An early look at next year’s most exciting new luxury getaways, from Texas to Tanzania.
From a quick urban escape to a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, a new roster of luxury hotels and resorts can help inspire any 2026 itinerary.
A recurring theme for new properties is the renaissance of glamour. In Europe, legendary landmarks—from Venice’s iconic Hotel Danieli to London’s majestic Admiralty Arch—are getting meticulously restored and reborn under luxury brands such as Four Seasons and Waldorf Astoria.
Simultaneously, other powerhouse hospitality groups are staking claims in the world’s most coveted destinations. Aman will move into the Baja desert, Bulgari will bring its Italian chic to the Maldives and Capella will make its Japanese debut in Kyoto’s historic heart.
Here are Forbes Travel Guide’s 23 most anticipated hotel openings for 2026.
Amanvari, Baja California, Mexico
Opening in the spring, the 18-room beachfront Amanvari will blend into Baja’s desert landscape with white concrete, natural stone and tropical wood. Local artwork adds Mexican touches. The spa will be a sanctuary with a temazcal (a sweat lodge) and an open-air yoga pavilion. Within the 1,500-acre Costa Palmas community, Amanvari also will have access to amenities like the superyacht marina on the Sea of Cortez and a Robert Trent Jones II golf course.
Baccarat Hotel Rome
After a dazzling inaugural hotel in New York, the French crystal house will expand its collection into Rome. Baccarat will take over the historic 1889 Hotel Majestic, the first hotel to be built on Via Veneto and a backdrop in Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita. The 87-room property, opening in late 2026, will restore heritage details while also adding the brand’s signature lavish finishes and gleaming crystal pieces—and masterpieces.
Capella Kyoto
For its first Japan property, Capella ventured into Kyoto’s historic Miyagawa-chō district. Capella Kyoto will fuse cultural preservation and contemporary design, with architecture influenced by machiya townhouses and traditional Higashiyama aesthetics. Under a bow-shaped karahafu roof, there will be 89 rooms, with top-floor suites overlooking Mount Higashiyama and Yasaka Pagoda; a spa with private onsen rooms and a subterranean waterfall; and a peaceful courtyard connecting public and private spaces.
Bulgari Resort Ranfushi, Maldives
Bulgari will bring Italian glamour to nearly 50 acres in the Maldives’ Raa Atoll with the opening of the Bulgari Resort Ranfushi. Expect sleek design from ACPV Architects Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel for the 54 accommodations, including 33 beach villas with private pools, 20 overwater villas and a villa on its own island. Enjoy meals at Italian favorite Il Ristorante-Niko Romito, Chinese fine dining restaurant Bao Li Xuan and Japanese spot Hōseki, and get pampered at the sumptuous Bulgari Spa.
Four Seasons Resort Mykonos
An elegant Cycladic haven will arrive on the famed Greek island in mid-2026. Sprawling across 15 cliffside acres above Kalo Livadi Bay, Four Seasons Resort Mykonos will have 94 Aegean Sea-facing rooms, including more than 30 suites with plunge pools; four restaurants and bars; two infinity pools (including one for adults only); a hillside spa; and a kids’ club. The hotel will also have direct access to its own pristine beach.
Mandarin Oriental Punta Negra, Mallorca
Mandarin Oriental Punta Negra will give travelers another reason to visit Mallorc’s Puerto Portals, the glamorous marina on the island’s southwestern coast. Sun-filled rooms bathed in white and sandy tones will overlook the sea and the pine trees dotting the grounds. The five dining and drinking options will include chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s Japanese-Peruvian cuisine and Leña by Dani Garcia’s Spanish steakhouse fare.
Fregate Island, Seychelles
After a five-year transformation, Fregate will reopen next fall with 14 pool villas and three estates. The Plantation House will serve as the private island’s social hub with a distillery, a cigar lounge and the Indian Ocean’s largest wine cellar. Reinforcing its commitment to sustainability, Fregate will source up to 80% of ingredients from its farm and sustainable fishing. A new Sunset Bar, perched on the island’s highest point, will offer sweeping vistas of granite peaks, rainforest and the sea.
Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli, Venice
The esteemed luxury railway company will unveil its second hotel (the first is in Rome) next April in a dramatic 15th-century palazzo designed by Filippo Calendario, the visionary behind the Doge’s Palace. Architect/interior designer Aline Asmar d’Amman will revive historic details, including the original mosaic floors and frescoes by Italian masters. Palazzo Donà Giovannelli will feature 47 rooms, a fine-dining restaurant with boat access and an eatery overlooking a courtyard and lush garden.
A Rocco Forte Hotel, Costa Smeralda, Sardinia
The family-run Rocco Forte brand will add another luxury hotel to its European portfolio with the opening of this yet-to-be-named property along two acres of the scenic Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast); Milan-based designer Patricia Urquiola will showcase natural materials and local craftsmanship in the 64 rooms; there will be a state-of-the-art spa; and it will house three restaurants and a panoramic rooftop bar.
Park Hyatt Phu Quoc, Vietnam
While Phu Quoc may be Vietnam’s largest island, this rustic destination remains a secret among most discerning travelers. Park Hyatt will look to change that when it opens in the spring on the island’s southwest tip. The luxury hotel will adopt traditional Vietnamese architecture amid unspoiled nature, spotlight contemporary art and timeless craftsmanship and offer a mile of golden beach.
Hotel Danieli, Venice
Sitting in a prime location along the Venetian Lagoon, Hotel Danieli is an icon dating to the 14th century. Beginning next year, the Four Seasons will oversee the historic property and return it to its Gothic grandeur with the help of prominent designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. After the makeover, guests will still be able to enjoy arrival by boat and stunning city and water views from the guest rooms and the hotel’s three restaurants and bars.
Rosewood Hangzhou, China
Spanning two interconnected towers, Hangzhou’s new Wangjiang New City development will house a K11 Art Mall, offices and this 16-story hotel. Its design pays homage to Hangzhou’s hilly terrain, with green spaces sprinkled throughout. The property will contain 140 rooms, including 17 suites with access to the Manor Club, an executive lounge with butler service. Culinary options will range from a bistro and a Chinese restaurant to a bar and a flower shop/patisserie/lounge hybrid.
The Cormorant at 55 South, Puerto Williams, Chile
Expedition company Silversea will make it easier to reach Antarctica with its first hotel, opening in early 2026 exclusively for its cruise passengers. As the southernmost hotel on Earth, The Cormorant will be the gateway to the continent and a convenient launch point for Silversea’s Antarctic voyages. All 150 rooms will have oversized windows framing the forest or Beagle Channel, as well as handcrafted pieces from regional artisans and gear for the bucket-list adventure.
The St. Regis Costa Mujeres Resort, Cancun
North of Cancun’s Hotel Zone, The St. Regis Costa Mujeres spreads across nearly nine acres of the tranquil Costa Mujeres beach. It’s a 35-minute drive from the airport, an hour from sister property The St. Regis Kanai Resort and a quick boat ride from Isla Mujeres. The resort will have 158 rooms, three food and drink spots, several swimming pools, a beach club and St. Regis’ famous butler service.
Waldorf Astoria London Admiralty Arch
At the end of The Mall opposite Buckingham Palace, Admiralty Arch was commissioned by King Edward VII as a memorial for his mother, Queen Victoria. The monument will open as a hotel this spring featuring 100 rooms with unparalleled views of the palace in one direction and Nelson’s Column and Trafalgar Square in the other. Dining will be a highlight with world-class chefs Clare Smyth and Daniel Boulud overseeing the restaurants.
The Cooper, Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston’s vibrant waterfront will get new life with the first-quarter launch of The Cooper. As the city’s only luxury hotel on the harbor, the 191-room property—part of Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ Legend Collection—will have a private marina with access to two Hinckley yachts, an infinity pool and a grand lawn opening onto Joe Riley Waterfront Park to bring guests to the water’s edge. After a day outdoors, retreat to the 7,000-square-foot spa or coastal-inspired rooms.
The Lake Como EDITION
Italy’s Lake Como region will welcome a splash of stylish minimalism when The Lake Como EDITION officially opens in March. The 19th-century palazzo will be a dining destination, featuring the first Italian restaurants from celebrated chef Mauro Colagreco. Beyond the culinary lure, the 148-room property will draw in guests with a picturesque pool floating in the lake.
Ubuyu, Tanzania
Ruaha National Park in Tanzania, which boasts one of Africa’s largest elephant populations, will be home to Banyan Group’s first safari resort, Ubuyu. Don’t expect to rough it in the bush—the riverfront Ubuyu will have just six eco-luxe villas with their own plunge or infinity pools in its first-phase launch. Villas will be influenced by Maasai architecture and blend into the surrounding savannah, where animals freely roam. “Escape hosts” will lead guests on immersive wildlife encounters, cultural exchanges and other adventures.
Six Senses London
Wellness-driven brand Six Senses will debut in the United Kingdom within The Whiteley, London’s first department store that’s transformed into a residential and hospitality development. Expect a forward-thinking spa with an indoor pool, a biohack recovery lounge, cryotherapy and the Alchemy Bar doling out homeopathic remedies using British herbs. The 109-room hotel also will have the first Six Senses Place, a private social club for members and hotel guests.
The Park Gstaad, A Four Seasons Hotel, Switzerland
When it opened in 1910, The Park Gstaad was the famed Swiss ski town’s first luxury hotel. The property will reclaim its glory when it wraps up extensive renovations and reopens as a Four Seasons. French designer Joseph Dirand will give the 75 rooms a modern Alpine look. Amenities will include a destination spa with indoor and outdoor pools, a tennis court, ski and bike services, Kids For All Seasons facilities and a winter ice rink.
The Knox, Dallas
Locals frequent Dallas’ Knox Street for shopping and dining, but the walkable neighborhood will cement its status as a tourist destination when The Knox opens in late 2026. The hotel will anchor a four-acre luxury development with shops and restaurants that’s just off the 3.5-mile Katy Trail. Martin Brudnizki Design Studio will add flair to the 140 rooms and suites and spaces like the cozy, dimly lit bar and the bright green and yellow drawing room.
Palazzo Castelluccio, Noto, Sicily
In Noto, a Sicilian city that earned UNESO World Heritage Site status for its striking Baroque architecture, Palazzo Castelluccio stands out with its neoclassical façade. Residing in one of the town’s largest and most beautiful palaces, the 31-room hotel will embrace Sicily’s 18th-century golden age with walls covered in blue silk and trompe l’oeils, ornate crystal chandeliers and lush gardens with palms and bougainvillea. It will mark Rocco Forte Hotels’ third hotel on the island.
The Langham, Custom House, Bangkok
In December 2026, The Langham will introduce a complex on the banks of Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River centering around the Custom House, an 1888 neo-Palladian-style masterpiece with stately columns and elaborate stonework. The landmark location will be joined by a former heritage post office and a new modern structure with a fluid form mirroring the river outside. Notable additions will include the Langham’s acclaimed T’ang Court, a Cantonese restaurant, and Chuan Spa, specializing in traditional Chinese medicine.
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This story was originally published on forbes.com and all figures are in USD.
