Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas Named Among the World’s Best in the 2026 Travel + Leisure 500

Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas has been named to the 2026  Travel + Leisure 500, the publication’s annual list of the world’s best hotels and resorts. The recognition  places Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, a private island resort set within the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere  Reserve, among the most distinguished addresses in global hospitality, and reaffirms its standing as one  of the Indian Ocean’s most iconic luxury escapes, celebrated for its overwater villas, underwater dining  and pristine reef ecosystem. 

Compiled from the results of the 2025 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, the T+L 500 honours the  hotels and resorts that readers return to year after year for exceptional service, refined design and  unforgettable guest experiences. Presented in alphabetical order by region, the full list is featured in the  May 2026 issue of Travel + Leisure.

Set on the secluded island of Kihavah Huravalhi, Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas is surrounded by one of  the Maldives’ most biodiverse house reefs. A two-year scientific assessment, published by the resort as  Wonders of Kihavah, recorded approximately 300 fish species along the reef, with as many as 160  observable in a single day from SEA, the world’s only underwater wine cellar. The publication remains the  most extensive resort-led reef study undertaken in the Maldives. 

“To be named within the T+L 500 is a meaningful affirmation of everything our team brings to life on this  island, day after day. It is a reflection of the warmth, the artistry and the genuine care that define Anantara  Kihavah, and a tribute to the natural sanctuary that surrounds us. We share this recognition with our  guests, whose loyalty and stories continue to shape the spirit of Kihavah,”  – Sasha Tyas, General Manager of Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas. 

The recognition forms part of a record-breaking year for parent company Minor Hotels, which saw ten  properties celebrated across the 2026 T+L 500, spanning Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the  Americas. Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas leads the Maldivian representation for the group, alongside  fellow honourees in Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Italy, Dubai, Zanzibar and Brazil. 

“To see ten of our properties recognised in the T+L 500 underlines the scale and quality of our global luxury  portfolio,” said Dillip Rajakarier, Group CEO of Minor International, the parent company of Minor Hotels. “It reflects the breadth of what we’re doing in luxury today, and the consistency with which those  experiences are resona:ng with guests across our brands and regions.” 

For Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, the accolade arrives during a season of meaningful evolution. The  resort recently unveiled its reimagined Beach Pool Villas, contemporary sanctuaries that bring together  natural textures, open-plan living and private pools embraced by tropical greenery.  

Together, these milestones reflect the resort’s continued commitment to refined, nature-led hospitality  and to creating experiences that resonate long after the journey home. 

To begin planning your stay, please visit www.anantara.com/kihavah-maldives or email kihavahmaldives@anantara.com