Andy Devaney
If you thought the Maldives was all overwater villas and honeymoon hashtags, think again. The inaugural Fari Islands Festival—a four-day gathering of world-class creatives, culinary rebels, and ocean whisperers—drops anchor from 19–22 September 2025, and it’s poised to give the Indian Ocean’s luxury scene a deeper, more thoughtful rhythm.
A collaboration between Patina Maldives and The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, the Fari Islands Festival promises not just a feast for the senses, but a wake-up call for the soul.
“Patina Maldives was created as a place of purposeful presence, where guests are invited not only to passively experience but to participate,” says Anthony Gill, General Manager of Patina Maldives. And participate you shall—this isn’t your average toes-in-the-sand sunset soirée.
Not a Spectacle, But a Statement
From the outset, this isn’t about flashbulbs or influencer noise. It’s been designed, not thrown together—a carefully plotted constellation of culture, wellness, and conservation that invites guests to show up with both curiosity and intention.
Leading the creative charge is Rupi Kaur, the globally acclaimed poet who’ll bring her trademark blend of vulnerability and power to a series of intimate readings and soul-probing conversations. This isn’t poetry-as-backdrop. It’s poetry that stops you mid-martini.
Meanwhile, DJ Kim Turnbull isn’t here to blast beats over a beach bonfire. She’s sculpting the island’s soundscape with ambient layers that mirror the tide—live performances with spine and serenity.
Where the Ocean Has a Voice
Conservationist and National Geographic Explorer Gibbs Kuguru, in tandem with the Olive Ridley Project, anchors the marine programme. Expect guided snorkelling, hands-on workshops, and a sharp look at what it really means to protect the reef—minus the preachiness.
If you’re more about aligning your chakras than chasing turtles, The Bamford Experience is your turf. Led by wellness guide CJ Jones-Leake and former rugby powerhouse Anthony Mullally, guests will wind through daily rituals of breathwork, movement, and holistic healing. This isn’t spa-lite. This is body-mind recalibration in the wild.
Dinner, But Make It Theatre
Now, let’s talk wagyu. Not just any wagyu—Wagyumafia’s world-renowned Kobe beef ritual will headline the culinary lineup. It’s meat with drama. Every slice, every sear, every smouldering plate is part of a performance. And if the sizzle isn’t enough, award-winning mixologists Nutmeg and Clove will shake up island bar culture with cocktails that taste like stories.
Two Resorts. One Vision.
Set across the Fari Islands, a masterclass in design and destination storytelling, the festival seamlessly blends the bold elegance of Patina Maldives with the grounded luxury of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives. Think: transformative art installations on one side, timeless rituals on the other, with guests invited to drift freely between the two.
“At The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, we honour the rhythm of nature and the richness of human connection,” shares General Manager Oscar Posta. “The Fari Islands Festival reflects that ethos… It is an invitation to slow down, to listen deeply and to be moved by the beauty of meaningful exchange.”
The Fari Marina Village, the communal heart of the archipelago, ties it all together—architecture that doesn’t shout, experiences that don’t pander, and a sense that maybe, just maybe, luxury can be about more than excess.
A Different Kind of Island Time
The Fari Islands Festival isn’t for the bucket-listers or the box-tickers. It’s for those who want to feel something—whether that’s through words, waves, wellness or wagyu. And in a world brimming with shallow spectacle, that’s a rare thing indeed.
Book your place at Patina Maldives or The Ritz-Carlton Maldives now. More programme names will surface soon, and if this first wave is anything to go by, the next one’s bound to make a splash.
