The best and brightest hotel openings around the world in 2026

From European hotspots to nature-steeped retreats, these new openings for 2026 will define where we travel next.

There are always new and exciting places to stay popping up around the world, here are the top hotel openings to check in and check out on your next overseas escape.

Hotels that put wellness first

Retreat into Bali’s newly opened Mana Sanctuary.

Hotel wellness is no longer a supporting act; it’s swelling into a full-on lifestyle with inventive offerings transforming stays into self-care pathways. Case in point: Mana Sanctuary, Bali’s first regenerative wellness retreat for men and women. The sleep-led concept from the founders of Escape Haven limits guest capacity to 16 and offers personalised journeys to support behavioural changes long after check-out.

Mana Sanctuary is Bali’s first regenerative wellness retreat for men and women. (Credit: Beyond the Wall)

Also fresh is Tulåh Clinical Wellness, where Eastern wellbeing traditions mingle with modern medicine in the hills of India’s Kerala, and Novotel’s global longevity program, which aims to democratise longevity through improved bedding, healthier menus and increased access to movement facilities across its hotels.

Next big destinations to discover

The adults-only Aegean oasis at OKU Bodrum.

The Seychelles has long been a coveted spot for secluded luxury. Now, the Indian Ocean archipelago off the coast of East Africa is stepping into the spotlight again with the reopening of eco-conscious resort Fregate Island after a five-year transformation. It follows the renovation of Niva Labriz Seychelles, a Small Luxury Hotels of the World member.

Hanoi is also evolving with the launch of Fairmont Hanoi and the renovation of Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi – MGallery Collection, along with the incoming debut of a Four Seasons property sealing the deal.

And the opening of OKU Bodrum, an adults-only Aegean oasis, reflects the Turkish Riviera’s emergence as the place to be in the Med.

Accommodation in extraordinary locations

Luura Cliff on Paros is backdropped with breathtaking Aegean Sea vistas.

For travellers seeking stays that go beyond the ordinary, a new wave of hotels is redefining what it means to escape. Set on the edge of the Uyuni Salt Flat and blurring the line between gallery and guest house, Casa Gaston is the vision of the renowned late artist Gastón Ugalde and is poised to become Bolivia’s first luxury hotel-museum.

Equally arresting is the minimalist architecture of Black Sand Hotel in Iceland that makes way for the island’s striking black-sand shoreline to shine.

And perched on the island of Paros, the adults-only, 40-suite Luura Cliff pairs the sculptural beauty of Cycladic architecture with breathtaking Aegean Sea vistas.

Europe’s hottest new openings

Na Praia sits on 340 hectares of preserved wilderness in Portugal. (Credit: Jody Daunton)

Euro summer has never looked so good, with a sweep of design-savvy stays making the yearly pilgrimage even more dreamy. Beat the crowds at Na Praia, Comporta where 113 modern rooms sit on 340 hectares of preserved wilderness along Portugal’s coastline.

Breezy living space in the Delos Harbour Suite. (Image: Zannier Hotels)

Feel like a Greek god or goddess at the reimagined Rosewood Blue Palace, a luxury seaside resort tucked between the fishing village of Plaka and the port of Elounda in Crete.

And indulge in a private island experience in the South of France at Zannier Île de Bendor, a village-style resort where old-world glamour meets Provençal charisma.

Mexico City spotlight

The 43-storey architectural landmark is designed by world-renowned designer Piero Lissoni.

All eyes are on Mexico City this year – a high-altitude capital where the skyline ripples between colonial domes, glassy towers and ancient Aztec sites. Digital nomads are bedding in for the long haul, seduced by third-wave coffee and plentiful free wi-fi, while die-hard sports fans are circling June 2026 when the FIFA World Cup kicks off.

Not surprisingly, a raft of vibrant hotel openings is following, each one sharpening the city’s edge. Hyde Mexico City Reforma will soon bring 215 bohemian rooms to the buzzy boulevards of Avenue Paseo de La Reforma. Luxury Pendry Mexico City promises to pair rooftop cocktails with a see-and-be-seen pool scene in the Art Nouveau-filled Roma Norte district. And then there’s Mama Shelter Mexico City, the playful Parisian import set to splash colour and functionality across its good-vibes-guaranteed social spaces.

Stays defined by nature

Rote Island is on the tranquil side of Indonesia’s southern edge. (Credit: Tânia Araújo)

From Scotland to Indonesia, a sweep of conservation-led, place-driven accommodation is leading the charge.

Hope is a historic hunting lodge reimagined as an intimate hotel by WildLand, with cottages, a communal hub and outdoor experiences that immerse guests in the surrounding coastal Scottish wilderness.

The luxe eco-conscious villas at NIHI Rote offer direct access to the beach. (Credit: Joe Kelly)

NIHI Rote on secluded Rote Island offers a more tranquil side of beloved Indonesia, with beachfront Rotanese-inspired villas and treehouses, plus community-focused initiatives.

Meanwhile, Fiji’s first-ever glamping experience is set to launch in May; luxury island resort Serenity Sands will offer holidaymakers the chance to get closer to nature in the Mamanuca Islands.

Grand luxury hotels

Sweeping views of Al Hajar mountains and Sharqiyah sands from The Malkai.

Some of the most exciting projects in luxury hospitality are shimmering on the horizon.

As part of a sweeping, multi-year hotel transformation, Island Shangri-La Hong Kong has unveiled its spectacular Hong Kong Suite – an opulent 50-floor-high oasis with unrivalled views over Victoria Harbour.

The Malkai is set to channel low-slung luxury, sand-toned serenity and experience-led discovery of Oman’s heritage across its three camps.

Meanwhile, 17-key Casa Bonavita is attentively restoring an 18th-century family palazzo (opening in May) amidst the honeyed limestone village of Attard, Malta.

Immersive retreats in Africa

Mantis Hiddn is a luxury eco-lodge surrounded by pristine wilderness.

The enduring appeal of Africa’s cinematic wilderness is pushing the boundaries of luxury accommodation.

Take the aptly named Erebero Hills – translating to ‘a place where you can see far’ – in Uganda, which features eight treehouse suites with front-row seats to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and serves as a gateway to gorilla trekking.

Mantis Hiddn in Addo is perched above an 800-hectare private reserve.

Or experience Botswana’s Singita Elela, meaning ‘to flow’, where eight circular camps will be raised on stilts to allow the uninterrupted passage of the Okavango Delta’s seasonal waters below.

Plus, check out the 12 luxury suites and villas at eco-lodge Mantis Hiddn in Addo, South Africa, which reside within an exclusive 800-hectare reserve that’s home to the ‘big five’.

Historic buildings reborn as hotels 

The new Orient Express Venezia will open in the Italian spring.

The grand new Orient Express hotel in Venice, set to open in the Italian spring, has been eight years in the making. The latest incarnation of the 15th-century Palazzo Donà Giovannelli is led by Aline Asmar d’Amman, an architect and interior designer known for eloquently bridging the space between heritage and modernity.

Here, she preserves the palace’s accumulated history – including the octagonal staircase introduced in the 19th century by Giovanni Battista Meduna – as well as adding her own timestamp.

Six Senses London is housed in a former department store.

Six Senses London is another hotly anticipated luxury wellness hotel. It’s housed in The Whiteley, a former department store and London landmark.

Hoshinoya Nara Prison will open to guests in June. (Credit: Hoshino Resorts)

There’s also Hoshinoya Nara Prison, the first luxury hotel in Japan adapting a former prison. Designated a National Important Cultural Property, it officially opens in June.

The building on Capri’s coast was once home to the Swedish Queen Victoria.

And then there’s Casa Caprile, the former royal residence of Swedish Queen Victoria. On Capri’s quieter side, it’s been reborn as a sleek retreat for the 21st century.