This September, the Maldives will host the first edition of the Fari Islands Festival, a four-day event from September 19 to 22. The event, a collaboration between Patina Maldives and The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, brings together creatives, thought leaders, and experts to offer guests a diverse cultural programme across the Fari Islands.
The festival’s focus is on meaningful engagement rather than large-scale shows. Canadian poet and illustrator Rupi Kaur will lead the creative discussions with readings and conversations centered on language, emotion, and personal experience.
Wellness activities are guided by natural health expert CJ Jones-Leake and sustainability advocate Anthony Mullally, offering breathwork, movement, and integrative therapies as part of The Bamford Experience.
Marine conservation is featured through sessions led by Gibbs Kuguru, a National Geographic Explorer and shark scientist. In partnership with the Olive Ridley Project, guests can participate in snorkelling trips and workshops aimed at increasing awareness of the Maldives’ marine ecosystems.
Music will be shaped by British DJ Kim Turnbull, who will create ambient soundscapes and live performances aligned with the island’s natural environment.
On the culinary front, Tokyo-born Wagyumafia will host a series of Kobe beef dinners, while cocktail studio Nutmeg and Clove will offer a fresh take on bar culture through creative storytelling and mixology.
The festival takes place throughout the Fari Islands archipelago, with Fari Marina Village acting as a central hub connecting both resorts. A 50-minute speedboat journey from Malé International Airport, this location is unique in the Maldives, allowing two resort brands with different approaches to hospitality to coexist. Patina Maldives focuses on artistic curiosity and transformative luxury, while The Ritz-Carlton Maldives emphasizes heritage, craft, and connection with nature.
“Patina Maldives was created as a place of purposeful presence, where guests are invited not only to passively experience but to participate. This festival extends that vision, encouraging guests to connect actively and meaningfully with ideas, artists and the natural world,” said Anthony Gill, General Manager of Patina Maldives.
Oscar Posta, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, said, “At The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, we honour the rhythm of nature and the richness of human connection. The Fari Islands Festival reflects that ethos, a gathering where culture, creativity and community come together with intention. It is an invitation to slow down, to listen deeply and to be moved by the beauty of meaningful exchange.”
Guests at the festival will have access to experiences across both resorts, offering a blend of creativity and natural flow.
