The Maldives will take centre stage on MasterChef Sri Lanka on 5 October 2026, with a special destination episode airing at 10:00 pm on TVM. Filmed in the Maldives, the episode brings the country’s cuisine, culture and hospitality to audiences through one of the world’s most recognised culinary television formats, presenting a fresh perspective on the destination through food and the people behind it.
The exclusive episode was delivered through a collaboration between Maldives Holiday Collections, part of MHC Group, and Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) as Official Destination Partner. The partnership brought the programme’s judges, host and contestants to the Maldives for a culinary challenge against an island backdrop, combining the appeal of competitive cooking with an opportunity to showcase Maldivian flavours and hospitality.
At the heart of the episode is a destination story that extends beyond the Maldives’ internationally recognised beaches and marine environment. Maldivian ingredients, culinary traditions and welcoming hospitality feature alongside the competition, introducing regional viewers to experiences that connect food with local culture. The production offers a platform to broaden perceptions of the Maldives and strengthen interest in the country’s culinary identity.
VMC supported the production as part of its efforts to diversify destination storytelling and reach international audiences through influential content and entertainment platforms. By engaging viewers through a familiar television format, the collaboration creates an opportunity to present Maldivian culture in a setting that combines entertainment, discovery and destination promotion.
Abdulla Yasir, CEO and Managing Director of Visit Maldives Corporation, highlighted the importance of cuisine as another way to communicate the destination’s appeal. “The Maldives is recognised around the world for its islands, ocean and exceptional hospitality, but our food and culinary heritage offer another powerful way to tell the story of our destination,” he said. Yasir added that MasterChef provides an exciting platform to introduce Maldivian flavours, culture and the people behind them to a wider regional audience through a format viewers already recognise and connect with. He expressed anticipation for audiences to discover another side of the Maldives when the episode airs on 5 October.
Delivering the episode required the MasterChef experience to be recreated in an outdoor island setting. The full contingent of judges, host, contestants, production crew and technical teams travelled to the Maldives, accompanied by the equipment needed for filming. The undertaking brought together television production requirements, hospitality services and substantial logistical coordination.
Maldives Holiday Collections managed the on-ground production arrangements, including international travel, accommodation, transportation and equipment logistics. Its responsibilities also included constructing individual cooking stations and kitchen decks at the filming location, creating the facilities needed to deliver the culinary challenge within the island environment.
VMC worked with relevant government institutions to facilitate filming approvals, visa arrangements and administrative clearances, while coordinating with the production team throughout preparations and filming. This cooperation demonstrates the contribution of government facilitation and local industry expertise to hosting international creative projects.
Ahmed Shaushaan Shafeeq, Managing Director of Maldives Holiday Collections, emphasised the extensive work behind the televised experience. He explained that the production involved months of coordination covering logistics, customs clearances, transportation, accommodation, equipment movements, construction and continuous problem-solving. Some requirements were unfamiliar to the team, making their response particularly significant. “What viewers eventually see on screen is only a small part of what it takes to make a production of this scale happen,” he said, adding that the team’s ability to respond to the challenges impressed him most.
The collaboration also highlights the potential of culinary experiences to strengthen destination promotion. Alongside the Maldives’ established appeal in luxury, nature and marine tourism, food offers a further connection to its culture, communities and hospitality. A culinary television format can bring these elements together in an accessible way, encouraging audiences to consider a broader range of experiences when discovering the destination.
Hifnaz Jiffrey, Group CEO of MHC Group, described food as a global language and the production as an opportunity to showcase Maldivian cuisine, people, hospitality and the ability to deliver world-class experiences. He also highlighted the value of regional collaboration, explaining that Sri Lanka and the Maldives need not be viewed solely as separate markets. “When Sri Lankan creativity and talent come together with Maldivian hospitality and destination expertise, we can create something neither country could create alone,” he said.
MasterChef Sri Lanka is produced by Reality TV Sri Lanka, the franchise owner of the MasterChef format in Sri Lanka. Its production and culinary teams led the creative delivery of the special episode, working alongside the destination and event partners.
The Maldives production received support from Nestlé Professional, Maggi Professional, Nescafé, Milo and Lily International as Official Food & Beverage Partners. VMC participated as Official Destination Partner, while Maldives Holiday Collections served as Exclusive Event Partner.
CROSSROADS Maldives, The Marina, SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives and SO/ Maldives supported the production as Official Hospitality Partners. Their participation placed the hospitality sector at the centre of the collaboration, connecting the destination’s accommodation and visitor services with the practical demands of an international television production. The partnership also provided an opportunity to present hospitality as an integral part of the Maldives’ culinary and cultural appeal.
Additional support came from Flora as Official Hygiene Products Partner, Public Service Media (PSM) as Official Broadcast Partner and United Food Suppliers as Frozen Partner. Associate Partners included Redstar, Nautigo, Gloria Jean’s Coffees, Swift Logistics, Footrest Salon & Aesthetics, Nihon Bashi, Carne Diem Grill by Dharshan and Ministry of Crab.
The production demonstrates how coordinated public and private sector support can enable the Maldives to host international television projects while bringing its stories to new audiences. For VMC, the collaboration supports a more varied destination narrative, highlighting the food, people, culture and experiences that complement the country’s globally recognised tourism offering. Viewers can watch the special Maldives episode of MasterChef Sri Lanka on TVM at 10:00 pm on 5 October 2026.
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