The Maldives' 2026/27 festive season is shaping up as one of the busiest yet, with three resorts — Cocoon Maldives, Joy Island and You & Me Maldives — each rolling out 16 days of programming from 22 December 2026 to 6 January 2027. And getting there just got easier for one big market: S7 Airlines has launched a direct scheduled service from Novosibirsk, giving Siberian travellers a route to Velana International Airport without changing planes in Moscow.
Cocoon Maldives has the biggest reason to celebrate: 2026 marks its 10th anniversary. On 26 December the resort throws an anniversary cocktail party, dinner and beach cake-cutting, plus a Cocoon Run and lobster BBQ at Kurumbar Beach. The wider calendar includes a Christmas tree lighting at Loabi Loabi Bar, Santa's beach arrival with carols, a Lucky Dolphin Cruise, a midnight fireworks countdown over the water and themed glow and white parties. Kids get a full slate at the Kids Village — gingerbread houses, a piñata, a Mini Olympics.
Joy Island, running a programme called Joyful Horizons, leans into Maldivian island life: Captain Santa's Ocean Escape family dhoni cruise, a Tales of the Maldivian Sea dinner, coral planting with a marine biologist and a Celebrate Maldivian Culture evening. There's a Master Sommelier wine dinner on 28 December, a private candlelit dinner for two on 30 December, and family events like the Beach Family Olympics and Amazing Race.
You & Me Maldives, an adults-only premium all-inclusive resort, goes all-in on romance. The standout is Krug Beneath the Waves on 28 December — a five-course dinner paired with Krug champagne at H2O, the resort's underwater restaurant six metres below the surface, curated by Chef Andrea Berton. Also on the menu: a five-course dinner aboard the Love Boat, a sunken table set into the sand, a lobster beach BBQ with champagne, private sandbank massages and First Wave and First Catch of the Year excursions on New Year's Day.
On the airlift front, S7's inaugural flight from Novosibirsk landed on 30 October 2026 after roughly 10.5 hours and a refuelling stop in Termez, Uzbekistan. The A320 service runs twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays. It matters beyond the novelty: Russia is the Maldives' second-largest source market after China, with about 229,200 Russian arrivals in the first nine months of 2026 — up nearly 15% year on year. The new route complements Aeroflot's Moscow flights and arrives just as Velana's Terminal 2 adds international check-in for ten airlines ahead of peak season.
If you're eyeing a Maldives Christmas or New Year trip, booking early is wise — these programmes are clearly built for full houses, and the gala dinners, cruises and spa rituals are typically bundled into festive supplements on top of standard rates. Couples after something extraordinary should look hard at You & Me's underwater dining; families will find more structured kids' entertainment at Cocoon and Joy Island.
