Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts is set to welcome guests to a festive season shaped by discovery, creativity, tradition and togetherness, with distinctive year-end experiences unfolding across Atmosphere Kanifushi, VARU by Atmosphere and RAAYA by Atmosphere.

Bringing together Maldivian heritage, immersive experiences, culinary celebrations, wellness and uniquely designed entertainment, the festive lineups invite guests to experience the season through the individual character of each island.

At Atmosphere Kanifushi, the festive season unfolds as Kanifushi Odyssey, from 21 December 2026 to 7 January 2027, with a journey through themed island celebrations. Guests can step into Pirates Under the Stars, welcome Santa by the sea on Christmas Eve and experience the enchanting atmosphere of Christmas in Neon Tides on Christmas Day. The programme also celebrates the island’s cultural spirit through The Spirit of Kanifushi, alongside themed culinary evenings such as Kanifushi Trattoria and World Kitchen. The festivities culminate in The Crown of Midnight, a spectacular New Year’s Eve gala marking the beginning of a new year in unforgettable island style.

At RAAYA by Atmosphere, Wonka Winter Wonderland runs from 23 December 2026 to 7 January 2027, bringing a playful, imaginative twist to the festive season with chocolate-inspired experiences, creative activities and celebrations for all ages. Highlights include the Wonka Winterland Glow-in-the-Dark Party, a Christmas morning featuring chocolate carving and Santa’s arrival, and a traditional Maldivian dinner accompanied by Bodu Beru. For New Year’s Eve, the island transforms into a Masquerade celebration, where distinctive dining and captivating entertainment set the scene for a memorable countdown.

At VARU by Atmosphere, the festive programme, from 22 December 2026 to 7 January 2027, rooted in the spirit of the Maldives celebrates Colour of Lights – A Luminous Island Journey weaving local tropical island character into the celebrations. Guests can savour Maldivian high tea and treats prepared at live sweets stations, enjoy festive cinema beneath the stars and join the VARU family for Christmas carols. These island-inspired experiences lead into the Festive Christmas Eve Gala, bringing guests together through local traditions, warm hospitality and the naturally Maldivian character of VARU.

Beyond the major celebrations, the festive calendars across Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts feature a variety of experiences, with most activities included in the Holiday Plan. Designed to let guests experience the islands at their own pace, these include wellness and rejuvenation, marine exploration, creative workshops, family activities, culinary discoveries and evenings beneath the Maldivian sky.

Together, the three resorts offer distinctly unique interpretations of the festive season, united by a shared approach to hospitality: creating meaningful experiences that guests can discover, enjoy and remember long after their island stay.

Discover your next Maldivian escape and explore the festive calendars on the Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts website.

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Maldives has won three awards at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2026, with Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives and Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives receiving recognition across three categories.

Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives secured Gold in the Leading Surf Resort category for the eighth time and fourth consecutive year, while Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives retained Gold in the Leading Beach Resort category for the second consecutive year. Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives also received Silver in the Nishan Seneviratne Best CSR Programme category.

The 10th edition of SATA was held at Barceló Nasandhura Malé on 8 October 2026, recognising achievements across South Asia’s tourism and hospitality industry, including guest experiences, industry leadership and responsible tourism.

Located in North Malé Atoll, Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives is home to the Pasta Point surf break, which attracts surfers from around the world. The resort’s eighth Gold award in the Leading Surf Resort category reflects its position among the Maldives’ surfing destinations. In addition to surfing, the resort offers water sports, wellness activities and other guest experiences.

“We remain committed to delivering memorable surf experiences and holidays in the Maldives,” said Marlon Robert, General Manager of Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives.

Robert also acknowledged the continued support of guests, the international surfing community and the resort team in securing the recognition.

Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives received its second consecutive Gold award as Leading Beach Resort in recognition of its island setting, which features sandy beaches, a lagoon and a selection of beachfront and overwater accommodation. The resort also offers dining, wellness and recreational activities, providing guests with opportunities to explore the surrounding marine environment.

The resort’s Silver award in the Nishan Seneviratne Best CSR Programme category recognised its efforts to provide dive education and career development opportunities for young people from neighbouring island communities.

Implemented in partnership with Dive & Sail, the resort’s PADI-certified dive centre, the six-day programme enabled nine students aged between 16 and 18 from schools in Keyodhoo and Felidhoo to obtain PADI Open Water Diver certification.

The programme combined theoretical lessons, practical training and supervised dives to promote safe diving practices and reef conservation. It also introduced participants to potential career opportunities in marine tourism.

“These accolades reflect the dedication of our teams and the continued support of our guests, whose trust inspires us to keep raising the standard of our experiences,” said Sanjeeva Perera, Area General Manager, Cinnamon Maldives Resorts.

The three awards recognise the tourism experiences offered by Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives and Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives, as well as Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts’ initiatives in environmental awareness and community engagement across its Maldives properties.

Global fragrance brand KAYALI, founded by beauty entrepreneur Mona Kattan, selected Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa as the destination for its first-ever global brand trip, bringing together international content creators, influencers and media representatives for an experience combining fragrance, wellness and Maldivian island hospitality.

Held in September 2026, the event, titled KAYALI Island Spraycation, marked a milestone in the brand’s international engagement strategy. The programme featured two exclusive trips designed for its influencer and media communities, providing participants with opportunities to experience the brand’s fragrances alongside the resort’s accommodation, wellness facilities and marine excursions.

The Maldives was selected because of Kattan’s personal connection with the destination, which she has frequently described as one of her favourite places. Her experiences in the country have also influenced KAYALI’s fragrance development, including its Vacay in a Bottle collection, which draws inspiration from travel and destinations.

Located in North Malé Atoll, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa provided the setting for several brand activations, with villas, wellness experiences and guest activities incorporating KAYALI’s fragrances and visual identity.

Upon arrival, participants were welcomed with personalised amenities, fragrance collections and branded gifts. Guest accommodation featured KAYALI products, robes and sleep accessories, while the resort’s hospitality team collaborated on themed turndown experiences and personalised arrangements.

One of the programme’s highlights was a wellness experience at ŪRJĀ Naturopathy Island, the resort’s dedicated wellness sanctuary. Inspired by KAYALI’s Yum Lip & Body Collection, the House of Yum: Layer With Love experience introduced participants to body care and fragrance layering through treatments and product demonstrations.

The itinerary also included the KAYALI Scent Lab, an interactive session exploring fragrance ingredients, formulation and the Middle Eastern tradition of combining different scents.

Kara Davis, the brand’s Vice President of Global Marketing, and Robert Nasser Sabet, Director of Global Sales and Education, guided participants through the development of KAYALI fragrances and the techniques used to combine different scent profiles.

Participants were introduced to fragrances from the brand’s portfolio, including Vanilla | 28, Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar | 42 and Yum Boujee Marshmallow | 81. They also received an exclusive preview of an unreleased KAYALI fragrance ahead of its planned October 2026 launch.

Beyond the fragrance sessions, the programme incorporated resort dining, themed entertainment and ocean experiences. A KAYALI movie night, inspired by the brand’s Boujee Kitty Caramel Milk fragrance, brought participants together for an evening of entertainment and personalised hospitality.

Guests also joined a dolphin-watching excursion aboard the Perfume Princess yacht, providing an opportunity to experience the marine environment surrounding the resort. The programme concluded with a farewell dinner that brought together participants from different international markets.

The trip followed previous KAYALI destination-based activations, including a visit to Cappadocia, Türkiye, associated with the launch of its Freedom fragrance collection in late 2025. However, the Maldives event represented the brand’s first global trip bringing together its international creator and media communities.

Founded in 2018, KAYALI has developed an international following through its fragrance collections and emphasis on scent layering. The Maldives trip formed part of its efforts to engage content creators and media through experiences that extend beyond traditional product launches.

For Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, the collaboration demonstrated the property’s capacity to accommodate international luxury brand events requiring customised accommodation, wellness programmes, dining and recreational activities.

The event also highlighted the Maldives’ potential as a destination for global beauty, fashion and lifestyle brand activations, where international brands can combine product storytelling with resort hospitality and destination experiences.