Australian luxury hotels have been ranked as some of the best in the world.

Australians are lucky when it comes to hotel options. From five-star luxury to truly unique stays to total luxury of experience, hotels around Australia have an answer. And only the best of the best then make it onto the yearly Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards winners list.

This year, a global trend shows that hotels in the luxury space are moving away from the generic and towards a more customised approach to better reflect and embrace the destination in which it sits. By the same token, it appears that the Quiet travel trend is strong, and travellers are opting for smaller destinations with fewer crowds. Of course, for Australia, that didn’t stop some of the country’s biggest cities from appearing on the prestigious list, time and again.

What are the Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards?

The Forbes Travel Guide is an independent, global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas and ocean cruises, culminating in the Star Awards. In 2026, the 68th annual list covers more places around the world than ever before, spanning more than 100 countries, with new destinations like Bhutan, Croatia, Poland, Tanzania and Uzbekistan being added to the list.

To gain five stars, the properties “deliver an outstanding experience and consistently offer a highly customised level of service". Four stars “are exceptional properties, offering high levels of service and quality of facility to match". While Recommended properties are considered “excellent properties with consistently good service and facilities".

In the hotel category, a massive 2422 properties were judged, with 343 sorted into the five-star rating, 708 into four-star and 679 into Recommended hotels. This makes it all the more impressive that seven Australian properties were honoured with a four-star rating, and a further 13 properties graced the ‘Recommended’ list.

New Australian hotels gracing the winners’ list

Of the 20 Australian hotels honoured by Forbes, eight were featured for the first time, all earning a place on the Recommended list.

In NSW, Capella Lodge on Lord Howe Island sits in an unbeatable destination with a light-filled, free-flowing design that invites guests deeper into their island surroundings while delivering a deep sense of luxury to this UNESCO site.

The Gold Coast had a couple of new entries with JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa and The Darling at The Star making the list. Elsewhere in Queensland, the spectacular private getaway, Lizard Island Resort, made a place for itself.

Southern Ocean Lodge and The Louise joined the list for South Australia, located in Kingscote and Marananga, respectively.

And Melbourne added yet another feather in its luxury hotel cap with The Ritz-Carlton, for its gorgeous rooms and service to match.

4-star Aussie hotels

Sydney, Perth and Melbourne all collected four stars for luxury hotels, most of them more than once. Sydney had the most wins, with Capella Sydney, The Darling Sydney and The Langham Sydney (who also happen to be pet-friendly and ready to shower your pooch in as much luxury as its human guests) all being included. As was Park Hyatt Sydney, sitting right on the waterfront at Circular Quay with uninterrupted views of the Opera House.

Park Hyatt was also awarded four stars for its Melbourne property, where a Presidential Suite really ups the luxurious ante as soon as guests step through its grandiose doors to plenty of space, and even a grand piano.

Meanwhile, Perth gained four stars for both COMO The Treasury and Crown Towers Perth.

The full Australian Recommended list

• Capella Lodge, Lord Howe Island
• The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne
• Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney
• Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, Sydney
• Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island
• The Darling at The Star Gold Coast
• Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
• Grand Hyatt Melbourne
• InterContinental Sydney
• JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa
• The Langham, Melbourne
• Lizard Island Resort, Cairns
• The Louise, Barossa Valley

How are the winners decided?

Forbes Travel Guide’s highly trained inspectors visit every property to receive a rating, judging them on up to 900 standards. Facility are among those standards, but the system emphasises service, “because exceptional service is what sets the best hospitality experiences apart". Think making a reservation, cleanliness, efficiency, staff knowledge, sense of luxury and guest comfort. Even wellness and sustainability factor into the final rating score.

No money is ever accepted, stays last for a minimum of two nights, and the identities of the global team of inspectors are anonymous.

All of this to say, the results are unbiased and a true accomplishment. To receive any of the Rating levels indicates a property is among the very best in its destination.