New Year’s Eve in the Maldives has become a serious stage for private-island theatre, and One&Only Reethi Rah is leaning into that reputation for the close of 2026.
The resort has announced Jessie J as the headline entertainer for its 31 December Gala Night, with the performance reserved exclusively for in-house guests.
It places one of pop’s most recognisable live vocalists against the kind of Indian Ocean setting that tends to make a countdown feel less like a party and more like a once-a-year ritual.
At a glance
- Jessie J will headline One&Only Reethi Rah’s New Year’s Eve Gala Night on 31 December 2026.
- The private performance is part of a beachside evening of cocktails, culinary theatre and live entertainment for resort guests.
- The festive season opens on 20 December 2026, with reservations and pre-bookings recommended.
A private-island countdown with a global pop voice
One&Only Reethi Rah has built its festive calendar around high-production New Year’s Eve moments, and the Jessie J booking continues that direction.
The British singer-songwriter is known for a vocal range that can move from sharp-edged pop to soul and contemporary R&B without losing its centre of gravity.
For guests, the setting matters almost as much as the artist.
The evening begins with a beachside cocktail reception before opening into the resort’s Gala Night, staged against the backdrop of the Indian Ocean.
Jessie J is expected to take the stage as 2026 draws to a close, bringing a catalogue that includes “Price Tag,” “Domino” and “Bang Bang.”
Those songs made her a global name, but her live reputation has always rested on something more direct than chart history.
She’s a performer who can carry a room without needing much distance between the stage and the audience, which suits the intimacy of a resort-only event.
The festive programme at One&Only Reethi Rah
The New Year’s Eve performance sits within a wider festive season at the Maldivian resort, which begins on 20 December 2026 with the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony & Cocktail.
This year’s seasonal theme is Time as One, shaped around connection, family traditions and unhurried holiday rituals.
For a resort like One&Only Reethi Rah, that framing is important.
The property is not only selling a night of entertainment, but a longer island rhythm that moves between dining, wellness, water activities and family experiences.
Guests can expect culinary events, rejuvenating treatments and activities across both sand and sea throughout the festive period.
The programme also includes the resort’s Orthodox New Year Gala Dinner, extending the celebratory mood beyond the 31 December countdown.
Why Jessie J fits the setting
Jessie J’s appeal has always been unusually broad.
She arrived with the kind of hooks that work immediately in a crowd, yet her stage identity has remained tied to vocal technique rather than studio polish.
Her career includes the Critics’ Choice BRIT Award, a Grammy nomination and coaching roles on The Voice UK, The Voice Australia and The Voice Kids UK.
That mix of pop recognition and vocal credibility makes her a natural choice for a luxury resort audience made up of families, couples and international travellers.
There’s also a practical reason the booking works.
A New Year’s Eve show in a private-island setting needs an artist with enough familiar material to unite the room, but enough live presence to make the performance feel specific to the night.
Jessie J’s strongest hits are built for shared recognition, while her voice gives the event a sense of occasion beyond a standard resort party.
Bookings and guest access
The performance is reserved for guests staying at One&Only Reethi Rah, making accommodation the gateway to the New Year’s Eve event.
Reservations and pre-bookings are recommended, particularly for the festive period when demand in the Maldives is typically at its highest.
Guests can contact the resort’s VIP Services team at [email protected] for festive inquiries and bookings.
General reservations are handled by the resort team at [email protected] or by phone on +960 664 8800.
For travellers already weighing up where to spend the turn into 2027, One&Only Reethi Rah is positioning its New Year’s Eve as more than a single performance.
It’s a full festive escape built around music, dining, family time and the rare pleasure of counting down the year from a private island in the Maldives.
