Maldives Expo 2026, described by the government as the largest exhibition ever held in the country, is entering its final days at Hulhumalé Central Park. The nine-day national showcase of Maldivian craftsmanship, creativity and enterprise remains open to the public until Monday, 2 November.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu inaugurated the expo on the evening of Sunday, 25 October, accompanied by First Lady Sajidha Mohamed. Following the ceremony, the President and First Lady toured the stalls and met participants. Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef, Minister of Economic Development, Transport and Trade Mohamed Saeed, Cabinet ministers and senior officials also attended.
A Bigger Expo Than Last Year
Held under the theme “Future Maldives – Innovation, Creativity and Global Connections”, this year’s expo brings together around 430 participants displaying more than 4,400 products across seven exhibition districts. The 2025 edition featured 240 participants across five districts.
Individual makers account for the largest share of participation, with roughly three in every four entries coming from individuals rather than businesses. The exhibits span 73 categories across 16 sectors. Traditional Maldivian handicrafts lead with 1,695 products, followed by 920 entries in creative arts and design. Food, jewellery, fashion, literature, fisheries, tourism, renewable energy and information and communications technology are also represented.
The expo is organised by the Ministry of Economic Development, Transport and Trade in collaboration with the state-owned Business Center Corporation (BCC), and occupies the whole of Hulhumalé Central Park. The government says the event is meant to promote local creativity and innovation, support businesses and widen economic opportunities, in line with the President’s goal of a developed, diversified Maldivian economy by 2040.
Two New Districts
Two districts have been added this year. The Visitor Economy District gives small and medium-sized tourism businesses, including guesthouses and excursion operators, a space to promote their services, with island-experience stalls set up in thatched huts. The International District showcases technical products from countries with which the Maldives has, or is seeking, free trade or preferential trade agreements.
Elsewhere in the park, the creative economy district sells artworks, wood products, stone carvings and tie-dye pieces, while a marketplace street of stalls and food trucks offers crafts and food. Visitors can watch stone carving, try thundu kunaa mat weaving, and visit a gaming area with a daily leaderboard. A DhivehiGPT stall lets visitors converse with an artificial intelligence system in Dhivehi.
Awards for 130 Winners
Ahead of the public opening, 290 awards were presented to 130 winners at the Maldives Expo 2026 Awards Ceremony on the evening of 24 October, with President Dr Muizzu presenting the five top awards. Award-winning work is displayed at the National Exhibition of Creativity and Innovation inside the expo.
Maldives Polytechnic took first place among educational institutions, exhibiting a tree made from coconut shells and a 1:500 scale model of Villimalé. The Prison Cooperative Society won first place among businesses with miniature traditional Maldivian homes and illuminated scenes made through its rehabilitation programme. The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) won the state-owned enterprises category with models including the “Amazon” dredger used to reclaim Hulhumalé Phase 1.
Among the five top-scoring entries was a necklace by Usha Adam inspired by thundu kunaa, made from 18,441 glass beads. The category for persons with disabilities received 254 entries this year, with first place going to Fathimath Shafaq from Vilifushi in Thaa Atoll.
Visiting the Expo
Maldives Expo 2026 is open to the public daily from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Hulhumalé Central Park, with cultural programmes and entertainment running alongside the exhibition across all seven districts. The final evening is Monday, 2 November.
