Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi has one of the most compelling summer 2026 events calendars in the country: a padel residency with celebrated player Marta Ortega (18–19 August), the Qi Xi Festival at its Chinese restaurant Li Long (19 August), the return of the acclaimed izakaya Zuma, and an ongoing wellness programme. If you are timing a stay, mid-August is the moment this resort comes alive.
Some Maldives resorts sell stillness. Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi sells that too — but layered over it is a rhythm of curated experiences that few resorts in the country match for sheer variety. Spread across three connected private islands in South Malé Atoll, with one of the largest dining collections in the Maldives, it has the scale to host genuine events rather than token activities.
This summer, that calendar is worth planning around. Here is what is on, and what each means for your stay.
Padel with a celebrated talent (18–19 August 2026)
A two-day residency giving guests the chance to train and play alongside celebrated padel player Marta Ortega on the resort’s courts.
Padel — the racket sport that has swept through Europe and the Gulf — has found a natural home in luxury Maldives resorts, and Waldorf Astoria is leaning into it. For two days in mid-August, guests can train and play alongside one of the sport’s most celebrated talents. Whether you are a serious player or simply curious, it is the kind of access most clubs cannot offer, set against a backdrop no club can match.
What it means for guests: if you play padel, or want to learn from the best, build your stay around these dates. It is also a genuinely social event on an island that can otherwise feel serenely private.
The Qi Xi Festival at Li Long (19 August 2026)
A celebration of Qi Xi — often called Chinese Valentine’s Day — at the resort’s Chinese restaurant, Li Long.
Qi Xi, the Chinese festival of love rooted in the legend of the cowherd and the weaver girl, is marked at Li Long, Waldorf Astoria’s Chinese restaurant. Expect a specially curated menu and an evening built around one of the most romantic dates in the Chinese calendar — a natural fit for couples, and a rare cultural dining occasion in the Maldives.
What it means for guests: a distinctive dinner for couples travelling in August, and a reason to book Li Long ahead, as festival evenings at signature restaurants fill quickly.
The return of Zuma
The globally acclaimed contemporary Japanese izakaya Zuma returns to Waldorf Astoria Maldives. Zuma’s pop-ups and residencies are among the most sought-after dining events in luxury travel, bringing its signature robata-grilled dishes and convivial izakaya energy to the island. For food-led travellers, a Zuma residency is itself a reason to time a trip.
What it means for guests: if you know Zuma from London, Dubai or Miami, experiencing it on a private Maldivian island is a rare pairing. Reserve early.
Wellness through the season
Alongside the headline events, the resort runs an ongoing wellness programme — expert-led sessions that continue through the summer for guests who want their stay to restore as much as entertain. It is the quiet counterweight to the padel and the dining, and it means a single stay can hold both energy and stillness.
How to plan around it
The concentration of events around 18–19 August 2026 makes that window the standout moment of the Waldorf summer. If any of this appeals — the padel, the Qi Xi dinner, a Zuma evening — that is when to aim. Signature restaurants and event experiences at a resort of this calibre book out, so securing villas and reservations early matters.
For the full picture of the resort itself — the villas, the dining collection, the three-island layout and transfer options — see our complete Waldorf Astoria Maldives review and resort page.
Frequently asked questions
Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi has a curated summer 2026 calendar that includes a padel residency with celebrated player Marta Ortega (18-19 August 2026), the Qi Xi Festival celebration at its Chinese restaurant Li Long (19 August 2026), the return of the acclaimed Japanese izakaya Zuma, and an ongoing wellness programme. Event dates are set by the resort and subject to change.
Waldorf Astoria Maldives sits on the private island of Ithaafushi in South Malé Atoll, reached by an approximately 45-minute luxury yacht transfer or a short seaplane flight from Velana International Airport. The resort spans three connected islands and is known for its extensive dining collection and overwater villas.
Yes. Waldorf Astoria Maldives has padel facilities and hosts padel experiences, including a summer 2026 residency offering guests the chance to train and play with a celebrated professional. Padel is one of the fastest-growing racket sports in luxury resort settings, and the Maldives island format suits it well.
Published 5 July 2026. Event details are based on Waldorf Astoria Maldives' official events calendar and are set by the resort; dates and programming are subject to change. Confirm current details at the time of booking.