The Maldives’ first-ever Fari Islands Festival is set to take place this September.
Patina Maldives
The gathering will take place across two Maldivian resorts, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives and Patina Maldives, from the 19th to the 22nd of September.
Organisers have confirmed the full programme for the event, which has been developed to celebrate culture, conservation and community.
The festival is structured around five key pillars: Culinary Artistry, Sonic Immersion, Nature Amplified, Body, Mind & Soul, and Creative Artistry. It aims to bring together global visionaries and regional changemakers in a series of curated activities, workshops and performances.
Nature Amplified will feature collaborations with marine scientist and National Geographic Explorer Gibbs Kuguru and the Olive Ridley Project, a conservation organisation focused on protecting sea turtles and their habitats. Guests will have opportunities to support marine research and education initiatives through donations and direct participation.
Culinary Artistry will include wellness-focused lunches hosted by nutritionist and advocate Rosemary Ferguson at Patina Maldives’ Wok Society and The Ritz-Carlton Maldives’ La Locanda restaurant. Fresh juices curated by Ferguson will be available throughout the festival at Fari Marina Village. Danico Bar from Paris, ranked among the World’s 50 Best Bars, will lead cocktail showcases and masterclasses under the Mixology Artistry programme.
The festival’s daily schedule will start with wellness rituals by Bamford, followed by ocean excursions, creative workshops with STPI, and talks with “Fari Voices,” a group of regional changemakers. Evenings will feature cultural gatherings, including a poetry performance by Rupi Kaur on the opening night at James Turrell’s Skyspace Amarta installation.
Subsequent nights will see guest DJ sets from Kim Turnbull alongside bar takeovers from Danico and Nutmeg & Clove, culminating in the Fari Marina Fiesta on the final evening. The closing night will feature a live performance from multi-instrumentalist and electronic music artist FKJ (French Kiwi Juice), with a final appearance by Rupi Kaur.
The Fari Islands Festival has been designed to reflect the founding spirit of the Fari Islands, described as “The Home of Island Artistry,” by celebrating nature, craft and cultural connection. A portion of the festival’s proceeds will support community initiatives through Fari Campus, a dedicated hospitality island focused on accommodation, education and career development for Maldivian talent.
Stays can be booked at either The Ritz-Carlton Maldives or Patina Maldives. Full programme details and updates are available via the festival’s Instagram page and at fari-islands.com
