The Fari Islands Festival will bring together Patina Maldives, Fari Islands and The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands for a second edition.
Expanding its 2026 programme with the addition of Milind Soman, DJ FS Green and National Geographic, Rosamund Pike will be the festival headliner alongside an exceptional collective of artists, chefs, designers and cultural voices from around the world.
Spanning three days and two resorts, the festival has continued to explore art, wellness, gastronomy and nature, moving through a natural daily rhythm from sunrise rituals and ocean experiences to thought-provoking conversations, communal gatherings and performances into the night.
Sean Wotherspoon
Globally recognised designer and cultural tastemaker Sean Wotherspoon, known for iconic collaborations with Nike, Adidas, Porsche and Gap, will lead a collaborative art residency during Fari Islands Festival, bringing his vibrant, sustainability-focused aesthetic to the islands.
At the centre of the residency is a large-scale, reef-inspired sculpture, built collectively across the festival as guests contribute to the piece under his direction. Once complete, the installation will be placed in the Fari Islands lagoon as part of ongoing coral regeneration efforts, continuing to evolve as marine life takes hold over time
He will also take over the Fari Artist Atelier with a dedicated pop-up, featuring an exclusive Fari Islands merchandise collection alongside limited pieces designed especially for festival guests from both resorts.
Milind Soman — Festival Wellness Collaborator
Joining Sean Wotherspoon is endurance icon Milind Soman, a national swimming champion turned one of India’s most recognisable public figures, who has spent three decades pushing at the edges of what endurance means.
For the Fari Islands Festival, he has teamed up with iRunners, the Maldives’ leading running community, to host a morning 5km and 10km Charity Island Run. Since 2022, it has drawn runners from across the region and beyond to cover 21.1 kilometres through Malé, with the Indian Ocean as a constant backdrop.
Each edition runs under iRunners’ Protect the Reef campaign, and in 2026, proceeds will fund a coral restoration project in Villingili.
Alongside the Olive Ridley Project, experiences throughout the festival will centre on the Maldives’ remarkable marine ecosystems, biodiversity and ongoing conservation efforts.
Wellness by Bamford has also returned as the festival’s wellness partner for a second year, with sound healer Stephanie Waxberg and aromatherapist Louise Riby leading immersive wellbeing experiences, joined by Noble Panacea for sessions centred on longevity and holistic wellbeing.
Music & Food
Joining this year’s music programme alongside Sébastien Tellier and NOTEP will be internationally acclaimed Dutch DJ and producer FS Green, one of Amsterdam’s finest talents.
Rooted in hip-hop, his sound moves fluidly between electronic music, Afrobeats, dancehall and house, with a versatility that has made him a specialist across genres, from UK bass to Jersey club. His production credits include collaborations with artists such as Mahalia, Blanco, Sevdaliza and Major Lazer.
FS Green will headline the final evening with a special beachfront performance, transforming the shores into an open-air celebration beneath the stars.
The festival’s culinary and wellness programme brings together an equally impressive line-up.
Michelin-starred chef Samuel Lee of Parisian neo-bistrot SENsation joins Tokyo’s WAGYUMAFIA for standout dining experiences, while Dry Wave Cocktail Studio joins Michter’s Whiskey for narrative-led cocktail experiences, alongside curated spirits sessions from Sei Bellissimi’s Danilo Pozone.
Together, these collaborations reinforce the festival’s ambition to create experiences that extend beyond entertainment, encouraging guests to engage with ideas, people, and the place in meaningful ways.
Reserve a stay at the Fari Islands Festival at The Ritz Carlton Maldives or Patina Maldives for the festival from the 13th to the 15th of August 2026.
