Kandima Maldives is set to give the 2026 festive season a distinctive sporting and entertainment focus, welcoming internationally recognised athletes, entertainers and culinary personalities to its three-kilometre island while offering guests a packed programme of football, tennis, family activities, island challenges, dining experiences and Maldivian cultural showcases.
The active lifestyle resort’s festive programme will run from 20 December 2026 to 7 January 2027, with the main celebrations unfolding across two themed periods. The opening programme from 20–25 December will feature festive dining, family experiences, live entertainment, beach activities, creative workshops and the resort’s annual run, while The Showtime Fairground will take over from 26–31 December with an energetic mix of sport, adventure, performances and interactive experiences.
A major attraction will be the presence of leading women’s football players Lucy Bronze MBE and Ona Batlle between Christmas and New Year. Bronze, an England international and five-time UEFA Women’s Champions League winner, and Spanish international Batlle will share their experience with guests through family-friendly beach games and a festive penalty shootout, offering visitors a rare opportunity to engage with elite players ahead of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The sporting programme will also feature British football family The Wingroves, who will host a large-scale family adventure game on 15 December. Former professional tennis player Dustin Brown will lead daily tennis clinics, individual coaching sessions and the Dustin Brown Festive Cup from 17–27 December, further strengthening Kandima’s positioning as a destination where active holidays and premium resort experiences come together.
Entertainment throughout the season will include appearances by DJ Giulia Siegel, culinary experiences presented by Chef Ludwig Heer and performances by magician Mr Marvel from 23–26 December. Guests will also be able to participate in beach Olympics, Fast Track e-go-kart racing, the KULA Fun Run, a mini-island tri-challenge, football, watersports, art workshops and a range of family activities. Kandiland will offer workshops, scavenger hunts and themed entertainment, while PlaySpace will feature bowling, arcade games, escape rooms and karaoke.
Kandima will also place Maldivian culture and creativity at the centre of the programme through the KULA Art Festival, featuring local artists and craftspeople working across digital art, coffee art, acrylic, henna, spray painting and traditional crafts. The programme will be complemented by Maldivian food, artisan markets and local performances. The KULA Art Initiative operates a dedicated non-profit fund supporting local creatives and community projects and recently hosted its first UNDP BIOFIN-backed Art for Biodiversity Exhibition at the resort.
The celebrations will culminate on New Year’s Eve with The Showtime Fairground Grand Finale, bringing together live entertainment, percussion, performances by DC2 Entertainment and a major fireworks display on Smoked Beach. Activities will continue into 2027 with the Kandima Running Club’s first run of the year, a Fast Track Grand Prix, island challenges and Maldivian performances.
The programme comes as demand for overseas festive holidays continues to grow among British and Irish travellers, with Thomas Cook reporting a 20 percent year-on-year increase in international holiday bookings during the previous festive season. Kandima is positioning its offering as an energetic alternative for travellers seeking warm-weather holidays combining leisure, sport, entertainment and authentic Maldivian experiences.
Kandima Maldives is offering up to 45 percent off direct room rates for stays between 24 December and 10 January, providing international travellers with an additional incentive to experience the Maldives during one of the country’s busiest holiday periods. The programme further supports the Maldives’ broader tourism appeal by showcasing the diversity of experiences available across the destination, from world-class hospitality and sporting activities to local culture, arts and community engagement.
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