A Season of Double Celebrations: Anantara Marks 25 Years with Festive Experiences Across Europe

September 10, 2026: Like fireworks marking a grand finale, December is set to become the defining moment of Anantara’s 25th anniversary celebrations, with its European portfolio putting the finishing touches on a festive program that marks two occasions: the holiday season and a quarter century of Anantara hospitality, all while celebrating the traditions of Europe’s most iconic destinations.

Christmas by Candlelight on the Amalfi Coast

A sense of stillness greets guests of Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel as they arrive at the former Capuchin convent for the season’s festivities. In the 13th-century cloisters, a Christmas market brings together local artisans and makers, followed by the annual candlelight experience, where locals and visitors mingle by the fire pit, listen to live music and enjoy hot chocolate. This year, the convent’s charming church will host a Christmas concert by the Minori Band, the town’s beloved community ensemble, while Anantara Spa offers its own take on seasonal warmth with a signature Christmas candlelight ritual using natural candle wax that melts into nourishing massage oil. At Ristorante Dei Cappuccini, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve dinners showcase the flavors of the Amalfi Coast.

A New Year’s Eve First in Amsterdam

For the first time, Dam Square landmark Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam will open its public spaces for a New Year’s Eve countdown experience, embracing its role as the city’s living room. As Amsterdam comes together to welcome 2027, the hotel will extend its celebrations beyond the dining rooms, with live DJs and bars throughout its grand lobby and public spaces. For Christmas, The Cake Room will embrace tradition with a whimsical collection of handcrafted advent calendars and chocolate ornaments available from November onward. Fine dining remains central to the festivities, with Michelin-starred experiences at The White Room and traditional Christmas brunches served beneath the soaring 19th-century glass roof of the Wintergarden.

Imperial Immersion in Vienna

From horse-drawn carriages to twinkling Christmas markets, Vienna offers one of Europe’s most enchanting winter experiences. Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna, the city’s first urban retreat, captures the best of both worlds: a central Ringstrasse address paired with the privacy of its palatial suites. This festive season, the hotel brings together its signature experiences in three overnight packages designed around different moments of the holiday season. The Festive Midweek Escape pairs a tour of the city’s Christmas markets with Theo’s Tea Time back at the hotel, complete with seasonal treats such as mulled wine, eggnog and Champagne. The Christmas Package includes a six-course dinner at Brasserie Sophie, featuring goose, duck and beef Wellington. And for New Year’s Eve, guests can choose between a classic gala dinner and an eight-course tasting journey at Michelin-starred EDVARD.

Mediterranean Warmth in Marbella

On Spain’s Costa del Sol, where winter brings sunshine and mild Mediterranean temperatures, Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Benahavís Marbella Resort brings Mediterranean warmth to the season’s celebrations. Guests can mark Anantara’s anniversary with the exclusive Silver Glow Ritual, a restorative spa experience drawing on both Asian and European wellness traditions; connect with the artisans behind the handcrafted ceramics featured throughout the resort’s restaurants; and attend seasonal workshops such as a festive sweet-making masterclass, perfect for families curious about some of Spain’s most cherished seasonal treats. Festive dining at the resort ranges from a lavish Christmas Day brunch at La Pérgola to an Asian-inspired New Year’s Eve experience at 99 Sushi Bar.

Theater and Wonder in Rome

In an exclusive partnership with Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, one of Italy’s most revered cultural institutions, Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome draws inspiration from The Nutcracker for its festive program and décor. Throughout the hotel’s public spaces, guests will encounter select elements from the opera house’s treasured and rarely seen creative collections, brought into view specially for the occasion. For children, the experience continues with a Nutcracker-inspired culinary workshop, where edible ornaments are crafted, signed and hung on the hotel’s first-floor Christmas tree as part of a collective installation. A Christmas treasure hunt leads families through the hotel’s gardens in search of small surprises hidden among the winter blooms. For New Year’s Eve, celebrations culminate at SEEN by Olivier with a rooftop countdown and panoramic views of the fireworks over Piazza della Repubblica.

Seasonal Indulgence in Budapest

Guests stepping into the soaring atrium of Anantara New York Palace Budapest are greeted by a majestic Christmas tree before enjoying hot chocolate and traditional seasonal treats such as Flódni, a pastry layered with apple, walnuts, poppy seeds and plum jam, and Beigli, the classic sweetbread roll with its instantly recognizable poppy seed swirl. More festive delights await at the city’s celebrated Vörösmarty Square Christmas Market, known for its mulled wine, chimney cakes and stage performances, with complimentary limousine transfers included in the stay package. Back at the hotel, the refined White Salon brasserie hosts a New Year’s Eve gala dinner, followed by a leisurely New Year’s Day at the palatial New York Café.

Sparkling Season on the French Riviera

Glamorous and sun-kissed even in winter, the French Riviera offers a mild Mediterranean setting for the festive season. At Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel, dressed in Champagne gold and pearlescent beige for the occasion, rooftop restaurant SEEN by Olivier pairs panoramic views over the Bay of Angels with a special New Year’s Eve dining experience. Equally indulgent is Les Colonnades’ refined afternoon tea, crafted by Côte d’Azur pastry virtuoso Philippe Tayac. At Anantara Spa, seasonal relaxation combines the wellness area’s sauna and hammam with a 45-minute personalized massage using nourishing oils from the spa’s oil bar, plus a Monika Heiligmann lip balm and Thalion travel kit to extend the experience at home.

Modern Spirit in Dublin’s Docklands

In Ireland, Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel mirrors the dynamic energy of the city’s Silicon Docks with a sophisticated festive program. Forbes Street by Gareth Mullins remains the social hub, serving modern Irish cuisine with tasting menus for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Relaxation awaits at Anantara Spa and at the Marker Bar & Lounge, where a festive afternoon tea featuring seasonal favorites is offered alongside the popular Poetry & Places afternoon tea, a literary-inspired tasting journey paying homage to Dublin’s poets, neighborhoods and iconic landmarks. Celebrations culminate in a rooftop countdown with panoramic views of the Dublin skyline.

For more information about Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations at Anantara hotels and resorts across Europe, please visit www.anantara.com.

A luxury hospitality brand for modern travelers, Anantara Hotels & Resorts connects guests to genuine places, people and stories in some of the world’s most extraordinary destinations. Each Anantara embraces the surroundings and culture of its destination, creating unforgettable memories for every guest since 2001. From city to sea and desert to jungle, Anantara delivers heartfelt, Thai-inspired hospitality at its over 50 hotels and resorts across Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Indian Ocean.

Anantara Hotels & Resorts is a Minor Hotels brand and recognizes its guests through one unified loyalty program, Minor DISCOVERY, part of GHA DISCOVERY.

Visit anantara.com for more information, and connect with Anantara on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube.

Minor Hotels is a global leader in the hospitality industry with over 640* hotels, resorts and branded residences across 58 countries. The group crafts innovative and insightful experiences through its hotel brands including Anantara, Elewana Collection, The Wolseley Hotels, Tivoli, Minor Reserve Collection, NH Collection, nhow, Avani, Colbert Collection, NH, Oaks, and iStay, as well as a diverse portfolio of restaurants and bars, travel experiences, and spa and wellness brands. With over four decades of expertise, Minor Hotels builds stronger brands, fosters lasting partnerships, and drives business success by always focusing on what matters most to our guests, team members and partners.

Minor Hotels is a proud member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) and recognizes its guests through one unified loyalty program, Minor DISCOVERY, part of GHA DISCOVERY.

Discover our world at minorhotels.com and connect with Minor Hotels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube.

*Property count includes operating properties as well as committed developments through ownership, joint ventures, signed leases and management agreements.