SEAN WOTHERSPOON, MILIND SOMAN, AND DJ FS GREEN JOIN FARI ISLANDS FESTIVAL 2026
- Nat Frogley
- 7 minutes ago
- 5 min read
“One Festival, Every Sense” returns to Patina Maldives and The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, 13–15 August
The Fari Islands Festival returns from 13 to 15 August 2026, bringing together Patina Maldives, Fari Islands and The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands for a second edition. The festival expands its 2026 programme with the addition of Milind Soman, DJ FS Green and National Geographic, joining festival headliner Rosamund Pike alongside an exceptional collective of artists, chefs, designers and cultural voices from around the world.
Spanning three days and two resorts, the festival continues its exploration of 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 Sean's 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. Sean 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 is the endurance icon Milind Soman - a national swimming champion turned one of India's most recognisable public figures, Soman has spent three decades pushing at the edges of what endurance means. For the Fari Islands Festival, he's teaming up with iRunners, the Maldives' leading running community, to host a morning 5km and 10km Charity Island Run on 13 August.
The collaboration centres on iRunners' flagship event, the Maldives Half Marathon. Since 2022, it's drawn runners from across the region and beyond to cover 21.1 kilometres through Malé, with the Indian Ocean as a constant backdrop. But it's never really just been about the race — the volunteers, supporters and local residents lining the course make it feel more like a citywide celebration. Each edition runs under iRunners' Protect the Reef campaign, and in 2026, proceeds will fund a coral restoration project in Villingili — so every kilometre run ends up doing something for the marine environment that makes the Maldives worth visiting in the first place.
2026 Festival Lineup
Joining this year's music programme alongside Sébastien Tellier and NOTEP is internationally acclaimed Dutch DJ and producer FS Green, one of Amsterdam's finest talents. He began making beats at the age of 15, quickly developing a serious career that saw him win the StateAwards for both ‘Best Producer’ and ‘Best DJ’ in 2010. 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. Also featured is Thai multidisciplinary artist NOTEP, whose immersive performances blend music, nature and storytelling to create moments of reflection and connection.
This year's programme also welcomes a visiting National Geographic Explorer, offering guests a unique opportunity to explore the natural world through the lens of observation, storytelling and conservation. Alongside Olive Ridley Project, experiences throughout the festival will centre on the Maldives' remarkable marine ecosystems, biodiversity and ongoing conservation efforts.
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 — No. 5 in Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025 — joins Michter's Whiskey for narrative-led cocktail experiences, alongside curated spirits sessions from Sei Bellissimi's Danilo Pozone.
Wellness by Bamford returns 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.
Reserve a stay at Fari Islands Festival at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives or Patina Maldives.
Experience the journey on Instagram or visit fari-islands.com.
ENDS
Notes to editors
High-res images can be downloaded here.
ABOUT FARI ISLANDS
Fari Islands is an elevated Maldivian resort experience that celebrates nature, craft and connection. Anchored by three world-class hospitality brands, Fari Islands is in the North Malé Atoll of the Maldives, a 50-minute speedboat journey from Malé International Airport. The archipelago also features the picturesque Fari Marina, built around a vibrant Fari Beach Club, charming boutiques and a selection of handpicked, upscale food and beverage options. Spaces have been masterfully designed by renowned architects from Studio Mk27 (by Marcio Kogan), Kengo Kuma & Associates, and Kerry Hill Architects, to bring about a delicate balance of serene and social. One of the islands is home to a thoughtful hospitality campus; Fari Campus is a dedicated island for staff with a focus on community, education, and engagement, and is the first of its kind in the Maldives.
ABOUT THE RITZ-CARLTON MALDIVES, FARI ISLANDS
The property is ideally located at Fari Islands, in the North Malé Atoll of the Maldives, a 45-minute journey by speedboat or a 10-minute seaplane flight from Malé International Airport. The resort, designed by Kerry Hill Architects, is shaped by the Maldivian sun and shored by the Indian Ocean, featuring a series of 100 interconnected villas, with its design-masterpiece Ocean Villas hovering over a turquoise lagoon. With white sandy beaches, turquoise lagoons and coral reefs, the destination is abundant with marine life.
Guest villas at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, range in size from one to four bedrooms, with legendary service refined by an Aris Meeha (butler). The property offers a choice of outstanding culinary venues, serving an array of international and local cuisines, alongside a full suite of fitness and recreational facilities. The signature Ritz-Carlton Spa introduces Bamford to the region, while the resort’s Naturalists lead its sustainability initiatives. In addition, the Visiting Hero programme brings leading scientists, conservationists, and environmental educators to engage with guests, the local community, and the Ladies and Gentlemen. The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands forms part of an archipelago that features three world-class hospitality brands inclusive of The Ritz-Carlton. Guests have access to a picturesque Fari Marina – the archipelago’s communal beating heart. Built around a vibrant Beach Club, Fari Marina features charming boutiques and a handpicked selection of dining options.
For more information, visit ritzcarlton.com/Maldives, and for real-time updates, follow the resort on Instagram and Facebook.
ABOUT PATINA MALDIVES, FARI ISLANDS
Patina Maldives, Fari Islands is the inaugural flagship property from sophisticated new lifestyle brand Patina Hotels & Resorts, the latest hospitality concept by Capella Hotel Group. Designed by renowned Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan, Patina Maldives offers 90 contemporary one-to-three-bedroom Beach and Water Pool Villas, alongside 20 Fari Studios, all of which embody a harmony of sanctuary and stimulation. Set in the Fari Islands archipelago in North Malé Atoll, guests can immerse themselves in a new expression of island life through thoughtful tailormade wellness journeys, interactive music program, captivating culinary experiences, and bask in the light- filled James Turrell Skyspace pavilion – all while embracing the vibrant social scene that emanates from the destination.
For more information, visit patinahotels.com/maldives-fari-islands/
For further press information and images, please contact:
Christina Dendrinou (christina@frogandwolfpr.com), Iustina Roman (iustina@frogandwolfpr.com), Nat Frogley (nat@frogandwolfpr.com) or Flora Gandolfo (flora@frogandwolfpr.com) at Frog & Wolf PR.
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