Maldives events in December are mostly festive programs at individual resorts: tree lightings, gala dinners, beach parties and wellness residencies that start in the second half of the month and run into early January. Here is what resorts have published for December 2026, with the dates as announced. Most of these are guest programs rather than public events, and several carry supplements, so confirm the details with the resort before you book. Dates that spill into the new year are covered on our Maldives events in January page.
December 1–7 — Michelin Master Series, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island hosts Gabriela Filca, one of Europe’s young Michelin-starred chefs, for a week of dining experiences across its islands in South Ari Atoll. No price is published for the series, so ask the resort directly. The transfer is separate and compulsory: a 30-minute seaplane costs US$700 return per adult (children under 12 pay half), and seaplanes operate daily from 6:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
December 7–9 — Satan’s Whiskers at The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
The London cocktail bar Satan’s Whiskers takes over the Whale Bar at The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort in Dhaalu Atoll: a complimentary gin and martini class on December 7 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., then bar takeover evenings on December 8 and 9 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The resort is about 45 minutes from Velana by seaplane.
December 13 – January 9 — Silk Road Festive Programme, Vakkaru
Vakkaru Maldives in Baa Atoll runs a Silk Road-themed program. The tree lighting with boduberu drumming and family activities takes place on Vakku Beach on December 17. On Christmas Eve the resort offers guided turtle snorkelling, cocktails on Isoletta Beach and a beachside gala dinner. Christmas Day brings a guided house reef dive, a dolphin yacht cruise and Santa’s arrival on the beach. New Year’s Eve closes the year with “The Silk Road Journey” gala, live music, dance and fireworks.
December 18–23 — Maison Ruinart and Alexandre Benjamin Navet, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands
The resort in North Malé Atoll lists a Maison Ruinart food and drink program and a collaboration with French artist Alexandre Benjamin Navet for December 18–23. The festive installations, including a Christmas tree and ornaments inspired by the destination, are listed from December 20 under the title “A Canvas of Festive Wonder”. The resort has not published session-by-session details.
December 18 – January 2 — Festive Wellness Residency, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
Belinda Matwali leads a residency of astrology, meditation, Yoga Nidra and Electronic Music Meditation, built around reflection and renewal. It runs through the New Year week, which suits travelers who want a quieter holiday.
December 18 – January 7 — Festive Season, Ayada Maldives
Ayada Maldives, on Maguhdhuvaa in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, has published a timed schedule for both big nights. On December 24 the Taste of Christmas buffet at Magu runs from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., with carols at 8:30 p.m., a fire show on Magu Beach at 9:00 p.m. and a party at Zero Degree until midnight. On December 31 the Festive Gala Buffet starts at 7:30 p.m., followed by a children’s mini cabaret, a light show, live music, a fire show at 11:25 p.m. and the countdown on Magu Beach. Up to two children aged 15 and under stay and eat free with paying adults, but the New Year’s Eve supplement is charged for them as well. The resort is a domestic flight of about an hour south of Malé, then 25 to 50 minutes by speedboat; both legs are booked by the resort.
December 20 – January 7 — The Festive Isle, The Standard, Maldives
The Standard, Maldives, on Huruvalhi Island in Raa Atoll, opens its festive season with a beachfront tree lighting at dusk on December 20, with a resident DJ and live performances, and a Fire & Grill dinner at Kula for guests afterward. Christmas Eve starts with a beach sunset gathering with cocktails, DJ music and shows, followed by themed dinners and the “X’mas Eve Toast” beach party. On December 25 Santa arrives on the island, a brunch and a beachfront feast follow, and the evening has boduberu drumming and fire performances. On December 31 the resort serves a five-course open-fire meal at BBQ Shak and holds a midnight countdown party themed Reveal Your Glow, with fire performances, a headline DJ and fireworks over the Indian Ocean. The program runs until January 7.
December 21 – January 7 — Tides of Wonder, Alila Kothaifaru
Alila Kothaifaru Maldives in Raa Atoll starts its three-week program on December 21 with a Christmas tree lighting on Mirus Beach. Christmas Eve dinner and entertainment is at Seasalt, and on December 25 chefs Frank Wackerhagen and Mumu cook a four-hands dinner at Pibati Sul Mare. Other dated highlights are the Ten Tides Omakase at Umami on December 28, Yakitori BBQ Night on December 30 and the New Year’s Eve gala on December 31 with a mentalist and DJ Ossanna. Dolphin cruises, reef encounters and marine quiz nights run through the program, but the resort does not list their dates.
December 21 – January 6 — Celestial Seas, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
Conrad’s festive season includes two beach galas on December 24 and 31, starting at 7:00 PM. The shows include a cabaret troupe, aerial acrobatics, fire artistry, live music, a saxophonist and a DJ. Guests who stay on December 31 pay a compulsory New Year’s Eve supplement of US$1,093.95 per adult including taxes, which covers the gala dinner. Children aged 5 and under are free and children aged 6–11 pay 50% of the adult rate. No separate price is stated for the Christmas Eve gala.
December 22 – January 8 — JOALI and JOALI BEING, Raa Atoll
JOALI BEING runs its Tides of Tradition program from December 22 to January 8, with a tree illumination, Santa’s arrival, a Christmas Eve dinner, an Island Splash pool party and a New Year countdown with fireworks; villas start at US$5,392 per night for two in an Ocean Pool Villa with breakfast. At sister resort JOALI Maldives, former world No. 1 Ana Ivanović leads tennis sessions from December 22 to 27: a 60-minute clinic for adults aged 16 and over and a 60-minute camp for children aged 4 to 15. JOALI Maldives is about 45 minutes north of Malé by seaplane.
December 31 — New Year’s Eve Across the Maldives
Most resorts hold their own countdown, and many include fireworks. Away from the resorts, the public option has been the free New Year celebration in Hulhumalé, run by Visit Maldives, the tourism ministry and the Housing Development Corporation, with a drone show, fireworks, food stalls and cultural performances. The last edition ran from December 30, 2025 to January 1, 2026; no program for this New Year’s Eve has been announced yet. December 31, 2026 is a Thursday and not a public holiday, but banks close. January 1 is a public holiday and falls on a Friday, so no MTCC atoll ferries run that day; the airport ferry between Velana and Malé does. Christmas is not a public holiday in the Maldives either, and December 25, 2026 is a Friday, the weekly day off, so local islands keep their Friday pattern: no atoll ferries and shops closing briefly at prayer times.
| Resort | Atoll | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Conrad Maldives Rangali Island | South Ari | Dec 1–7, Dec 18 – Jan 2, Dec 21 – Jan 6 |
| The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort | Dhaalu | Dec 7–9 |
| Vakkaru Maldives | Baa | Dec 13 – Jan 9 |
| Ayada Maldives | Gaafu Dhaalu | Dec 18 – Jan 7 |
| The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands | North Malé | Dec 18–23 and from Dec 20 |
| The Standard, Maldives | Raa | Dec 20 – Jan 7 |
| Alila Kothaifaru Maldives | Raa | Dec 21 – Jan 7 |
| JOALI BEING | Raa | Dec 22 – Jan 8 |
| JOALI Maldives | Raa | Dec 22–27 |
Planning a December Trip
December is dry season, so the festive programs are a bonus on top of good weather; see the best time to visit the Maldives for the month-by-month picture. Christmas and New Year’s Eve supplements can add a large amount to a stay, and none of these programs include transfers, so budget the full cost before you pick dates. Our guide to money in the Maldives covers what a typical trip costs. If you want the festive feel without a resort bill, a local-island itinerary is the lower-cost route.
Seaplanes fly in daylight only. Conrad’s run daily from 6:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Milaidhoo moves guests who arrive after 3:30 p.m. onto a domestic flight at the same rate, so plan your arrival flight into Malé accordingly.
December 20 – January 7 — 12 Pearls of the Ocean, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort
The resort dedicates each of twelve days to a themed pearl. The tree lighting (Pearl of Welcome) is on December 22, sunset cocktails and a gala dinner under the stars (Pearl of Togetherness) on Christmas Eve, and Santa’s arrival (Pearl of Joy) on Christmas Day. Other pearls bring a champagne yacht cruise and white party, a curated wine dinner with an island Christmas market, a lagoon party with a moonlit dinner by the sea, and visiting wellness practitioner Braj Raj Singh, but the resort lists no dates for them. The New Year’s Eve finale, “The Pearl Ascension”, has an oceanfront cocktail party and gala dinner, a performance by British pop star Pixie Lott and a midnight drone and fireworks display. No prices are published.
December 20–31 — Festive Season at Kandima Maldives
Kandima Maldives opens its festive program with women’s football, coaching and beachside activities. Christmas in Paradise runs December 20–25 and the Showtime Fairground takes over the island December 26–31. No prices are published.
December 24–31 — Bohemian Reverie, Sun Siyam Iru Fushi
Sun Siyam Iru Fushi’s festive season is themed Bohemian Reverie. Christmas carols are on December 24 and Santa visits on December 25 with gifts for children. On December 31 each restaurant serves a gala menu, followed by a countdown party with a DJ, a dance floor and fireworks. No prices are published.
December 11–12 — Chef JKP at Milaidhoo Maldives
Milaidhoo Maldives in Baa Atoll hosts chef James Knight-Paccheco for a cooking workshop on December 11 and a wine-pairing dinner on December 12, with wines chosen by the resident sommelier. No price is published. The resort accepts guests aged eight and above and is a 35-minute seaplane flight from Velana; seaplanes fly in daylight only, and guests who arrive after 3:30 p.m. move by domestic flight at the same rate.