SO/ Maldives festive season 2026: a beach tree lighting, Christmas Eve on the sand and a New Year's Eve gala at Lazuli Beach Club
In this article
SO/ Maldives in South Malé Atoll has shared its festive programme for 2026. The resort calls it Lost in Waterworld, and it runs every day from 20 December to 8 January, with something on the beach most evenings and a full daily schedule at the kids club.
The dates to know
- 20 December, 5.30pm. The season opens with a Christmas tree lighting and cocktails on the beach at Lazuli Beach Club, with a DJ, saxophone and violin. Free for every guest.
- 24 December, Christmas Eve. Sunset bubbles at Lazuli Beach Club, free for every guest, then a beach barbecue at The Citronelle Club with Unoosha & The Live Band. The barbecue is included on half and full board, or US$220 a person otherwise. Hadaba is closed that night, and each villa gets a bottle of red wine at turndown.
- 25 December, Christmas Day. Brunch at The Citronelle Club, included on full board, then a Christmas buffet dinner there, included on half and full board. Santa arrives by sea over Christmas, and the day ends with a film on the beach at Lazuli Beach Club.
- 31 December, New Year's Eve. Cocktails on the beach at 6pm, then the Grand Oceanic Gala dinner on the beach at Lazuli Beach Club from 7.30pm, with a live band, a countdown, fireworks and an after-party until 1.30am. A bottle of Champagne waits in the villa at turndown.
- 1 January. A New Year brunch at The Citronelle Club, included on full board.
- 6 January, Orthodox Christmas Eve. A cocktail reception at Lazuli Beach Club and a beach dinner at The Citronelle Club with a live band, included on half and full board.
Between those dates there are theme nights almost every evening: a seafood buffet, a retro night with a fire dancer, Thai and Indonesian buffets, a Maldivian barbecue with Boduberu drumming, wine dinners at Lazuli Beach Club, and a whisky and a gin tasting. Mornings bring yoga and aqua fitness, most of it free, and the kids club runs crafts, a sandcastle contest, a pizza class and a pyjama party.
What it means for your stay
The New Year's Eve gala is compulsory for every guest. It is US$760 for each adult, whatever meal plan you are on, and it is added to every stay that includes 31 December. Ask us for the children's price when you tell us their ages.
Half board covers most of it. The Christmas Eve barbecue, the Christmas Day buffet and most theme dinners are included on half and full board. The wine dinners and tastings are charged, and event prices carry tax and service on top.
Nobody checks out on 30 or 31 December, so plan a stay that runs into the new year. Dinner can also be taken across the lagoon at CROSSROADS Maldives on half and full board, which helps on a long stay.
The resort's speedboat from Velana takes about fifteen minutes and runs around the clock, so a late flight still reaches the island the same night.
Planning a festive stay
See villas and what's included on our SO/ Maldives page. Email holidays@360degreeworld.com with your dates and who is travelling, and we will price the festive stay, gala included, for you.
