Six Senses Laamu and the Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI) announces the return of the Laamafaru Festival, taking place on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at Hamad Bin Khaleefa Al Thani School in L. Gan. After a three-year hiatus, the 7th edition of Laamu Atoll’s largest marine conservation event returns under the theme “Protecting Our Oceans Together,” and everyone is welcome.
The marine ecosystems of Laamu Atoll are among the most ecologically rich in the Maldives. The coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, and the species that depend on them are not just beautiful. They are the foundation of local livelihoods, food security, and the natural resilience that the islands depend on. The Laamafaru Festival exists to bring communities together around that shared responsibility, to learn, to celebrate, and to take action in ways that are meaningful and lasting.
First launched in 2016 as the Laamu Turtle Festival, the event has grown steadily over the years, expanding its focus from sea turtles to include coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangrove ecosystems. Over its history, it has engaged more than 43,900 people through in-person attendance and digital campaigns, and reached 12 schools across Laamu Atoll. This year, participants from all 11 inhabited islands of Laamu will come together for a full day of conservation, creativity, and community.
The festival program is designed to engage people of all ages and backgrounds. The day will include marine conservation exhibitions developed by the MUI research team, offering accessible and inspiring insights into the ecosystems surrounding Laamu. Educational games, hands-on activities, and NGO presentations will give attendees the chance to learn directly from scientists, conservationists, and community advocates working in the atoll.
Creative competitions bring a different kind of energy to the day. The Moodhuge Vaahaka poster competition invites participants to interpret ocean stories through art, while the Trash to Treasure sculpture competition challenges communities to transform waste into something worth celebrating. A photography competition open to all Maldivians captures everyday Maldivian life through the lens of those who live it.
A live mural will be painted throughout the day by participants from across the atoll, growing into a shared artwork that belongs to everyone who contributed to it. The reef rally, featuring costumes made from recycled materials, will wind through the festival as a colorful and collective statement about the oceans worth protecting. Traditional cultural performances, including Boduberu and Laamu Sagaafee Hunaru, will bring the day to a close with the kind of energy that only a community gathered in one place can create.
This year’s festival will also welcome Aminath Zuna, Maldivian competitive swimmer, educator, and ocean advocate, as Guest of Honor. Conservation organizations participating in the festival include the Maldives Ocean Plastic Alliance, Parley Maldives, Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme, Atoll Marine Centre, Miyaru, Spot On, Soneva Conservation and Sustainability Maldives (CSM), and the Maldives Heritage Society.
Food and local vendor stalls will be open throughout the festival, offering traditional food, handmade crafts, and community products from across the atoll.