If a white Christmas sounds overrated, Kuda Villingili in the Maldives has a sunnier alternative. The North Malé Atoll resort has laid out its festive calendar, dubbed Season of Light, running from 23 December 2026 to 7 January 2027 — and it leans heavily on food, family and time on the water.
The programme kicks off with a tree lighting ceremony and carols on 23 December, followed by sunset cocktails at Raalhu Bar and a gala dinner at The Restaurant on Christmas Eve. Santa turns up on the beach Christmas morning, presumably trading sleigh for speedboat. Midway through the season, a pool party on 27 December takes over the resort's 150-metre pool, and New Year's Eve asks guests to dress in white for a gala dinner before a countdown on the beach and a First Light Breakfast with sparkling wine on 1 January.
Food is clearly the headline act. The resort has had a good run lately — named Best Gastronomic Retreat in the Maldives at the Global Destination Awards 2026, plus a third consecutive Wine Spectator nod for its Japanese-Peruvian restaurant Mar-Umi, which picked up the 2026 Award of Excellence. Festive dining spans Nikkei Nights at Mar-Umi, barbecue evenings, a Steak & Wine Night, the WINE-DOWN Wednesday seafood dinner and an India & Arabia-themed journey at Spice.
Between meals, the schedule covers the usual Maldivian greatest hits with some twists: ocean yoga over the lagoon, dolphin cruises, wreck dives, sandbank escapes, night fishing and a water scooter experience. Families get a dedicated track at the Kuda Fiyo Kids Club, with crafts, treasure hunts, cooking workshops and science activities, backed by a team of children's animators on the island throughout.
The festive push caps a strong year for the resort, which also landed a spot in the MICHELIN Guide 2026 Hotel Selection. General Manager Deepa Manuel frames the programme around flexibility — guests shape their own celebrations rather than following a rigid schedule.
Practically speaking, Kuda Villingili is one of the easier Maldivian resorts to reach: about 30 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, no seaplane transfer needed. The property has 75 villas and residences, all with private pools, eight restaurants, an overwater spa and a five-star setup geared to couples, families and multi-generational groups. Festive-season Maldives books up early and commands peak rates, so anyone eyeing that beach countdown to 2027 should start planning well ahead.
