Kandima Maldives festive season 2026–27: Lucy Bronze and Ona Batlle, Dustin Brown's tennis cup and the Showtime Fairground
In this article
Kandima Maldives in Dhaalu Atoll has announced its festive season for 2026–27. It runs from 20 December 2026 to 7 January 2027 in two parts, Christmas in Paradise and then the Showtime Fairground, and brings England footballer Lucy Bronze and Spanish international Ona Batlle to the island between Christmas and New Year.
The key dates
| Date | What is on |
|---|---|
| 12 to 22 Dec | The Wingroves, the British football family led by freestyler Billy Wingrove, run football challenges and a big family adventure game, filmed for their YouTube channel |
| 17 to 27 Dec | Former professional tennis player Dustin Brown runs daily clinics and the Dustin Brown Festive Cup, with one-to-one coaching on request |
| 20 to 25 Dec | Christmas in Paradise: tree lighting and a welcome sundowner, the Christmas Eve gala dinner, Santa arriving on the beach, Christmas Day brunch and the Christmas Day Run |
| 23 to 26 Dec | Magician Mr Marvel around the island |
| 26 Dec to 1 Jan | Lucy Bronze and Ona Batlle: children's coaching, beach games, a football match and a penalty shootout |
| 26 to 31 Dec | The Showtime Fairground |
| 26 Dec to 5 Jan | DJ Giulia Siegel at the sundowners and Chef Ludwig Heer cooking across the island |
| 31 Dec | The New Year's Eve party and fireworks on Smoked Beach |
Christmas in Paradise, 20 to 25 December
The season opens with the tree lighting and a welcome sundowner. Christmas Eve has a gala dinner and carols, and Christmas Day starts with Santa arriving on the beach, then brunch, family activities and the resort's annual Christmas Day Run. Kandiland, the kids' club, runs festive workshops, scavenger hunts and craft sessions, and there is live music and Maldivian performances around the island.
Footballers, tennis and a YouTube family
Lucy Bronze MBE, a five-time UEFA Women's Champions League winner, and Ona Batlle of Spain are spending part of their mid-season break at Kandima from 26 December to 1 January. They will coach children, play beach games and a match with guests, and take part in a festive penalty shootout.
Before them, Dustin Brown is on the tennis courts from 17 to 27 December, and the Wingroves are on the island from 12 to 22 December with football challenges for families.
The Showtime Fairground, 26 to 31 December
After Christmas the island turns into a fairground of sport, games and performances:
- Competition: a Beach Olympics with guests against the resort team, electric go-kart racing on the Fast Track circuit, the KULA Fun Run and a mini-island triathlon challenge, plus football, watersports and beach games.
- For children: glow parties, Christmas cinema, workshops and scavenger hunts at Kandiland, and bowling, arcade games, escape rooms and karaoke at PlaySpace.
- For adults: DJ sessions at Forbidden Bar and an adults-only White Party.
- The KULA Art Festival: Maldivian artists and craftspeople working in digital art, coffee art, acrylic, henna, spray paint and traditional crafts, with Maldivian street food and an artisan market.
New Year's Eve
The fairground ends on 31 December with a grand finale that brings the island's main acts together: fire, drums and percussion, live performances and fireworks over Smoked Beach. Into the new year the programme carries on with the Kandima Running Club's first run of 2027, a go-kart Grand Prix, island challenges and another adults-only White Party.
What it means for your stay
- Five nights minimum over the peak. Stays between 26 December and 7 January need at least five nights, and you cannot check out on 31 December.
- Two compulsory gala dinners. The resort charges every guest staying on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve for the gala dinner, and the amount depends on your meal plan. We include both in your costing so there is nothing to find at checkout.
- Ask what is included. The resort has not said which of these activities are free and which are charged. Tell us what you want to do and we will confirm with Kandima for your dates.
- Late festive flights are fine. Kandima is reached by a domestic flight to Dhaalu and a short boat, which runs far later than a seaplane, so an evening landing at Velana usually still reaches the island the same day. There is also no fixed check-in time: your room is yours for 24 hours from arrival.
It suits families with children of any age and couples who want a busy, sociable Christmas. If you want a quiet island over the holidays, Kandima is the wrong choice in this fortnight.
Get a festive costing
Christmas and New Year are the first weeks to sell out. Tell us your dates, who is travelling and which meal plan you have in mind, and we will send you a full costing for Kandima with the festive charges already included: holidays@360degreeworld.com.
