Marriott International Unveils Christmas and New Year 2026 Celebrations at 11 Luxury Resorts Across the Americas

Marriott International will be getting into the festive spirit of 2026 with a wealth of Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year events at its 11 luxury hotels and resorts throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. Guests can expect a range of exciting festive activities across destinations like the Turks and Caicos Islands, Cayman Islands, US Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Costa Rica and Brazil.

Running from Thanksgiving on 26 November through early January 2027, the celebrations combine beachfront entertainment, regional culinary traditions, cultural workshops, family activities and exclusive dining experiences. Participating properties operate under Marriott’s Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, St. Regis, Luxury Collection and W Hotels brands.

The programme reflects the growing importance of experience-led luxury travel during the festive period. Rather than concentrating exclusively on traditional Christmas dinners and New Year’s Eve parties, the participating resorts are incorporating local customs, outdoor adventures and destination-specific activities into their holiday calendars.

Caribbean Resorts Introduce Beachfront Christmas Celebrations and Family Experiences

Several Marriott luxury properties across the Caribbean are preparing elaborate festive programmes designed around tropical landscapes, local cuisine and family entertainment.

The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman will mark its twentieth festive season on Seven Mile Beach with celebrations recognising the property’s Emerald Anniversary.

Thanksgiving activities on 26 November will include a traditional buffet in the Cayman Islands Royal Ballroom and a four-course dinner at Seven restaurant.

On 9 December, the hotel will unveil a life-size gingerbread house in its lobby. Additional activities include afternoon tea with Santa from 19 to 24 December and a Christmas Day brunch featuring seafood and carving stations.

New Year’s Eve celebrations will feature a special tasting menu at Blue, followed by beachside entertainment and midnight fireworks for overnight guests.

Environmental education will also form part of the holiday programme. Younger visitors can participate in marine conservation activities, including sea turtle education, night snorkelling and kayaking through mangrove ecosystems.

The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas Combines Caribbean Culture with Traditional Holiday Activities

In the US Virgin Islands, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas is introducing a festive calendar that combines outdoor recreation, local cultural experiences and seasonal dining.

Thanksgiving celebrations will begin with a five-kilometre Turkey Trot, followed by a seaside painting workshop and a holiday luncheon featuring traditional dishes alongside Caribbean specialities.

During December, the resort will offer Hanukkah-inspired dining experiences from 4 to 12 December.

Families can also participate in a Santa-themed running event, a Christmas Eve pirate treasure hunt and a Christmas Day luncheon.

The property’s Caribbean Holiday Glow Lounge will provide express spa treatments between 14 November and 9 January.

New Year’s Eve celebrations will take place at Sails and Great Bay Beach, featuring live entertainment and festive dining. A children’s glow-themed celebration will follow on New Year’s Day.

Turks and Caicos Resort Plans Fifteen Days of Festivities with Private Island Dining

Salterra, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in South Caicos, will host a fifteen-day festive programme between 19 December and 2 January.

One of its principal attractions will be an island cookout experience, transporting guests to a secluded cay for traditional conch preparation over an open fire.

The experience will combine communal dining with beachside gatherings, fire pits and marshmallow treats.

Christmas Eve activities will include lantern-making workshops for children, followed by a resort parade and a buffet featuring live cooking stations.

On Christmas morning, Santa will make a distinctive arrival by floating sleigh before the resort hosts its Christmas Gala Dinner.

The New Year’s Eve programme, themed Silver Night, will feature dining, dancing and fireworks scheduled for 8 pm and midnight.

The celebrations demonstrate how luxury resorts are incorporating distinctive island experiences into conventional festive programming.

Dominican Republic Welcomes St. Regis Festivities with Local Traditions and Luxury Dining

The St. Regis Cap Cana Resort will introduce a festive programme combining Dominican cultural influences with seasonal dining and outdoor activities.

Thanksgiving celebrations on 26 November will include a five-kilometre run through Cap Cana, an autumn-themed artisan workshop and dinner at Cassava Restaurant.

A Christmas tree-lighting ceremony accompanied by live music is scheduled for 4 December.

Christmas Eve will feature a family-style dining experience at NINA Restaurant, with a menu incorporating seafood, seasonal ingredients and traditional festive desserts.

On 31 December, the resort will host a New Year’s Eve buffet at Cassava, followed by a countdown welcoming 2027.

The programme provides visitors with opportunities to experience local hospitality while participating in familiar international holiday celebrations.

Mexico Emerges as a Major Destination for Marriott’s Festive Luxury Travel Programme

Mexico accounts for five of the eleven participating properties, making it the largest destination group within Marriott’s announced festive programme.

The participating resorts are located across Los Cabos, Punta Mita, Riviera Maya and Costa Mujeres.

Their celebrations will incorporate traditional Mexican customs, regional gastronomy, wellness experiences and beachfront entertainment.

Several properties are also placing particular emphasis on cultural participation, offering visitors opportunities to explore indigenous culinary techniques, ceremonial traditions and regional artistic practices.

This approach positions the festive period as an opportunity for destination discovery rather than simply a seasonal resort stay.

Zadún Los Cabos Introduces Stargazing-Inspired Celebrations and Traditional Mexican Posadas

Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Los Cabos, will present a festive programme titled Ignite the Stars.

Inspired by Baja California’s night skies and natural landscapes, the celebrations will incorporate fire-themed dining, cultural activities and wellness experiences.

A Christmas fair and tree-lighting ceremony will take place on 22 December, featuring traditional carols and piñatas.

Christmas Eve will include a Mexican posada at Barrio, accompanied by mariachi music and regional cuisine.

Guests can also attend an intimate Christmas dinner at Humo, the resort’s fire-focused restaurant.

On New Year’s Eve, the property will host a constellation-inspired dining celebration.

Wellness activities, including meditation and personal reflection workshops, will provide opportunities for guests to begin 2027 with a focus on relaxation and renewal.

Solaz Los Cabos Extends Holiday Celebrations Through Three Kings Day

Solaz, a Luxury Collection Resort in Los Cabos,will organise its seasonal programme around themes of generosity, optimism and celebration.

Thanksgiving dining overlooking the Sea of Cortez will take place on 26 November.

The following day, a holiday boutique bazaar will showcase products from local artisans.

A Christmas tree-lighting ceremony is scheduled for 4 December, while Santa will visit the resort on Christmas morning.

New Year’s Eve celebrations will include live music, a DJ, fireworks, Champagne and an open bar.

On 1 January, guests can participate in a restorative wellness experience designed to welcome the new year.

The programme will conclude on 6 January with a Three Kings Day breakfast featuring traditional celebratory pastries.

Additional activities will include ceremonial cacao experiences and workshops encouraging reflection and personal renewal.

St. Regis Punta Mita Highlights Regional Mexican Cuisine and Indigenous Cultural Experiences

The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort will begin its festive calendar on Thanksgiving with a complimentary five-kilometre run and a sunset gratitude ceremony inspired by Wixárika traditions.

The ceremony will incorporate traditional elements, including copal cleansing and recognition of the four cardinal directions.

From 23 December to 3 January, the resort will host a Mexican Culinary Journey.

The programme will showcase different regional food traditions, including those associated with Oaxaca, Central Mexico, Northern Mexico, the Huasteca, Mexico City and the country’s Pacific coast.

Christmas Day activities will feature entertainment for younger guests within a setting inspired by a traditional Mexican village.

The resort’s New Year’s Eve celebration will take place beside the ocean, combining live music, a DJ, fireworks and a midnight Champagne toast.

Riviera Maya Resort Brings Ancient Mayan Culinary Traditions into Christmas Celebrations

The St. Regis Kanai Resort in Riviera Maya will present The Wonder of Sharing, a festive programme running from 26 November through 6 January.

The celebrations will draw inspiration from the destination’s coastal ecosystems, mangrove forests and Mayan cultural heritage.

Culinary experiences will include tuna-carving demonstrations and workshops introducing guests to sikil p’ak, a traditional Mayan preparation.

Seasonal dining events will cover Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

The resort’s New Year’s Eve celebration, titled A Celestial Soirée, will conclude with beachfront entertainment and a midnight Champagne toast.

Families will also have access to outdoor cinema screenings and beach bonfires.

Wellness activities will incorporate elements of Mayan cultural knowledge and celestial traditions.

For larger family groups, the resort offers twelve three- and four-bedroom residences overlooking the mangrove landscape.

St. Regis Costa Mujeres Celebrates Its First Festive Season Since Opening

The St. Regis Costa Mujeres Resort in Cancún will mark its inaugural festive season following its opening in 2026.

Its holiday programme, titled The Golden Legacy, will be organised into four thematic chapters inspired by craftsmanship, innovation and social gatherings.

The celebrations will combine seasonal dining, Caribbean coastal settings and Mexican holiday traditions.

The resort will also incorporate its signature butler service into the festive experience.

Unlike some participating properties, the announcement does not provide a detailed date-by-date calendar for Costa Mujeres.

However, the programme establishes the newly opened resort as another participant in Marriott’s wider seasonal luxury hospitality offering across Mexico.

Costa Rica Combines Environmental Activities, Community Traditions and Exclusive Dining

Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve on Costa Rica’s Peninsula Papagayo, will offer a festive programme connecting natural surroundings with family activities and culinary experiences.

Thanksgiving on 26 November will begin with a native tree-planting activity, encouraging families to participate in environmental stewardship.

The day will conclude with a family-style dinner at Brisa.

A collaborative culinary event involving visiting and resident chefs will follow on 28 November.

On 8 December, the resort will host a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony featuring a local children’s choir and a community gift collection.

Additional celebrations will include a neon-themed festive event on 20 December and Santa’s arrival on Christmas morning.

New Year’s Eve festivities, titled Under One Sky, will feature cocktails, live cooking stations, performances and an after-party continuing until 2 am.

An alternative adults-only tasting experience will also be available.

Brazil’s W São Paulo Prepares Rooftop Christmas Dining and Late-Night New Year Celebrations

W São Paulo will introduce an urban alternative to the beachfront festive programmes offered across the Caribbean and Central America.

The hotel will focus on dining, nightlife and panoramic views of Brazil’s largest city.

On Christmas Eve, Baio restaurant will serve a seasonal buffet inspired by Southern Brazilian cuisine.

Meanwhile, L40 Cozinha de Latitude, located on the fortieth floor, will offer a family-style dinner overlooking São Paulo.

New Year’s Eve celebrations will feature buffet dining and live cooking stations at Baio.

At L40, guests can attend a cocktail reception and rooftop party scheduled to continue until 4 am.

The programme highlights the contrast between Marriott’s tropical resort celebrations and its city-based luxury hospitality experiences.

Festive Tourism Programmes Reflect Growing Demand for Cultural and Experience-Led Holidays

The breadth of Marriott’s 2026 festive programme illustrates how luxury hospitality operators are using seasonal events to differentiate their properties.

Across the eleven participating hotels and resorts, traditional Christmas celebrations are being combined with experiences linked to local heritage, cuisine and natural environments.

Mexico’s programmes place particular emphasis on regional gastronomy and cultural customs.

Caribbean properties focus on beachside celebrations, marine activities and family entertainment.

Costa Rica incorporates environmental participation and community initiatives, while São Paulo offers metropolitan dining and nightlife.

These distinctions may appeal to travellers seeking holidays that combine familiar seasonal traditions with opportunities to explore the character of individual destinations.

The programmes also create opportunities for participating hotels to attract multigenerational families, couples and travellers interested in premium culinary experiences.

However, the announcement does not provide booking figures or occupancy forecasts, so the commercial impact of the initiative remains unquantified.

What Travellers Should Know Before Booking Marriott’s 2026 Festive Packages

Travellers considering Christmas or New Year holidays at participating Marriott properties should review the individual resort calendars before finalising their arrangements.

Although the wider programme begins around Thanksgiving and extends into January, the operating dates of individual activities vary considerably.

Some experiences, particularly special dining events, private island excursions and New Year’s Eve celebrations, may require separate reservations.

Guests should also check whether specific activities are included in accommodation rates or carry additional charges.

Marriott is promoting its Grand Getaways offer at participating properties across the Caribbean and Latin America. Travellers should consult the applicable terms, booking conditions and property-specific availability before making reservations.

Conclusion: Marriott Expands the Scope of Festive Luxury Experiences Across the Americas

Marriott International’s 2026 holiday programme brings together eleven luxury properties across seven Caribbean and Latin American destinations, offering travellers a broad selection of festive experiences.

From the beaches of Grand Cayman and the secluded cays of Turks and Caicos to Mexico’s cultural celebrations, Costa Rica’s forest landscapes and São Paulo’s rooftop dining, each property presents a distinct interpretation of the holiday season.

The initiative places regional traditions alongside internationally recognised celebrations, allowing visitors to combine Christmas and New Year activities with destination-specific experiences.

For the luxury travel sector, the programme demonstrates how hotels can use cultural programming, gastronomy, wellness and family entertainment to distinguish their seasonal offerings.

With celebrations extending from 26 November 2026 into January 2027, the participating properties are positioning themselves to attract travellers seeking warm-weather festive holidays across the Americas.

The post Marriott International Unveils Christmas and New Year 2026 Celebrations at 11 Luxury Resorts Across the Americas appeared first on Travel and Tour World