The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2026: Which Hotels Made the List?

The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2026, now officially called The 50 Best Hotels, was revealed in Paris on September 15, and Rosewood Hong Kong has held onto the No. 1 spot for the second year in a row. Capella Bangkok moved into second place, Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River landed at No. 3, and the rest of the list stretches from the shores of Lake Como to the Yucatán jungle, St. Moritz, São Paulo, Los Cabos and beyond. 

There are grand dames that have been perfecting hospitality for generations, new hotels already making an impression, tiny country estates, polished city hotels and resorts where the property itself is the reason for the trip. And that is what makes this list interesting.

For luxury travelers, a ranking is not necessarily a checklist. The No. 1 hotel in the world is not automatically the right hotel for every trip. But the 2026 results offer a useful look at the properties, destinations and styles of hospitality getting attention at the highest end of the market right now.

Quick Take: The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2026

  • No. 1: Rosewood Hong Kong, for the second consecutive year.

  • Top three: Rosewood Hong Kong, Capella Bangkok and Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River.

  • 10 hotels are new entries in the 1–50 ranking, with Casa Maria Luigia entering highest at No. 18.

  • Bangkok has three hotels in the top 10 and four in the full top 50.

  • France and Italy each have six hotels on the list, the highest totals by country.

  • Passalacqua was named Best Hotel in Europe, Chablé Yucatán Best Hotel in North America, Atlantis The Royal Best Hotel in the Middle East, Rosewood São Paulo Best Hotel in South America, Royal Mansour Best Hotel in Africa, and Capella Sydney Best Hotel in Oceania.

How Are The 50 Best Hotels Chosen?

Unlike a traditional hotel inspection or star-rating system, The 50 Best Hotels does not use a fixed checklist of amenities.

More than 800 international voters make up The 50 Best Hotels Academy. The panel is divided across 13 geographic regions and includes travel journalists, hoteliers and seasoned luxury travelers. Each voter selects seven hotels, in order of preference, where they have stayed within the previous three years.

Hotels cannot apply for a position, pay to participate or self-nominate. Voters must provide proof of their stay, and the results are independently adjudicated by Deloitte. At least 25 percent of the Academy is refreshed every year.

In other words, this is a ranking based on memorable hotel experiences rather than one formula for what a great hotel should look like.

KJ Travel Perspective

There is also plenty of firsthand experience with this list at KJ Travel. Kate has personally stayed at nearly half of the hotels in the 2026 ranking, while KJ Travel advisors have experienced many of the others across the world.

That gives the team an interesting perspective on just how different these properties can be. A hotel that feels perfect for one traveler may not be the right match for another, even when both rank among the best in the world. The setting, service style, size, atmosphere and even the right room category can completely change the experience.

What Stands Out About the 2026 List?

Bangkok is having a major hotel moment

Bangkok places three hotels inside the top 10 and four on the full list once Aman Nai Lert at No. 48 is included.

That is notable in a city already known for some of the world's strongest hospitality. More importantly, the hotels are not interchangeable. Capella offers riverfront intimacy, Four Seasons feels like an energetic urban resort, Mandarin Oriental carries generations of hotel history, and Aman Nai Lert brings the Aman approach to a green city setting.

For luxury travelers considering Southeast Asia, Bangkok deserves more than a rushed stopover.

Italy and France remain hotel powerhouses

A count of the 2026 list gives both Italy and France six hotels each.

Italy's properties range from Passalacqua on Lake Como to Four Seasons Firenze, Casa Maria Luigia, Bulgari Roma, Portrait Milano and San Domenico Palace in Taormina.

France's six include four Paris hotels, Hôtel de Crillon, Le Bristol, Cheval Blanc Paris and Plaza Athénée, plus Hôtel du Couvent in Nice and Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes.

The takeaway is not simply that these destinations have excellent hotels. It is the variety. A traveler can move from a palace hotel in Paris to a restored convent in Nice or from a tiny Lake Como villa to a contemporary Roman hotel without repeating the same version of luxury.

Small hotels are competing with the biggest names

Passalacqua in Lake Como only has 24 rooms and ranks fifth.

Casa Maria Luigia, with just 13 rooms, enters the list at No. 18 and wins the Highest New Entry Award. The restored country estate outside Modena is the creation of Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore, with contemporary art, gardens and food forming the heart of the experience. 

That is an important distinction in a luxury market where scale can sometimes be mistaken for quality. Some of the most interesting hotels are becoming more personal, not bigger.

A strong sense of place FOR THE WIN!

There is also a pattern running through many of the most compelling hotels on the list.

Mandarin Oriental Qianmen puts guests inside Beijing's hutongs. Rosewood São Paulo incorporates Brazilian art and architecture throughout the property. Casa Maria Luigia feels inseparable from Emilia-Romagna's food culture.

Luxury is becoming less about creating the same polished hotel everywhere in the world and more about making travelers feel that they could only be in that particular place.

New Hotels and Big Movers Worth Knowing

Casa Maria Luigia, No. 18: The highest new entry of 2026 is one for travelers who plan trips around food. Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore's Modena estate brings together hospitality, contemporary art, Emilia-Romagna and several distinct dining experiences.

Patina Osaka, No. 33: Opened in 2025, Patina Osaka was named the Best New Hotel 2026. The 221-room hotel sits beside Osaka Castle Park and incorporates Japanese seasonality throughout its design, dining and wellness concepts. 

Badrutt's Palace, No. 36: The St. Moritz icon won the Art of Hospitality Award. The family-owned hotel has been welcoming guests since 1896, and its service philosophy is built around personalization, long-term staff relationships and generations of repeat guests. 

Hôtel du Couvent, No. 38: The converted 17th-century convent in Nice won the Art of Design Award. Rather than making the historic building feel brand new, its restoration preserved original materials, proportions and the quiet character of the former convent. 

Las Ventanas al Paraíso, No. 25: The Los Cabos resort earned the Highest Climber Award, moving up 19 places. Its collection of suites and private villas, butler service and long-established reputation make it one of the list's strongest examples of classic resort hospitality continuing to evolve. 

The Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York: It did not enter the top 50 this year, but it received the One to Watch Award, which The 50 gives to a property it believes could enter the ranking in a future edition. The hotel combines a restored Gilded Age mansion with a newer tower and interiors by Martin Brudnizki.

The Full List: The 50 Best Hotels in the World 2026

Rosewood Hong Kong | Hong Kong

  1. Capella Bangkok | Bangkok, Thailand

  2. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River | Bangkok, Thailand

  3. Atlantis The Royal | Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  4. Passalacqua | Lake Como, Italy

  5. Rosewood São Paulo | São Paulo, Brazil

  6. Mandarin Oriental Qianmen | Beijing, China

  7. Upper House Hong Kong | Hong Kong

  8. Chablé Yucatán | Chocholá, Mexico

  9. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok | Bangkok, Thailand

  10. Aman Tokyo | Tokyo, Japan

  11. Four Seasons Firenze | Florence, Italy

  12. Claridge's | London, England

  13. Hôtel de Crillon | Paris, France

  14. Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab | Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  15. Capella Sydney | Sydney, Australia

  16. Raffles Singapore | Singapore

  17. Casa Maria Luigia | Modena, Italy | New Entry

  18. Le Bristol | Paris, France

  19. Cheval Blanc Paris | Paris, France

  20. Desa Potato Head | Bali, Indonesia

  21. San Ysidro Ranch | Santa Barbara, California | New Entry

  22. One&Only Mandarina | Riviera Nayarit, Mexico

  23. Bulgari Tokyo | Tokyo, Japan

  24. Las Ventanas al Paraíso | Los Cabos, Mexico

  25. Royal Mansour | Marrakech, Morocco

  26. Four Seasons Astir Palace | Athens, Greece

  27. Raffles London at The OWO | London, England

  28. Copacabana Palace | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

  29. The Taj Mahal Palace | Mumbai, India

  30. The Peninsula Istanbul | Istanbul, Turkey | New Entry

  31. Bulgari Roma | Rome, Italy

  32. Patina Osaka | Osaka, Japan | New Entry

  33. Mount Nelson | Cape Town, South Africa

  34. Nihi Sumba | Sumba Island, Indonesia

  35. Badrutt's Palace | St. Moritz, Switzerland

  36. Park Hyatt Kyoto | Kyoto, Japan

  37. Hôtel du Couvent | Nice, France

  38. Portrait Milano | Milan, Italy | New Entry

  39. Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo | Monaco

  40. Plaza Athénée | Paris, France | New Entry

  41. Hotel Sacher Vienna | Vienna, Austria

  42. Estelle Manor | Witney, England

  43. Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc | Antibes, France

  44. Amangiri | Canyon Point, Utah | New Entry

  45. The Peninsula Hong Kong | Hong Kong | New Entry

  46. Maroma | Riviera Maya, Mexico

  47. Aman Nai Lert | Bangkok, Thailand | New Entry

  48. The Connaught | London, England

  49. San Domenico Palace | Taormina, Italy | New Entry

How Should Luxury Travelers Use a Hotel Ranking Like This?

The most important word in any hotel ranking might actually be fit.

Rosewood Hong Kong can be No. 1 in the world and still not be the right choice for someone looking for a quiet, 20-room hideaway. Passalacqua may be extraordinary for a romantic Lake Como stay but completely wrong for a family looking for a full-scale resort. Atlantis The Royal and Capella Bangkok are both near the top of the same ranking, yet they deliver almost opposite styles of luxury.

Room category matters too. A private courtyard in Beijing, a lakefront room on Lake Como, a villa in Los Cabos or a harbour-facing suite in Hong Kong can materially change the experience of the same hotel.

That is where a ranking becomes most useful: not as the final answer, but as a very good starting point.

The KJ Travel Take

There is no single formula for luxury and that is why matching you to the right property is so important.

A KJ Travel advisor can help narrow the options based on the destination, who is traveling, preferred hotel style, room and suite needs, dining priorities and the overall pace of the trip. As a preferred partner in many of the hotels in this list, KJ Travel can unlock special perks and benefits for you! 

Get in touch with a KJ Travel advisor today.

FAQs About The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2026

What is the No. 1 hotel in the world in 2026?

Rosewood Hong Kong was named the World's Best Hotel for 2026. It held the No. 1 position for the second consecutive year and was also named Best Hotel in Asia. 

How are The 50 Best Hotels selected?

More than 800 international voters participate. The Academy is made up of travel journalists, hoteliers and experienced luxury travelers across 13 geographic regions. Each voter ranks seven hotels they have personally stayed at during the previous three years. 

Can a hotel pay to appear on the list?

No. Hotels cannot pay, apply or self-nominate for the ranking. The organization states that it follows a no “pay-to-play” policy, and Deloitte independently adjudicates the voting process.

Which country has the most hotels on the 2026 list?

France and Italy are tied with six hotels each in the top 50. France's entries include four hotels in Paris plus Hôtel du Couvent in Nice and Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes. Italy's list stretches from Lake Como and Florence to Modena, Rome, Milan and Taormina. 

Which city has the most hotels on the list?

Bangkok and Paris each have four hotels in the top 50. Bangkok is particularly notable because three of its four hotels, Capella Bangkok, Four Seasons Bangkok and Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, appear within the top 10. 

What is the best hotel in Europe for 2026 according to The Best 50?

The ranking named Passalacqua on Lake Como the Best Hotel in Europe for 2026. It also received the Best Boutique Hotel Award for the third consecutive year.

What are the biggest new entries on the 2026 list?

There are ten new entries in the 1–50 ranking. Casa Maria Luigia is the highest at No. 18, followed by San Ysidro Ranch at No. 22, The Peninsula Istanbul at No. 31 and Patina Osaka at No. 33.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo vs. Passalacqua: Two Takes on Lake Como Luxury

Quick Take

  • Grand Hotel Tremezzo and Passalacqua are both owned by the De Santis family, though each hotel has its own personality.

  • Grand Hotel Tremezzo is a grand, historic lakefront hotel built in 1910, known for its floating pool that sits directly on Lake Como.

  • Passalacqua is a smaller, more private 18th-century villa that opened in 2022 and was named the World's Best Hotel in 2023.

  • Grand Hotel Tremezzo suits travelers who want a classic resort feel with pools, a beach, and full hotel amenities.

  • Passalacqua suits travelers who want the feel of staying in someone's (extraordinary) private home.

  • Both hotels close for a short winter break each year, so shoulder-season and summer travel is best.

Lake Como has no shortage of beautiful hotels, but only two of them share a bloodline. If you’ve ever looked into Lake Como, there's a big chance you've heard about Grand Hotel Tremezzo and Passalacqua.

Two of Lake Como’s most celebrated luxury hotels belong to the De Santis family, yet they offer two very different versions of life on the lake.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo is grand, glamorous and full of energy: three pools, a private beach, multiple restaurants, beautiful gardens and a prime position for exploring the heart of Lake Como.

Passalacqua is smaller, quieter and more intimate. With only 24 rooms set inside a historic private estate, it feels more like staying in an extraordinary Italian villa than checking into a traditional hotel.

For luxury travelers trying to decide where to spend their nights on Lake Como, or whether to split a trip between the two, here are the things that set them apart.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo: The Grand Dame of the Lake

Grand Hotel Tremezzo is the one that really gives travelers that classic Lake Como experience.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo opened in 1910, and it's much bigger than Passalacqua because it was originally built as a hotel. 

It sits in Tremezzina, on the western shore, looking directly across the water at Bellagio, with the Grigne mountains as a backdrop. The De Santis family has owned and run it for more than five decades, and the annual winter closure and careful upkeep show in how well the property has aged.

This is the property most people picture when they think of a grand Lake Como hotel: roughly 90 rooms and suites, multiple restaurants and bars, a private sandy beach, and three separate pools. That includes its most famous feature, the WOW pool (Water-On-Water), a floating pool set right on the surface of the lake itself (and it’s one of those things that really is as fun as it looks). There's also a garden pool tucked among the flowers and an infinity pool at the spa.

The suites have that old-world Lake Como glamour, but with plenty of modern touches. The Rooftop Corner Suites have private terraces, lake-view whirlpools and butler service. Suite Emilia is inside the 18th-century Villa Emilia, which also houses the T Spa, and has a marble bathroom with a steam bath and double rain shower.

There’s dinner at La Terrazza, a tennis court, jogging paths and motorboats available to rent for exploring the lake on a guest’s own schedule.

For families, larger groups or travelers who like having plenty of options, that can be a big advantage. There’s no need to build every day around leaving the hotel. A pool morning can turn into a boat afternoon, followed by the spa and dinner without going very far.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo is a short walk from Villa Carlotta and its botanical gardens, and about an hour's drive from Milan Malpensa Airport. 

Best for: Travelers and families who want a true resort experience on the lake itself, with room to spread out and plenty to do without leaving the property.

Passalacqua: One Of The World's Most Talked-About Villa

Passalacqua's story starts long before it was a hotel. 

The 18th-century villa was commissioned by Count Andrea Lucini Passalacqua as a private residence. In 2018, the De Santis family bought the property and spent three years restoring it under the direction of Valentina De Santis, before opening it to guests in June 2022.

The results speak for themselves. In 2023, Passalacqua was named The World's Best Hotel at the very first World's 50 Best Hotels awards, a rare win for a small, family-owned property up against major global brands. 

Part of what makes it special is its size:There are just 24 rooms and suites, spread across three buildings. The main Villa holds the bulk of the rooms, the Palazz, once the estate’s stables, adds eight more, and Casa al Lago sits closest to the water with four rooms of its own.

Then there are the seven acres of terraced gardens, planted with centuries-old cedars and magnolias, that lead down toward the pool and private dock. Old tunnels running beneath the villa, originally built in the 1700s, now lead guests to the spa. The gym is tucked into an olive grove, there’s a clay tennis court and a bocce court, and an in-house florist cuts fresh blooms from the garden every day.

Where Grand Hotel Tremezzo is built around the lake itself, Passalacqua is built around the feeling of staying somewhere private. There's no long list of hotel amenities to work through, just a small team focused on one thing: making guests feel like the villa is theirs for the stay.

Passalacqua sits in Moltrasio, also on the western shore, close to Villa d'Este and about 45 minutes to an hour from Milan Malpensa Airport.

Best for: Couples, honeymooners, and small groups who want the most private, residence-like luxury experience on the lake, and who don't mind a smaller property with fewer public spaces.

How to Choose Between Them

Both hotels share the same standard of service and an amazing stay at both properties is guaranteed. What sets them apart is how each traveler wants to spend their days on the lake.

For travelers who want to swim in the lake, spend afternoons on a private beach, have restaurants and bars to choose from and plenty happening around the property, Grand Hotel Tremezzo is the better fit. Its size also makes it a natural choice for families or larger groups traveling together.

Passalacqua is a different story.

Travelers looking for the quietest, most exclusive version of Lake Como will likely lean toward Passalacqua. Its small scale and residence feel make it especially suited to couples and honeymoons, though it's just as capable of hosting a family looking for a private villa escape.

And then there are the travelers who look at both and think, why choose?

Some travelers book a few nights at each, and that can actually be a great way to experience Lake Como. Grand Hotel Tremezzo brings the resort energy, the pools, the beach and all the activity around the lake. Passalacqua brings the quieter, more intimate side of the experience.

It gives travelers a little bit of both, which can be especially nice on a longer Lake Como stay.

Both properties keep a short winter closure, generally from early January into March, so travel is best planned for spring through fall, with September and early October offering some of the calmest, most pleasant weather on the lake.

Planning Your Lake Como Stay

We can help you arrange stays at both Grand Hotel Tremezzo and Passalacqua. And Lake Como doesn’t have to be the whole trip. At KJ Travel, we regularly build multi-stop itineraries throughout Italy and Europe, connecting a stay on the lake with other destinations, hotels and experiences that make sense for the overall trip.

Ready to experience these properties first hand? Contact a KJ Travel advisor and start planning your Lake Como getaway today!

FAQs: Grand Hotel Tremezzo vs. Passalacqua

Which is more private: Grand Hotel Tremezzo or Passalacqua?

Passalacqua is the more intimate choice. It has only 24 rooms across a private seven-acre estate, compared with Grand Hotel Tremezzo’s 77 rooms and much larger resort setup.

Which is better for a honeymoon?

Passalacqua is particularly suited to honeymooners who want privacy, romantic surroundings and plenty of unstructured time together. Grand Hotel Tremezzo is a better match for couples who prefer a livelier atmosphere with several restaurants, pools and activities.

Which is better for families?

Both hotels can accommodate families. Grand Hotel Tremezzo offers more traditional resort infrastructure and room categories such as the Terrace Garden Suite, which sleeps two adults and two children. At Passalacqua, select rooms interconnect, including Casa al Lago accommodations that can create a two-bedroom family setup.

Which hotel is better for a first visit to Lake Como?

Grand Hotel Tremezzo is especially convenient for a first trip because of its position in the central lake area. Bellagio is approximately 10 minutes away by boat and Varenna about 15 minutes, making it easy to combine hotel time with sightseeing.

Do both hotels offer boats on Lake Como?

Yes. Both properties offer access to Lake Como by private jetty and operate boat experiences. Grand Hotel Tremezzo offers lake excursions from its jetty, while Passalacqua has a fleet that includes vintage and modern launches.