Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, the resort that started it all for Sun Siyam back in 1998, is marking its 28th anniversary with a three-day celebration from 28 to 30 October 2026 — and using the occasion to debut two new venues: YAYA Beach Club and Tuscany, an Italian restaurant.

The party kicks off on 28 October with the official opening of YAYA Beach Club, the resort's new social hub for music, cocktails and relaxed beachside dining. Headlining the launch are The Flag Twins, Kevin and Karl, the British-born duo behind London's HE&D collective who've worked with the likes of Gucci, Armani and Calvin Klein since being spotted by Renzo Rosso in 2018. DJ Abee joins them for the opening.

That same evening, Tuscany hosts its grand opening dinner under Chef Fatjon Goga, an Albanian-born Italian chef who runs Osteria Grande on Arezzo's Piazza Grande, with stints at Don Alfonso and Arnolfo on his CV. Chinese vocalist Zhu Zhihao performs live, and DJ Molly closes the night with an Island Beats set.

Day two slows things down. Nour Montasser leads a morning sound-healing session, Maryna Pavlenko guides a slow-living conversation and movement class, and in the evening Chef Goga runs an interactive pasta masterclass and dinner at Tuscany. The final day brings sunrise yoga and sound healing, SUP yoga on the lagoon with former lululemon ambassador Wu Feifei (Fay-Yoga) and AquaX instructor Wang Xue, a Float & Feast with live music, a closing pool party at YAYA, and a culinary storytelling dinner to finish.

For travellers, the practical draw is the two new venues themselves. YAYA Beach Club adds a daytime-to-dark social spot to the island, while Tuscany brings seasonal, Tuscan-inspired Italian dining with ocean views. They join a resort that recently refreshed its villa stock and has built its reputation on intimate scale and Maldivian hospitality rather than big-resort flash. If your dates align with late October 2026, the anniversary programme means guest access to DJ sets, a visiting chef and wellness sessions are folded into a normal stay.

It's also a good moment for anyone weighing up the Maldives' quieter, house-reef-style islands over the ultra-luxury flagship resorts — Sun Siyam Vilu Reef sits in the South Nilandhe Atoll and has long appealed to returners who want a low-key, personal island experience with enough new additions to keep things fresh after nearly three decades.

Story via Maldives Insider.