Gleaming Islands is the Maldives’ destination-wide festive season for 2025–2026, a weekslong celebration of sunlit decadence and island tradition running from December 20, 2025 to January 10, 2026. It spans the country’s flagship resorts and atolls with tree-lighting ceremonies, chef residencies, beach galas, coral-themed installations, kids’ academies, wellness rituals, stargazing, and midnight countdowns over the lagoon. The official Visit Maldives event calendar sets the umbrella dates and positions Gleaming Islands as the peak period for international arrivals, while resort programs layer in signature touches from North Malé to Baa, Ari, Lhaviyani and beyond.
Dates, scope, and what to expect
- Dates and reach: Gleaming Islands runs December 20, 2025 through January 10, 2026, covering Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Orthodox Christmas, and the first days of the New Year across multiple atolls. The national events hub highlights it as the season’s marquee window.
- Countrywide programming: Resorts synchronize festive calendars under this banner, offering gala dinners, family brunches, beach cinema, live music, fashion-forward soirées, and reef adventures that showcase the Maldives’ high season.
Signature experiences across the islands
- Tree lightings and Santa arrivals: From the third week of December, islands host twilight ceremonies with carols and cocoa for families, followed by kids’ gingerbread workshops and North Pole cameos on the sand. Resorts publish exact dates in their festive guides.
- Christmas feasts and brunches: Christmas Eve brings gala dinners on the beach and overwater decks; Christmas Day often features poolside brunches with seasonal menus, kids’ clubs in full swing, and house-reef snorkels timed for calm seas.
New Year’s Eve on the water
- Island-wide countdowns: December 31 is the crescendo, with champagne receptions, live bands and DJs, curated gala dinners, and fireworks or drone shows reflecting across lagoons. Properties promote signature themes and post-midnight parties.
- New Year’s Day reset: January 1 shifts to beachside brunches, recovery spa rituals, and gentle ocean time, followed by a flavor-led week of chef’s tables and regional showcases leading to Orthodox Christmas.
Examples of 2025–26 resort lineups
- Jumeirah Olhahali Island: “A Season by the Sea” runs Dec 18, 2025 to Jan 7, 2026, opening with a tree lighting and gingerbread workshops; activities include sunrise yoga, Ocean Wonders snorkels, Dolphin Quest cruises, and themed dining such as Oyster & Caviar, Maldivian Sharing Beach Dinner, and a New Year’s Eve soirée plus Gala Dinner at Glow. A New Year’s Day beach brunch and a flavor-led week follow.
- JOALI and JOALI BEING: Festive guides detail Christmas Eve dinners, Christmas picnics, greeting hours, and a New Year’s Eve celebration with live music and culinary showcases, consistent with their art- and wellbeing-led approach.
- Marriott Bonvoy portfolio: Brands like JW Marriott and W Maldives market festive packages with dining inclusions, resort credits, spa add-ons, kids’ programs, and reef-forward adventures, valid mid-December through early January.
Why “Gleaming Islands” matters
- Peak-season magnet: The umbrella period coincides with the Maldives’ most reliable weather and visitor peak; the national calendar aggregates the timeframe so travelers can plan across brands and atolls with confidence.
- One season, many styles: From fashion-centric programs to wellness-first retreats and marine discovery weeks, Gleaming Islands invites guests to choose the festive personality that fits, while sharing a common canvas of starlit beaches and lagoon horizons.
Travel planning tips
- Book early, bundle smart: With a finite villa inventory, lock flights and villas months ahead; festive packages typically include gala dinners on Dec 24 and Dec 31, breakfast upgrades, and activity credits—review inclusions and compulsory supplements.
- Transfers and timing: Speedboat-accessible islands in North/South Malé simplify short stays and late arrivals; seaplane resorts require daylight transfers—plan international flights to meet seaplane windows.
- Family-first choices: Look for kids’ academies and larger kids’ clubs; many resorts publish 100+ activity slates for under-12s during this period, with teens’ SUP clinics, drone workshops, and night snorkels.
Ocean and wellness highlights
- Reef rituals: Guided Christmas-morning snorkels, manta and dolphin cruises, and coral-planting on holiday “trees” blend celebration with stewardship—signature of several high-end resort programs.
- Spa and movement: Expect sunrise yoga, water’s-edge Pilates, ice-bath or breathwork pop-ins, and “recover and renew” January 1 treatments; wellness brands curate multi-day reset pathways through the first week of January.
Dining and themes
- Global flavors, local soul: Omakase pop-ups, Nikkei chef’s tables, Maldivian sharing feasts, caviar and oyster pairings, and Indian and Levantine nights appear across lineups, often rotating venues from sandbank to rooftop deck.
- Style notes: Some islands infuse runway energy into the holidays, with fashion capsules and glam soirées; others lean into barefoot chic and live acoustic evenings. Program examples reveal both paths flourishing.
A sample week during Gleaming Islands (Dec 27–Jan 2)
- Day 1–2: Reef mornings and spa afternoons; sunset tree-lighting or carols; dinner by lanterns on the sand.
- Day 3: Chef’s table; stargazing and cinema under the palms.
- Dec 31: Champagne prelude, gala dinner, live music, lagoon fireworks; barefoot dancing past midnight.
- Jan 1: Beachside brunch; breathwork and ocean float; gentle catamaran sail.
- Jan 2: Flavor-led experiences—Nikkei tasting at Kayto or a regional Indian showcase—plus a dolphin quest at golden hour.
Practicalities and etiquette
- Compulsory dinners: Most luxury resorts levy compulsory supplements for Dec 24 and Dec 31 gala nights; verify prices per adult/child and whether beverages are included.
- Marine respect: Use reef-safe sunscreen, practice no-touch snorkelling, and follow guide instructions on manta and shark cruises to keep wildlife safe.
- Photo-friendly moments: Golden hour before dinner and post-fireworks reflections on lagoons create signature images; bring low-light settings or a fast lens.
Choosing the right island
- Close to Malé: Jumeirah Olhahali and other North Malé properties are ideal for short festive getaways with speedboat transfers.
- Art and wellbeing: JOALI and JOALI BEING layers art immersion and mind-body rituals onto festive classics, perfect for creative or reset-focused stays.
- Playful reefs: W Maldives and similar house-reef leaders offer high-energy calendars paired with iconic snorkelling steps from the villa.
Verified essentials at a glance
- Name: Gleaming Islands — Maldives Festive Season 2025/26 umbrella period.
- Dates: December 20, 2025 to January 10, 2026.
- What happens: Tree lightings, Santa arrivals, Christmas Eve galas, Christmas brunches, coral-planting and reef snorkels, New Year’s Eve galas with fireworks, New Year’s Day brunches, and a flavor-led first week of January.
- Notable examples: Jumeirah Olhahali’s “A Season by the Sea” (Dec 18–Jan 7), JOALI/JOALI BEING festive arcs, Marriott brand packages spanning mid-Dec to Jan 10.
Pick the style—barefoot chic, art immersive, reef-forward, or wellness-led—and reserve early for the island that fits. With official dates set and programs rolling out, the Maldives’ Gleaming Islands season promises sunlit days, lantern-lit nights, and a magical turn of the year—book the villa, secure gala seats, and let the lagoons lead the countdown.
