This festive season, come together beneath the Maldivian sun and stars for Christmas traditions, island adventures and a luminous welcome to 2027.
This festive season, Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives invites guests to come together beneath the Maldivian sun and stars with Season of Light, a festive journey unfolding from 23 December 2026 to 7 January 2027.
Inspired by the warmth of the season and the natural beauty of light in the Maldives, the programme is centred around the moments that make this time of year meaningful: shared celebrations, unhurried time with loved ones, new experiences and memories made together. From Christmas traditions and festive dining to days spent on the ocean, family adventures and a sparkling welcome to the New Year, guests are invited to experience the season at their own pace.
Season of Light arrives at the close of a milestone year for Kuda Villingili, with the resort recognised in the MICHELIN Guide 2026 Hotel Selection. The recognition reflects the resort’s distinctive sense of place, thoughtful design, quality of service and connection to its Maldivian surroundings — qualities that continue through the festive season, where each experience is designed to bring guests closer to the island and to one another.
Gastronomy takes centre stage throughout Season of Light, following a year of international recognition for Kuda Villingili’s culinary offering. Named Best Gastronomic Retreat in the Maldives at the Global Destination Awards 2026, the resort also celebrates its third consecutive year of Wine Spectator recognition, with Mar-Umi receiving the 2026 Award of Excellence.
Across the festive season, guests can experience this passion for food and wine through Nikkei Nights at Mar-Umi, barbecue evenings, Steak & Wine Night, the intimate WINE-DOWN Wednesday seafood dinner, and A Journey Through India & Arabia at Spice. From thoughtfully curated wine pairings to evenings shaped around live music and shared tables, the programme brings together the resort’s diverse culinary experiences and celebrated wine collection.
The celebrations begin on 23 December as the island comes aglow with the Tree Lighting Ceremony and Festive Carols, setting the tone for the days ahead. Christmas Eve brings sunset cocktails at Raalhu Bar before an elegant Christmas Eve Gala Dinner at The Restaurant, with festive flavours and live entertainment carrying the celebrations into the evening. On Christmas morning, younger guests can look forward to a little island magic as Santa makes his much-awaited arrival on the beach.
Beyond the season’s main celebrations, island days are filled with opportunities to experience the Maldives from a different perspective. Guests can start the morning with Ocean Breeze Yoga over the water, head out in search of marine life on Echoes of the Reef and dolphin voyages, or discover the underwater world through snorkelling, scuba diving and wreck dives. Sunset brings its own rhythm, from Golden Hour Glide and secluded sandbank escapes to fishing beneath the stars, while Fun Ride Fest and the Water Scooter experience add a playful dose of adventure throughout the festive season.
Families have their own festive world to discover at Kuda Fiyo Kids Club, with a programme designed around creativity, play and shared discovery. Across the season, children can take part in festive arts and crafts, culinary workshops, treasure hunts, beach games, science activities, themed challenges and special Christmas and New Year moments. A team of children’s animators will also be on the island, bringing an additional programme of interactive games, creative sessions and entertainment for young guests and families throughout the festivities.
On 27 December, the celebrations spill poolside for the Season of Light Pool Party, bringing together music, tropical sunshine and a relaxed afternoon atmosphere around Kuda Villingili’s 150-metre pool.
The season reaches its crescendo on New Year’s Eve, beginning with cocktails and live music at Hawkers before the Season of Light: New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner at The Restaurant. Guests are invited to dress in white for a radiant final evening of 2026, accompanied by live entertainment before gathering on The Restaurant Beach for the Countdown to 2027 beneath the Maldivian night sky.
As the first light of 2027 reaches the island, celebrations continue with First Light Breakfast at The Restaurant, where guests can welcome the year over a leisurely breakfast and sparkling wine. The festive journey then continues into January with more time for ocean adventures, wellness, dining and relaxed island days before Season of Light draws to a close on 7 January.
“Season of Light is ultimately about giving our guests time to be together and the freedom to celebrate in a way that feels meaningful to them,” says Deepa Manuel, General Manager of Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives. “Whether that is gathering around the table, discovering the ocean, watching children experience the magic of Christmas or simply slowing down with the people they love, we hope the season becomes part of the memories they take home from Kuda Villingili.”
Located in North Malé Atoll, just 30 minutes by luxury speedboat from Velana International Airport, Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives is home to 75 spacious villas and residences, all with private pools, eight distinctive restaurants, an overwater spa, a 150-metre pool, Kuda Fiyo Kids Club and extensive sports, recreation, watersports and diving experiences. With space for couples, families, friends and multi-generational travellers to shape each day around what matters most to them, the five star luxury resort in Maldives continues to bring its philosophy of Time and Space Redefined to life.