The annual cycle across the twenty atolls. Events marked ☾ follow the lunar calendar and move roughly eleven days earlier each Gregorian year; the months shown are for 2026. This matters operationally rather than culturally: Ramadan changes how properties on inhabited islands run and shifts domestic demand, and Eid is the domestic peak.
January
New Year at the resortsnationwide · Culture
Fuvahmulah tiger shark season peakFuvahmulah · Natural event
Rasdhoo hammerhead seasonRasdhoo · Natural event
February
Ramadan ☾nationwide · Religious holiday
Bodu Beru nights, guesthouse islandsnationwide · Culture
March
Eid al-Fitr (Fithuru Eid) ☾nationwide · Religious holiday
Kuda Eid celebrations, AdduHithadhoo · Culture
Laamu surf season opensGan (Laamu) · Sport
April
Mas Run / fishing season opensAlifushi · Gastronomy
Maldives Getaway / dive show seasonMalé · Trade event
May
Eid al-Adha (Bodu Eid) ☾nationwide · Religious holiday
Maali Parade, Fuvahmulah ☾Fuvahmulah · Culture
Hanifaru Bay manta season opensDharavandhoo · Natural event
Eid holiday domestic peaknationwide · Culture
June
Islamic New Year ☾nationwide · Religious holiday
Maldives Marine ExpoMalé · Trade event
Coral spawning, VaavuFelidhoo · Natural event
July
Maldives Independence DayMalé · National holiday
Travel Trade Maldives (TTM)Malé · Trade event
August
National Day (Qaumee Dhuvas) ☾Malé · National holiday
Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions TrophySultans · Sport
Yin Yang peak swellGan (Laamu) · Sport
September
Hanifaru Bay peak aggregationDharavandhoo · Natural event
Maldives Whale Shark FestivalMaamigili · Culture
Hotel Asia Exhibition & International Culinary ChallengeMalé · Trade event
October
Whale shark season peak, South AriMaamigili · Natural event
Manta season, Lhaviyani channelsNaifaru · Natural event
November
Republic DayMalé · National holiday
Victory DayMalé · National holiday
Kaadedhdhoo cultural weekThinadhoo · Culture
December
Addu RegattaHithadhoo · Sport
Fishermen's Daynationwide · National holiday
The two natural events that move rooms
Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll gathers mantas from May to November, and South Ari holds the world's only year-round whale shark aggregation. Both fall wholly or partly inside the south-west monsoon, which is the country's low season. They are the reason two atolls sell in months when the rest of the country softens.