JOALI Maldives, the first and only art-immersive resort in the Maldives, invites guests to ring in the 2025 festive season with “Rise & Shine” — a celebration of joy, beauty, and inner light. From December 21, 2025, through January 10, 2026, the Raa Atoll island will come alive with celestial-inspired décor, imaginative programming, and vibrant experiences designed to illuminate the season. This celebration reflects the island’s deep commitment to creativity, art, and meaningful experiences — the essence of its Joy of Creative Living philosophy.

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“Each festive season, we aim to create an atmosphere that is as inspiring as it is joyful,” says Shifaz Hassan, General Manager at JOALI Maldives. “With this year’s Rise & Shine theme, we invite guests of all ages to reconnect with loved ones, explore their creativity, and celebrate the magic of the holidays surrounded by the island’s natural beauty.”

The programming brings together culinary artistry, hands-on workshops, family adventures, and world-class fitness offerings. This year’s visiting experts include:

•   Chef Nina Tarasova: The acclaimed pastry chef returns to JOALI to host her signature Russian Voyage Wine Dinner, a multi-sensory evening of traditional flavors and curated wine pairings.
• Dr. Sanket Yadahalli: A celebrated wellbeing practitioner offering transformative sessions in breathwork for pain relief, as well as Pranayama Renewal classes to energize and restore.

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Highlights of this season’s Rise & Shine festive offerings at JOALI Maldives include:

• Culinary Events: For this festive season, JOALI will offer themed dinner menus at its celebrated restaurants, including “A Taste of Japan” at Saoke, “Indian Ocean Voyage,” and a Mediterranean-inspired “Levantine Dream” dinner, as well as curated cocktail evenings like “Once Upon a Sake”, “Old World Wine Dinner,” and “Theatre of Gin.” JOALI Maldives will also feature indulgent feasts for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, Orthodox Christmas and more, accompanied by extended brunches and festive cocktails.
• Art, Culture & Creativity: The art-immersive resort will spotlight its incredible artistic offerings during the festive season, with celestial pottery classes, wooden wonders, starry night painting sessions and festive embroidery workshops at the JOALI Art Studio. The team will offer coral nursery tours and reef restoration experiences such as “Christmas Corals,” continuing JOALI’s commitment to sustainability and marine conservation.
• Wellbeing & Movement: A holistic fitness and wellbeing program will also be included this year, featuring Lunar Glow meditations, Qi Flow, HIIT Challenge, a Padel Tournament and a Sunrise Bootcamp. Night snorkelling adventures and unique offerings like Primal Flow and Core Connect classes can be booked as well.
• For Families & Young Explorers: Under the theme “Stardust & Sparkle,” the Muramas Kids Club will host a magical line-up of daily programming for JOALI’s youngest guests. From Christmas tree decorating and mocktail mixology to galactic kite flying and star map painting, children can explore their creativity and imagination while being guided by Pico the Heron, their feathered festive mascot.

The 2025 festive season at JOALI Maldives will also be marked by a lineup of beloved traditions, including the lighting of the Holiday Tree, the opening of the island’s whimsical Gingerbread House, and the arrival of Santa Claus. Guests can look forward to festive favorites like the Christmas Scavenger Hunt and Football Tournament, culminating in the dazzling New Year’s Eve Starlight Gala — an unforgettable evening of fireworks, live entertainment, and culinary artistry. The season also includes My Maldives, an elegant cocktail reception where guests can toast the holidays with JOALI’s leadership team.

Guests can celebrate the season in one of the resort’s 73 artfully appointed beach and over-water villas, ranging from one- to four-bedrooms, each with a dedicated Jadugar, or “skilled magician.” JOALI Maldives has villas from $5,851 per night based on two persons sharing a Water Villa with Pool on B&B basis.

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