New and reimagined hotels shaping hospitality in 2026
2026 is a bumper year for hotel openings, from European coastal retreats to a wave of luxury stays in Mexico, and a bright new base in Bangkok
What defines a great hotel in 2026? Slick design, personalised service, social spaces that sing and a clear sense of place. Buildings that shape and give back to the communities they inhabit, more than simply exist.
Out of the hundreds of properties that are opening, a select number have caught our attention, chosen for their thoughtful interiors, environmental credentials and a commitment to meaningful, culture-led hospitality. From long-awaited openings from big-name groups to emerging boutique brands and fresh renovations, these are the hotels on our radar for the year ahead.
Hotels in Europe
Chesa Marchetta, Sils Maria, Switzerland
Why we rate it: An intimate, art-led alpine hideaway
Address: Via da Marias 88, 7514 Sils im Engadin/Segl, Switzerland
Artfarm is Hauser & Wirth’s revered hospitality portfolio, which also includes the Fife Arms in Braemar, Scotland. The group has unveiled its first Swiss hotel in the peaceful village of Sils Maria, where founders Iwan and Manuela had their first date. Set in a renovated 16th century guesthouse, preserving the building’s historic character was essential to the project, which is furnished with locally crafted furniture and antiques. As expected, there is also a world-class art collection, which mixes Old Masters with contemporary works. Look out for works by Swiss painters Alberto Giacometti and Giovanni Giacometti, alongside global names such as Louise Bourgeois.
Na Praia, Comporta, Portugal
Why we rate it: Understated luxury on the rugged Portuguese coast
Address: Estrada nacional 253-1, Troia, 7570-789, Carvalhal, Portugal
Opening: Spring 2026
Na Praia is the second hotel from José António Uva, owner of Roadbook favourite São Lourenço do Barrocal in Alentejo. Located just beyond Comporta on a peninsula between the ocean and a wild nature reserve, sculptural buildings emerge from the untamed landscape. Architecture is deeply guided by the environment, while the hotel is committed to conservation and preserving Portuguese heritage. Understated luxury is expressed through artisanal craftsmanship and local materials, such as raw earth and clay. A slow, considered pace of life is encouraged, with rolling dunes and untouched coastline right outside.
Pulitzer Barcelona, Spain
Why we rate it: An art-filled base in the Catalan capital
Address: Carrer de Bergara, 8, L’Eixample, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
Pulitzer Hotels balance boutique charm with buzzing social spaces, where live DJs spin tracks beneath bespoke art and menus spotlighting local produce. In Barcelona, choose between Hotel Regina and Pulitzer Barcelona, the latter of which has been brought to life by designer and artist Lázaro Rosa Violán. Linger in leafy courtyards over plates of patatas bravas followed by rooftop cocktails, before retreating to an elegantly appointed room, where high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling balcony windows instil openness and calm. Sustainability underpins everything Pulitzer does, as reflected in its recently earned prestigious B-Corp status.
Ytri, Træna Island, Norway
Why we rate it: A Nordic hideaway shaped by land and sea
Address: Fløholmen 8, 8770 Træna, Norway
Opening: Spring 2026
Part of the revered Relais & Châteaux group, Ytri is set to be Norway’s most remote luxury hotel, located in the Træna Archipelago on the Helgeland coast. The island cluster is home to one of the country’s oldest fishing communities, with just 400 residents. Ytrí is Old Norse for “the outer one”, reflecting its windswept coastal setting. As one might expect, there will be a stellar seafood restaurant, alongside a glass-walled Northern Lights lounge and 38 guest rooms. A wood-fired sauna sits on the edge of the Arctic Sea, and guests are encouraged to embrace the wildness of the land.
Orient Express Venezia, Italy
Why we rate it: A palazzo-turned-five-star residence on the water’s edge
Address: Strada Nova 2292, 30121 Venice, Italy
Opening: Spring 2026
Orient Express launched its first hotel in 2025 to much fanfare, reviving a historic palazzo in Rome. The hotel group is set to repeat this success in Venice, transforming a Venetian Palazzo into a five-star residence infused with the legendary train’s savour-faire. Guests arrive by private boat, while original frescoes, mosaic floors and gilded ballrooms have been painstakingly restored to preserve the building’s Neogothic and Baroque heritage. 2026 will also see the debut of La Dolce Vita Orient Express luxury train, rolling through Italy’s most picturesque landscapes.
Luura Cliff, Paros, Greece
Why we rate it: An adults-only clifftop retreat with Cycladic charm
Address: Agia Eirini, Parasporos, Paros Island, Cyclades, Greece, 84400
Opening: Spring 2026
Luura is a new hospitality brand, created in partnership with Ennismore and Accor. It will make its debut with Luura Cliff, an adults-only boutique hotel perched on a clifftop in Paros, Greece. Suites have private terraces overlooking the vast blue Aegean, while some have private plunge pools. Handcrafted Greek furnishings and local art are thoughtfully integrated throughout, reflecting the island’s rich cultural heritage.There is a cliffside Japanese bar and restaurant, alongside a spa and fitness centre, creating a serene retreat amongst the natural beauty of the Cyclades. An additional hotel is planned for Paros, as well as openings in Athens and Beirut.
The Dean, Berlin and Munich, Germany
Why we rate it: Bold design and local flavour
Address: To be announced
Opening: Spring 2026
Independent Irish hospitality brand Dean Group has built a reputation for its design-forward hotels, rich with local art and character. The group is expanding into Europe this year, with a Berlin outpost debuting in February. Contemporary design flourishes throughout 81 guest rooms, while the social heart of the hotel is Benedict, a bakery, restaurant and bar that hums from morning until late. The Dean Munich will follow in March, with a smart interior that reflects the city’s Art Nouveau heritage. A Japanese restaurant, four bars, swimming pool, gym, fitness classes and treatment rooms will create a complete lifestyle offering in the city’s cool Westend district. An additional opening in Miami is set to follow towards the end of 2026.
Six Senses London, UK
Why we rate it: Supreme wellness in an Art Deco London landmark
Address: 1 Redan Place, London W2 4SA
Opening: Spring 2026
One of the most anticipated luxury hotel launches finally arrives in 2026, with the opening of Six Senses London. Set within The Whiteley, the former department store in Bayswater, 109 rooms and suites honour the building’s historic character. A supreme subterranean spa is home to London’s first hotel magnesium pool, as well as a 20m swimming pool and biohacking lounge.
The opening also marks the arrival of Six Senses Place, a members’ club with a focus on wellness and community. As with everything Six Senses does, you can expect thoughtful design, cocooning wellness and genuine sustainability efforts throughout the hotel and club.
Hotels in Asia
Andaz Bangkok, Thailand
Why we rate it: Design-forward lifestyle hotel overlooking lush Lumphini Park
Address: 201 Wireless Road, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
2026 stands to be an exciting year for Andaz, as the brand continues its repositioning as a locally-rooted lifestyle brand, with a focus on modern craftsmanship. The new Andaz One Bangkok is a towering example of the hotel group’s new direction, blending contemporary flair with local character. Thai design elements are found throughout, with a spotlight on works by Thai female artists. Guests can gaze over the city from the rooftop infinity pool, sample Chinese cuisine at Jǐng and finish with cocktails in the Andaz Lounge, where weekend DJs spin against an open-air skyline backdrop. The hotel joins One Bangkok, an expansive hub of retail and restaurants, with lush Lumphini Park on its doorstep.
1 Hotel Tokyo, Japan
Why we rate it: Serene, sustainable luxury and local craftsmanship
Address: 2 Chome-17-22 Akasaka, Minato-ku Minato City, Tokyo 107-0052, Japan
Opening: Spring 2026
The 1 Hotels group, known for its responsibly minded, nature-driven hotel design, is expanding its footprint in 2026 with openings in Tokyo and Austin. Reflective of the brand, you can expect reclaimed materials and serene, natural tones throughout each property, infused with local craftsmanship. Plant-forward restaurants will champion a zero-waste ethos, featuring seasonal, locally sourced ingredients in thoughtfully curated menus.
First up, the Tokyo outpost hovers above Akasaka in the World Gate development by Mori Trust. Interiors celebrate Japanese artistry through handcrafted woodwork, tatami-inspired textures and minimalist design accents. There is also a fitness centre, spa and swimming pool, with an outdoor deck supporting urban biodiversity.
Park Hyatt Tokyo, Japan
Why we rate it: A freshly reopened icon with a legendary bar
Address: 2, 3 Chome-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 163-1055, Japan
Park Hyatt Tokyo has reopened following an 19-month refurbishment, including newly designed guest rooms and suites. Open layouts unfold in marble and wood, with Aesop toiletries and Japanese cotton robes. Much loved-social spaces have also been given a fresh lick of paint, including the famed New York Bar, as featured in Lost in Translation. Alain Ducasse has created a new menu at hotel restaurant, Girandole, where a gourmet breakfast is served beneath a vast collage of black-and-white photographs by Vera Mercer. It is still the Park Hyatt Tokyo that guests know and love, but freshly invigorated for the next generation.
Hotels in North America
Amanvari, Baja California, Mexico
Why we rate it: All-out luxury where the Sea of Cortez meets the desert
Where: 23570 La Ribera, Mexico
Opening: Spring 2026
A highly anticipated Mexican debut from Aman Resorts debuts on Baja’s East Cape this Spring 2026, set across 18 acres of rolling farmland. Responsible, luxurious design abounds, with arresting views of the desert and Sierra de La Laguna mountains. Aman’s reputation for exceptional wellness experiences is upheld here, with a slick spa and high-punching fitness and recovery facilities.
Aman also unveils a new six bedroom villa at Amangiri in Utah this February, which looks set to be the most luxurious residence in the American Southwest, replete with a private pool, gym and spa.
Chablé Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California, Mexico
Why we rate it: Villas with vineyard views, and a thoughtful celebration of Mayan culture
Where: Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico
Opening: Winter 2026
Family-owned Chablé Hotels is known for its luxury properties in Mexico that place nature and wellness at the fore, while honouring Mayan culture. Its latest opening, Chablé Valle de Guadalupe, comprises hotel villas and 10 private residences in Baja California, Mexico’s largest wine region, with panoramic vineyard and valley views. Guests are encouraged to connect with the landscape on hiking trails, while the spa draws on traditional Mexican healing practices. The social heart of the property is the Clubhouse, with an all-day restaurant that champions the region’s larder. The hotel joins sibling properties in Yucatán and Maroma.
