni Soccer Academy for 2027. Taking place over Easter 2027 and Summer 2027, the football academy for aspiring young players aged 4-16, is a celebration of sport, sunshine and island spirit.

Week One, Easter 2027: 29th March to 3rd April 2027 | Led by Andy Cole and UEFA ‘A’ Licensed coach Adrian Whitbread

Week Two, Summer 2027: 26th – 31st July 2027 | Led by Stuart Pearce MBE and UEFA ‘A’ Licensed coach Adrian Whitbread

Experience the ultimate family getaway with Campioni and Niva Kuramathi; set against the turquoise backdrop of the Indian Ocean, Campioni transforms Niva Kuramathi’s pristine football pitch into a training ground led by former Premier League players and UEFA coaches. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime to be coached for two-hours, daily, whilst on holiday, by legendary players who have played and managed teams at the highest level.

Welcoming one of England’s best known and most loved football icons Stuart Pearce MBE, and one of the Premier League’s all-time great strikers Andy Cole, each joined by UEFA ‘A’ licensed coach Adrian Whitbread, this year Campioni promises two unforgettable weeks of daily training sessions in paradise.

Andy Cole is best known for his hugely successful spell at Manchester United, where he won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League as part of the historic 1999 Treble-winning side. Cole brings world-class experience and inspiration to Campioni Soccer Academy; renowned for his sharp finishing, professionalism, and winning mentality. His involvement gives young players a unique chance to learn from a true legend and understand what it takes to succeed at the highest level.

One of England’s most respected football legends, Stuart Pearce plays an inspiring role at Campioni Soccer Academy, where he helps train and mentor young players. Known for his passion, leadership, and determination both on and off the pitch, Pearce brings a wealth of experience from his illustrious career, which includes captaining England and managing at the highest levels of the game. His involvement at Campioni provides aspiring footballers with a unique opportunity to learn from one of the sport’s greats, gaining valuable insights into teamwork, discipline, and what it truly takes to succeed in football.

The week-long Academy begins with an oceanfront welcome reception where families meet the legends, collect their bespoke training kits, and toast to the week ahead.

From Monday to Saturday, children take part in daily interactive training sessions under the expert guidance of the pros, focusing on technical skills, game awareness and overall development using the FA’s 4 Corner Model. Learning the importance of teamwork, strategy, and sportsmanship, this is a chance for boys and girls of all abilities to learn from the best in the game while creating unforgettable memories.

Parents can unwind across the resort knowing their children are safe, active, and inspired – or lace up their own boots for the Parents’ Game midweek – a crowd favourite that turns the pitch into a playground for all ages.

“I can’t wait to return to Niva Kuramathi for the Campioni Soccer Academy in Summer 2027. Last year’s academy was such a memorable experience, and I’m excited to meet another group of families and young players. What makes Campioni so special is seeing the confidence and potential that comes through in every session. It’s about more than football, it’s about encouraging young people to believe in themselves, aim high and enjoy the journey along the way,” said Stuart Pearce MBE.

“Campioni Soccer Academy is always an incredible experience, and I’m really looking forward to joining the team at Niva Kuramathi next Easter. It’s always rewarding to see families come together and watch kids learn, grow and have fun through football, while also enjoying everything a destination like the Maldives has to offer. I’m sure this will be a truly memorable academy, and I can’t wait to see the young players embrace the experience, make new friends and create memories that will stay with them long after they leave the island,” said Andy Cole.

The soccer academy reaches beyond the resort. Local Maldivian football clubs will once again join, with young players receiving special coaching sessions led by Cole and Pearce – inspiration and skills passed to the next generation of island footballers.

The Campioni Football Academy places children on the pitch each morning – skills sharpening, friendships forming, the ocean a constant presence at the edge of play. When the final whistle sounds at the end of each daily session, an entire island opens up.

Bageecha Kids Club – complimentary for children aged three to twelve – offers botanic walks, marine encounters, creative workshops, open-air movies, and beach barbecues unfold across a two-week rotating programme designed so that curiosity never runs dry. Open daily from 8.30 am to 6.30 pm, with babysitting available until midnight with 24 hours’ notice.

The Eco Centre invites families to learn about the reef, meet resident marine experts, and take part in coral planting. At the Hydroponics Garden, young explorers discover how the island grows its own produce. Beneath the surface, the house reef reveals grey reef sharks, turtles, and manta rays – reached by guided snorkelling safaris or semi-submarine. On the water, windsurfing and catamaran sailing await, with private lessons available for children aged twelve and above.

While children play, LIME Wellbeing draws on ancient Maldivian ritual and natural oils. Offering a quiet return to balance, the lagoon close and still. As the day eases into evening, the island’s rhythm shifts. Live music and DJ sets create a soundscape across the island, from mellow sunset sessions to late night, upbeat tempos. Parents slip away for cocktails at Laguna Bar or Champagne at the Loft. Dinner unfolds across nine à la carte restaurants: The Reef, La Belle Vie, the theatre of Kobe, Tandoor Mahal, and Siam Garden.

Eleven villa categories open onto sand or sea – from palm-fringed Beach Bungalows to the expansive Two-Bedroom Beach House, a duplex for up to six adults or four adults and two children, with separate living spaces and lagoon views that stretch to the horizon. All Campioni academy participants are required to stay at Niva Kuramathi Maldives for the duration of the programme.

For further information and reservations, please call +960 666 01 50 or email: reservations@nivakuramathi.com. For more inspiration visit, www.nivakuramathi.com.

Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives has unveiled Kodhipparu Reef Connection, a new experience-led stay designed around one of the island’s greatest natural treasures–its award-winning house reef, recognised among the Top 10 House Reefs in the Maldives in the 2026 Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific.

Created around the resort’s Reef Pool Villas, the new experience moves beyond the traditional Maldives villa stay by connecting accommodation, marine discovery, wellbeing and dining through one continuous journey inspired by the reef.

Rather than treating snorkelling, yoga and dining as individual resort activities, Kodhipparu Reef Connection follows the natural rhythm of a day on the island. Positioned to face the sunrise, our Reef Pool Villas allow guests to watch the island awaken from their own private deck, with the house reef stretching out before them. Sunrise yoga turns this natural moment into the beginning of the day’s journey — a quiet connection with the ocean before discovering what lies beneath it.

The connection then moves beneath the surface. Through the Blue Mind reef experience, our Marine Biologist introduces guests to her work protecting Kodhipparu’s house reef, the marine life that calls it home, and how the reef changes throughout the day. Guests learn what to look for–and where and when they are most likely to find it–giving them the knowledge to explore the reef independently and see each snorkel through more informed eyes.

As daylight softens, the experience moves above the water with sunset cocktails and chef’s canapés, followed by a signature three-course dinner at FireDoor, Grand Park Kodhipparu’s overwater speciality restaurant.

A reserved glass-floor table provides the setting for the evening, with the resort’s Marine Biologist introducing guests to Life Beneath Your Table and the marine world visible below before dinner begins.

The experience reflects a wider philosophy at Grand Park Kodhipparu: that modern luxury hospitality should be about much more than the room itself.

Raffaele Solferino, General Manager of Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives, said: “A beautiful villa is important, but today it is only the beginning of what guests expect from a resort. What creates lasting memories is everything that happens around and beyond the room–the connection to nature, food, people and a genuine sense of place.”

“Our award-winning house reef is part of the identity of Kodhipparu, so with Reef Connection we wanted to bring it into the whole rhythm of the stay. Guests wake above it, swim through it, learn about it and, at FireDoor, dine above it. It is a perfect example of what I believe hospitality should be about: not simply selling a room, but creating a reason to stay.”

Located just 20 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, Grand Park Kodhipparu offers guests unusually easy access to the underwater world of the Maldives while staying at a boutique luxury resort. Its house reef begins directly off the island, allowing guests to explore vibrant coral gardens and marine life without the need for a separate boat excursion.

Recognised among the Maldives’ leading house reefs by Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, Hong Kong & Macau’s Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2026, the reef is more than an amenity at Kodhipparu. It is part of the character of the island and increasingly central to the resort’s approach to experiences that connect guests more meaningfully with nature and the ocean.

Kodhipparu Reef Connection includes:

• 3-night stay in a Reef Pool Villa
• Complimentary Half Board upgrade
• Daily sunrise and sunset yoga
• Blue Mind reef discovery with a Marine Biologist, introducing the reef, its marine life and ongoing conservation work
• One signature three-course dinner for two at FireDoor
• Reserved glass-floor dining table
• Sunset cocktails and chef’s canapés for two
• Life Beneath Your Table introduction with the Marine Biologist

Guests booking directly also receive additional Park Rewards benefits and savings across selected dining, spa and watersports experiences, together with personalised service from a dedicated Lifestyle Host.

The launch forms part of Grand Park Kodhipparu’s evolving Connected Island Luxury philosophy, which sees luxury not simply through accommodation or traditional five-star conventions, but through meaningful connections to nature, wellbeing, people and place.

With Kodhipparu Reef Connection, that philosophy begins just beyond the villa deck at sunrise and continues through to sunset with the living reef beneath the resort’s signature restaurant.

Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa has confirmed Brazilian freesurfer Victor Bernardo for the 2026 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy, joining Mason Ho in a growing field of world-class athletes.

Returning to Sultans from September 4 to 11, 2026, the invitation-only contest brings six celebrated surfers to the North Malé Atoll to compete across single fin, twin fin and thruster divisions. The format places adaptability, creativity and board knowledge at the centre of the competition, with an overall champion crowned after three distinct eras of surfboard design have been put to the test.

For guests staying at Kuda Huraa, the Trophy offers close access to the competition and the athletes taking part. Sultans is reached within minutes of the resort, while the week extends beyond the heats through post-surf conversations, sunset gatherings and opportunities to experience the wider surf culture of the island.

Bernardo joins the field as one of contemporary surfing’s most accomplished all-round stylists. Known for moving comfortably between alternative boards and high-performance equipment, the 28-year-old has built a global reputation for fluid surfing, technical range and an instinctive understanding of how different boards shape a wave.

Whether threading tubes on a quad, drawing extended lines on a twin fin or producing powerful turns on a modern thruster, Bernardo’s approach makes him particularly suited to the Champions Trophy format.

“I surf different boards every day, and to me it’s the most fun thing in surfing,” said Bernardo. “To be in an event like this has always been my dream. I’m very excited for it.”

Born in Guarujá on Brazil’s São Paulo coastline, Bernardo first paddled out at four years old alongside his family. He spent more than a decade progressing through the professional ranks, winning the Oakley Pro Junior and establishing himself as one of Brazil’s leading competitive prospects.

In recent years, he has become one of surfing’s most respected freesurfers, earning recognition for his style, versatility and willingness to explore a broad range of surfboard designs. That range has made him a natural addition to an event where competitors must continually adjust their technique, equipment and approach. “I love that it’s very selective, and it seems to be an incredible experience,” Bernardo added. “I am honoured and excited.”

His invitation also carries a personal significance beyond the competition. “What I’m most excited about is bringing my mum on her first international trip, enjoying our time together and having fun.”

Held at the world-renowned right-hand break of Sultans, the Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy combines elite competition with the freedom and experimentation of classic surfing. Its compact field, three-board format and island setting have helped distinguish it from conventional professional contests.

First staged in 2011, the Trophy has welcomed athletes including Mark Occhilupo, Taj Burrow, Josh Kerr, Kelly Slater, Joel Parkinson, Michel Bourez, Carissa Moore and Maya Gabeira. The 2025 edition saw Michel Bourez complete a comeback from injury to win the overall title, recording the event’s only perfect 10 along the way. With Bernardo now joining Mason Ho for 2026, the next edition is already taking shape as one of the most unpredictable in the event’s history.

Further competitors will be announced in the coming weeks, with updates shared through surfingchampionstrophy.com and the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa channels.

Where Champions Come to Surf

The Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy brings six invited athletes to Sultans to compete across single fin, twin fin and thruster divisions. Unlike a conventional surf contest, the format rewards the ability to interpret a wave through different boards, techniques and periods of surfing history.

The Garden-Island Base at Kuda Huraa

Located 25 minutes by speedboat from Malé, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa provides direct access to the surf breaks of the North Malé Atoll, supported by more than two decades of collaboration with Tropicsurf. During the Trophy, guests can follow the competition at Sultans, meet leading figures from the surf world and combine event access with coaching, wellness and island experiences.

To reserve a stay during the 2026 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy or enquire about the Surf’s Up package, contact reservations.mal@fourseasons.com or call +960 66 00 888.