Six Senses Laamu and the Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI) are set to bring the Laamafaru Festival back to Laamu Atoll on Saturday, 5 September 2026, marking the return of one of the region’s most prominent community-focused marine conservation events after a three-year hiatus. The seventh edition of the festival will be held at Hamad Bin Khaleefa Al Thani School in L. Gan under the theme “Protecting Our Oceans Together”, with residents, students, conservation groups and visitors invited to participate in a full day dedicated to environmental awareness, education, creativity and community engagement.
The return of the festival further strengthens Six Senses Laamu’s long-standing involvement in marine conservation and community outreach in the southern Maldives. Located in the naturally rich Laamu Atoll, the resort has developed a strong sustainability identity through its collaboration with the Maldives Underwater Initiative, bringing together marine scientists, conservation specialists, educators and local communities to support the protection and understanding of the surrounding ocean environment. Through research, education and partnerships, the initiative has helped place greater attention on the ecological importance of Laamu Atoll and the need to ensure that its marine resources remain healthy for future generations.
Laamu Atoll is home to some of the Maldives’ most valuable marine and coastal ecosystems, including coral reefs, extensive seagrass meadows, mangrove forests and a wide range of marine species. These ecosystems are closely connected to the daily lives of island communities, supporting livelihoods, fisheries, food security, tourism and the natural resilience of the islands. Their protection therefore carries both environmental and economic importance, particularly for an island nation whose development and prosperity remain closely linked to the health of its oceans.
The Laamafaru Festival has been developed around this shared responsibility, creating a platform where communities can learn more about the natural environment while participating in practical, cultural and creative activities. The event was first introduced in 2016 as the Laamu Turtle Festival before gradually expanding its focus beyond sea turtles to encompass coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves and the wider marine environment. Since its inception, the initiative has engaged more than 43,900 people through physical participation and digital outreach campaigns and has reached 12 schools across Laamu Atoll.
The 2026 edition will bring together participants from all 11 inhabited islands of Laamu Atoll, reflecting the festival’s role as an increasingly inclusive platform for island communities. By bringing people from across the atoll into one location, the event is expected to encourage greater exchange of knowledge and ideas while strengthening community participation in protecting the natural resources on which the region depends.
Marine conservation exhibitions prepared by the Maldives Underwater Initiative research team will form a central part of the festival programme. The exhibitions will present information about the ecosystems surrounding Laamu in an accessible format, allowing participants to learn directly about marine habitats, species and conservation efforts being undertaken in the atoll. Educational games, interactive activities and presentations from environmental organisations will further provide opportunities for children, families and adults to engage directly with scientists, conservationists and community advocates.
Six Senses Laamu’s involvement gives the festival a strong connection between the tourism sector and local environmental stewardship. As one of the leading resorts operating in Laamu Atoll, the property has incorporated conservation, scientific research and community participation into its broader sustainability approach. The Maldives Underwater Initiative, based at Six Senses Laamu, has become an important platform for research and awareness programmes covering areas including marine ecosystems, biodiversity and environmental protection, helping demonstrate how resort operations can work alongside local communities and conservation organisations to support national sustainability priorities.
Creativity will also feature prominently throughout the festival. The Moodhuge Vaahaka poster competition will encourage participants to communicate stories about the ocean through visual art, while the Trash to Treasure sculpture competition will challenge communities to creatively repurpose discarded materials. A photography competition, open to Maldivians across the country, will provide another opportunity to showcase everyday life in the Maldives through the perspectives of local photographers.
Participants from across the atoll will also contribute to a live mural that will develop throughout the festival, eventually forming a collaborative artwork representing the people and communities involved. A reef rally featuring costumes created from recycled materials will add further colour to the programme while reinforcing messages surrounding responsible resource use, waste awareness and marine protection.
Traditional cultural performances will complement the conservation-focused programme, connecting environmental awareness with the cultural identity of Laamu communities. Boduberu performances and Laamu Sagaafee Hunaru will be among the cultural activities featured as the festival concludes, highlighting the connection between community heritage, island life and the surrounding marine environment.
This year’s Guest of Honor will be Aminath Zuna, a Maldivian competitive swimmer, educator and ocean advocate. Her participation is expected to further strengthen the festival’s message of encouraging younger generations to build a deeper relationship with the ocean and become actively involved in protecting the country’s marine environment.
A broad group of conservation organisations will also participate in the event, reflecting growing collaboration across the Maldives’ environmental sector. Participating organisations include the Maldives Ocean Plastic Alliance, Parley Maldives, Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme, Atoll Marine Centre, Miyaru, Spot On, Soneva Conservation and Sustainability Maldives and the Maldives Heritage Society. Their participation will provide attendees with exposure to different areas of conservation work being carried out across the country.
Food and local vendor stalls will operate throughout the festival, providing opportunities for communities and small businesses from across Laamu Atoll to showcase traditional food, handmade crafts and locally produced goods. This community marketplace component is expected to add an economic and social dimension to the event, allowing local entrepreneurs and producers to engage directly with a wider audience.
The revival of the Laamafaru Festival comes as the Maldives continues to place increasing importance on protecting its marine environment while supporting sustainable economic development. The Government has continued to promote environmental conservation, climate resilience and sustainable tourism as important components of national development, while collaborations involving resorts, island communities, researchers and civil society organisations are contributing to these broader objectives.
For Six Senses Laamu, the festival represents an extension of its broader commitment to ensuring that tourism development contributes positively to the destination in which it operates. By combining scientific expertise, environmental education and community participation, the resort and the Maldives Underwater Initiative are helping create greater awareness of the value of Laamu Atoll’s natural environment while encouraging practical involvement in its protection.
The return of Laamafaru after three years is expected to renew one of Laamu Atoll’s most established conservation traditions and provide a shared platform for residents, young people, environmental organisations and tourism stakeholders. With all 11 inhabited islands represented, the 2026 festival will celebrate not only the exceptional marine environment of Laamu but also the collective responsibility of communities, institutions and businesses in ensuring that these natural resources continue to support the Maldives for generations to come.
advertisment
advertisment
