Kandima Maldives has brought international sporting talent, creative expression and family-focused entertainment together through its Summer Kamp 2026 programme, strengthening the resort’s reputation for experience-driven holidays and highlighting the Maldives’ growing appeal as a destination offering far more than its world-renowned beaches and natural beauty.
Built around the themes of “Play, Create, Move,” Summer Kamp 2026 has transformed Kandima into a lively island environment where sport, entertainment, art, music and marine experiences come together throughout the holiday. Football emerged as one of the defining elements of this year’s programme, with the excitement surrounding the global football season providing the backdrop for appearances by leading sporting personalities and interactive activities for guests.
Among the major highlights was the arrival of freestyle football world champion Lia Lewis, alongside fellow freestyle football champion Nolan Cacheux. The pair brought their skills directly to Kandima’s beachfront, entertaining guests with an energetic freestyle showcase featuring technical tricks and creative football performances. Their visit went beyond demonstrations, with guests of different ages invited to take part in a hands-on masterclass where they had the opportunity to develop freestyle techniques alongside the internationally recognised athletes.
Portuguese midfielder Paulo Bernardo also joined Kandima’s summer line-up, adding another professional football dimension to the programme. During his stay, Bernardo took part in a friendly football match with resort guests and team members, exchanging passes and sharing the pitch in an informal setting that offered holidaymakers rare direct interaction with a professional player. He also made special appearances around the resort, further contributing to the relaxed and accessible sporting atmosphere created through Summer Kamp.
Much of the football activity centred around PlaySpace, Kandima’s dedicated social hub combining sport, gaming, entertainment and casual gathering spaces. Throughout the summer, the venue became an important meeting point for families, teenagers and active travellers looking to spend time together away from the beach and water. Its atmosphere reached another level during Kandima’s World Cup Watch Party, when PlaySpace became the resort’s central venue for guests sharing their enthusiasm for international football.
The presence of Lewis, Cacheux and Bernardo adds to a growing list of recognised football personalities who have visited Kandima. Italian striker Mario Balotelli visited the island earlier in the year, while the resort has also hosted prominent names including goalkeeper Ederson, currently with Fenerbahçe and formerly of Manchester City, Liverpool players Joe Gomez and Daniel Agger, and former Manchester United defender Wes Brown. The continuing presence of established athletes complements Kandima’s emphasis on active lifestyle experiences and helps distinguish the resort within the highly competitive global luxury and leisure travel market.
Kandima has developed its programming around the idea that a Maldivian holiday can combine relaxation with opportunities to participate, learn and interact. Rather than limiting guest entertainment to conventional resort activities, Summer Kamp has sought to create memorable experiences through direct engagement with visiting athletes, performers and creative professionals. The concept provides additional attractions for families travelling with children and teenagers, while also appealing to active adults and travellers seeking a more energetic island holiday.
Music has also played an important role in Summer Kamp 2026, particularly for younger visitors. Children have been offered music lessons led by the resort’s musical talent, creating opportunities to explore rhythm, expression and performance in an informal holiday environment. The programme adds an educational and creative element to the family experience, providing younger guests with activities that encourage participation while allowing families to share meaningful moments during their stay.
As the sporting programme gives Summer Kamp its energetic character, Kandima’s Art for Biodiversity Exhibition is bringing an environmental and cultural dimension to the resort’s seasonal offering. Developed under Kandima’s long-running KULA Art Initiative and supported by a grant from the United Nations Development Programme, the exhibition connects contemporary creative work with biodiversity conservation, environmental awareness and community participation.
The island-wide Biodiversity Art Trail will remain part of the Kandima experience into early October, allowing guests to discover artworks throughout the resort rather than within the boundaries of a conventional gallery. By integrating creative works into the island environment, Kandima is creating a living exhibition that encourages visitors to engage with themes surrounding the Maldives’ biodiversity, ocean environment and ecological heritage while exploring different areas of the resort.
Austrian interdisciplinary artist Petra Maitz, known for bringing together contemporary art, science and environmental activism, will join the programme for an artist residency from 21 September to 5 October 2026. During her residency, Maitz will conduct talks and crocheted craft workshops and oversee the creation of a collaborative coral artwork incorporating contributions from resort guests, local artists, Kandima team members and the wider community.
The collaborative approach is designed to make visitors active participants rather than simply observers. By bringing international artists together with Maldivian creatives, resort employees and travellers, the initiative aims to use art as a platform for conversations around biodiversity and ocean ecology while demonstrating how tourism experiences can support wider environmental and community objectives.
The exhibition also forms part of a broader effort to connect Maldivian creativity with conservation funding and community support. Through storytelling and artistic interpretation, the initiative seeks to deepen awareness of the country’s marine and terrestrial biodiversity while creating opportunities for creative activities to contribute to positive environmental outcomes.
Beyond its headline football and art events, Kandima maintained an extensive calendar of activities throughout Summer Kamp 2026. Guests could begin their mornings with the Kandima Running Club, take part in tennis activities, or explore diving and a range of water sports with the resort’s Aquaholics team. Together, the programme reflects Kandima’s approach to maintaining an active island environment in which guests can shape their holiday around recreation, creativity, family time and adventure.
Kandima is preparing to carry the momentum of its summer programming into the next travel season through “Oktober Adventures,” which is expected to feature visiting talent from tennis, karting and football. The upcoming programme represents another chapter in the resort’s strategy of introducing rotating experiences and specialist residencies that give returning guests new reasons to visit while broadening its appeal among international travellers.
The expansion of experience-led resort programming also complements the Maldives’ continued development as one of the world’s leading tourism destinations. With resorts increasingly introducing sport, culture, environmental education, family entertainment and creative experiences alongside the country’s established marine and hospitality attractions, the sector continues to diversify the range of experiences available to global travellers. Such initiatives support the Government’s wider efforts to strengthen the competitiveness, resilience and international visibility of the Maldivian tourism industry.
Travellers looking to experience the closing weeks of Kandima’s summer programme can also access the resort’s Flash Sale, which offers discounts of up to 55 percent on room rates for eligible stays during the current summer season or the following summer when reservations are made directly with the resort.
Through Summer Kamp 2026 and its upcoming seasonal programmes, Kandima Maldives is positioning the traditional island holiday within a broader world of sport, creativity, conservation and interactive entertainment. From sharing a football pitch with professional players to contributing to collaborative environmental artworks or exploring the Indian Ocean through water-based activities, the resort’s evolving calendar reflects the increasingly diverse experiences that are helping the Maldives attract families, sports enthusiasts, creative travellers and adventure seekers from around the world.
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