The 50 Most Exciting
New Hotels of 2026

A great hotel can shape an entire journey. Instead of a stop on the itinerary, it becomes the reason for the trip. These statement hotels tend to come with a higher price tag, but they all but guarantee you’ll never forget the experience.

A wave of highly anticipated luxury stays are opening in 2026, from remote expedition gateways to safari lodges and high-profile island resorts.

In southern Chile, Puerto Williams is set to open as the world’s southernmost hotel, constructed as a launch point for Antarctic expeditions. In East Africa, Pinnacle Kigali — a nine-suite property in Rwanda’s capital — will be a refined bookend for trips to Volcanoes National Park and its mountain gorillas.

Island and coastal resorts are also on the rise. High-end hospitality group Zannier is converting a private island off the coast of southern France into a luxury destination this summer. Elsewhere, internationally recognized brands are establishing new addresses: a host of anticipated properties are opening across Europe and beyond, including historic palazzo conversions and brand debuts in cities like Venice and London.

The list that follows highlights 50 hotel openings that merit planning trips around this year. It isn’t exhaustive, but these will be some of the hottest reservations in 2026.


Africa | Asia | Caribbean | Europe | Middle East | North America | South America | Oceania


Africa

Kigali, Rwanda
Opening: January 2026
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Opening: December 2026
Khaudum National Park, Namibia
Opening: Fall 2026

Asia

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Opening: January 2026
Raa Atoll, Maldives
Opening: TBA 2026
Hanoi, Vietnam
Opening: Late 2026
Kyoto, Japan
Opening: Spring 2026
Johor, Malaysia
Opening: January 2026

Caribbean

Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos
Opening: Spring 2026
Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
Opening: August 2026
Barbuda, Antigua and Barbuda
Opening: Late 2026
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Opening: TBA 2026

Europe

Attard, Malta
Opening: May 2026
Milan
Opening: Early 2026
Burgundy, France
Opening: Summer 2026
Hiiumaa Island, Estonia
Opening: Summer 2026
Pelješac Peninsula, Croatia
Opening: Early 2026
Rome
Opening: February 2026
Florence, Italy
Opening: June 2026
Venice, Italy
Opening: April 2026
Crete, Greece
Opening: TBA 2026
London
Opening: March 2026
London
Opening: Spring 2026
Île de Bendor, France
Opening: May 2026

Middle East

Shura Island, Saudi Arabia
Opening: Early 2026
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Opening: Early 2026
Shura Island, Saudi Arabia
Opening: Late 2026
Dubai, UAE
Opening: Spring 2026
Wadi Safar, Saudi Arabia
Opening: July 2026
Dubai, UAE
Opening: TBA 2026

North America

Riviera Maya, Mexico
Opening: February 2026
East Cape, Baja California, Mexico
Opening: Spring 2026
Nashville, Tennessee
Opening: June 2026
Sedona, Arizona
Opening: May 2026
Oakhurst, California
Opening: June 2026
Cancún, Mexico
Opening: Late 2026
Mexico City
Opening: Summer 2026
Austin, Texas
Opening: January 2026
Coronado, California
Opening: February 2026
Charleston, South Carolina
Opening: March 2026
Napa Valley, California
Opening: Late summer 2026
Houston
Opening: Spring 2026
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Opening: June 2026
White Mountains, New Hampshire
Opening: June 2026
Yosemite region, California
Opening: April 2026
Aspen, Colorado
Opening: TBA 2026

South America

Cartagena, Colombia
Opening: Early 2026
Puerto Williams, Chile
Opening: October 2026

Oceania

Sydney
Opening: Late 2026
Fiji
Opening: Late 2026