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.

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, invites guests to celebrate Mid-Autumn as it unfolds into Halloween with Rise of the Phoenix, a week-long island celebration from October 26 to November 1, 2026.

Inspired by the mythical Phoenix and its journey of transformation, resilience, and renewal, the resort reimagines Halloween through the colours and natural beauty of the Maldives. Phoenix feathers emerge through tropical greens evolving into warm autumn colours, setting the scene for a programme of family discovery, gastronomy, creativity, wellness, and ocean experiences. Born from fire, the Phoenix becomes the thread connecting the week, as feathers, flames, and nature transform the island into a world of imagination.

Halloween Science and Discovery with TheDadLab

At the heart of the family programme, Sergei Urban, visionary creator of TheDadLab, returns to the resort for an exclusive Halloween residency. Known for turning science into playful, hands-on discovery, Sergei will bring the spirit of the Phoenix to life for young guests through a series of interactive experiments at Ritz Kids.

From October 28 to 31, a different laboratory opens each afternoon, from the Candy Lab, exploring the science behind favourite Halloween sweets, to the Haunted Lab, transforming science into a friendly graveyard of ghosts, wiggly worms, and spooky surprises. Designed for children ages 4 to 12, the experiences invite families to discover Halloween through curiosity, imagination, and learning through play.

Beyond TheDadLab, younger guests follow the Phoenix across the island through a rich calendar of family experiences, from floral pumpkin carving and mystery treats to creative workshops and the long-awaited Phoenix Gala Fashion Show.

Three-Michelin-Starred Excellence Arrives in the Maldives

The island’s culinary scene rises alongside the Phoenix with the arrival of Chef Jean-Philippe Blondet of the three-Michelin-starred Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester in London. For two exclusive evenings, the acclaimed chef brings his contemporary French haute cuisine to the Maldives, defined by distinctive flavours, exceptional ingredients, and unexpected twists.

On October 28, The Art of Savoir-Faire takes over La Locanda for an intimate Michelin Table by Chef Blondet, presenting his signature cuisine through a refined set menu inspired by the culinary philosophy that has earned Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester three Michelin stars. The following evening, A Dialogue of Flavours unfolds at Summer Pavilion, the resort’s four-star Forbes Travel Guide-rated Cantonese restaurant, where Chef Blondet joins Chef David for an exclusive four-hands dinner.

French refinement meets Cantonese artistry through a collaborative menu and interactive culinary moments, creating a dialogue between two distinctive culinary expressions in the lantern-inspired ambiance of the overwater restaurant.

The Rise of the Phoenix

Across the week, guests are invited to join a collection of experiences inspired by movement, nature, creativity and renewal. They can explore the island’s underwater world through coral planting, reef discovery, and snorkelling; reconnect through restorative yoga and spa rituals; or embrace creativity through seasonal workshops. The celebration culminates on October 31, when guests gather at Recreation Beach for the Phoenix Carnival, bringing together festive flavours and live entertainment in a vibrant finale. Against the Maldivian night sky, the Phoenix finally rises, completing its journey from embers to rebirth and marking a new beginning for the season.

For more information, visit ritzcarlton.com/Maldives.

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 Atmosphere 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.