The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2026 is hot off the press – and Australia has once again made the cut.
The world doesn’t want for excellent hotels. Boundary-pushing design is rife, and impeccable service is now the benchmark, with new stays cropping up globally faster than we present our passports at check-in. Safe to say it makes earning a place on the annual World’s 50 Best Hotels list – the world’s foremost gauge for hotel excellence – all the more prestigious.
The rankings for 2026have just been announced at an awards ceremony in Paris, where travel industry leaders and enthusiasts convened to celebrate groundbreaking hospitality feats. The list features 38 destinations across six continents, along with several special award categories. Here are the highlights.
The Aussie hotel that made the list
Last year, two Aussie properties made the World’s 50 Best list, truly cementing our reputation for world-class hospitality. In 2026 that number has halved, with just one Australian hotel making the cut – but it’s a worthy representative indeed.
Capella Sydney is the only Australian property to make the 2026 World’s Best 50 Hotels list. (Credit: Timothy Kaye)
Ranking 16th out of 50, Capella Sydney has not only retained its place on the list for another year, but held its position among the top 20.
Housed in an Edwardian sandstone building once home to the Department of Education, the heritage-listed icon exudes contemporary opulence with its grand architectural bones and curated local artwork. Guests return time and again for its personalised touches, five-star service, sweeping harbour views and intimate elegance across 192 rooms and suites.
Guests are treated to opulent amenities and sweeping harbour views. (Credit: Timothy Kaye)
Capella Sydney opened its doors to the public in March 2023. (Credit: Timothy Kaye)
The luxury stay combines timeless elegance with contemporary flair. (Credit: Timothy Kaye)
Since opening in March 2023, the luxury address on Loftus Street has become one of Sydney’s best hotels, amassing an impressive collection of accolades along the way.
Among its many titles are Travel + Leisure‘s Best City Hotel in Australia 2025, Property Council of Australia’s Best Heritage Development 2024 and AHEAD Global Awards’ Ultimate Accolade – Global Hotel of the Year 2023, as well as Best Hotel in Oceania for World’s 50 Best last year.
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The rest of the results
The view from the top remains unchanged in 2026, with the Rosewood Hong Kong once again claiming the title of world’s best hotel. Rising 270 metres above Victoria Harbour, the coveted 413-key address is a shining beacon of art, design and swoon-worthy water views. It has attracted Hong Kong’s elite and a continuous stream of well-heeled travellers since its grand opening in 2019.
Taking out the top spot for the second year running is Rosewood Hong Kong.
Asia continued its winning streak, with Thailand’s Capella Bangkok and Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River coming in second and third place respectively. Rounding out the top five is Dubai’s Atlantis the Royal in fourth place and Passalacqua on the shores of Lake Como in Italy at fifth.
While it only got a shoe in amongst the top five, Europe was the most represented continent on the list – with 22 hotels in the top 50. Asia was close on its heels with 15 rankings, and North America followed with six.
The Calile Hotel has featured on the World’s Best Hotels list every year since its inception. (Credit: Tourism & Events Queensland)
Although its ranking dropped from 34th in 2025 to 83rd in 2026, The Calile Hotel in Brisbane has still managed to make Aussie history this year. Its inclusion among the top 100 makes the only hotel in Oceania to feature on the World’s Best list every year since the awards launched in 2023.
The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2026 list
Rosewood Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Capella Bangkok, Bangkok
Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, Bangkok
Atlantis The Royal, Dubai
Passalacqua, Lake Como
Rosewood São Paulo, São Paulo
Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing
Upper House Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Chablé Yucatán, Chocholá
Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Bangkok
Aman Tokyo, Tokyo
Four Seasons Firenze, Florence
Claridge’s, London
Hôtel de Crillon, Paris
Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, Dubai
Capella Sydney, Sydney
Raffles Singapore, Singapore
Casa Maria Luigia, Modena
Le Bristol, Paris
Cheval Blanc Paris, Paris
Desa Potato Head, Bali
San Ysidro Ranch, Santa Barbara
One&Only Mandarina, Riviera Nayarit
Bulgari Tokyo, Tokyo
Las Ventanas al Paraíso, Los Cabos
Royal Mansour, Marrakech
Four Seasons Astir Palace, Athens
Raffles London at The OWO, London
Copacabana Palace, Rio de Janeiro
The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
The Peninsula Istanbul, Istanbul
Bulgari Roma, Rome
Patina Osaka, Osaka
Mount Nelson, Cape Town
Nihi Sumba, Sumba Island
Badrutt’s Palace, St. Moritz
Park Hyatt Kyoto, Kyoto
Hôtel du Couvent, Nice
Portrait Milano, Milan
Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, Monaco
Plaza Athénée, Paris
Hotel Sacher Vienna, Vienna
Estelle Manor, Witney
Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes
Amangiri, Canyon Point
The Peninsula Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Maroma, Riviera Maya
Aman Nai Lert, Bangkok
The Connaught, London
San Domenico Palace, Taormina
How the 50 Best voting works
The World’s 50 Best Hotels is an annual ranking of the top hotel venues across the globe, as voted for by a panel of more than 800 global industry experts.
To ensure the panel provides a fair representation, the Academy Chairs are split across 13 geographical regions, with each chair selected as a travel and hotel expert in their region. The 13 Academy Chairs each select a voting panel from their region comprising a balance of hoteliers, travel journalists, hotel educators and consumer travel connoisseurs.
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Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and...
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words...
A true hidden gem, the picturesque Moorabool Valley makes for a relaxing and rewarding long weekend escape.
With its undulating hills and vineyards, the Moorabool Valley is both a beautiful sight and a generous mix of things to do and discover. Expect boutique wineries, farm-to-table eateries, charming accommodation and stunning natural scenery.
The best part? Despite its many drawcards, the region is peaceful and uncrowded, allowing you to truly switch off. It’s also only 90 minutes from Melbourne and just west of Geelong, making it an easy and accessible getaway when you’ve only got a few days to spare.
If you’re after a ready-made long weekend itinerary, the Moorabool Valley and Geelong make an ideal pairing.
Day 1
Morning
Create your own signature scent. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Start your day in central Geelong, in one of the city’s most cosmopolitan locales. The inner suburb of Newtown is leafy and vibrant, with a host of cafes, boutiques, galleries and specialty stores.
Aysha Hansen Fine Fragrances is a must-visit if you’re a fragrance enthusiast. The artisan perfumer hosts hands-on workshops on weekends, when you can create your own signature scent from a selection of botanical and exotic essences. Beyond being a unique experience, the perfume is a personalised memento of your escape.
Afternoon
Head to Austin’s Wines for a relaxed, seasonal lunch.
Now it’s time to head to the Moorabool Valley for a weekend of tasting, wandering and unwinding.
Stop into Austin’s Wines for a light and seasonal lunch. The family-run winery offers a casual menu filled with locally sourced foods for snacking and pairing with their cool-climate wines – think grazing and cheese boards, flatbreads and small plates. Make sure to pick up a bottle of Austin’s signature pinot noir to take home.
While boutique accommodation abounds, Blame Mabel is a favourite – and for good reason. Check in after lunch for sweeping views over the surrounding hills, a collection of thoughtfully designed accommodation and a distinctly rustic charm. It offers a genuine country stay that allows you to really slow down. If you’re not sampling at the onsite cellar door, you’ll be spending your downtime exploring the property and your evenings warming up around a crackling open fire.
Night
Settle in for a memorable dinner. (Image: Batesford Hotel)
Dinner at the historic Batesford Hotel is a must. This welcoming venue offers country character and refined elegance in equal measure, and the food is a standout.
Order a round of share plates or pizzas with creative toppings, or go for hearty mains like slow-cooked lamb rump with ancient grains and ricotta gnocchi that melts in your mouth. If you’re travelling with little ones, the kids’ menu is surprisingly considered, with options to suit even the pickiest eaters.
Day 2
Morning
Dig into a homestyle feast. (Image: Meredith Farm Store)
It’s almost guaranteed that you’ll wake up at Blame Mabel feeling rested and recharged – and very ready for a proper breakfast.
The Meredith Farm Store is a go-to for a homestyle feast. The morning menu is simple but seriously delicious, with classics like smashed avo, Turkish eggs and breakfast muffins given a Meredith twist. Many of the dishes incorporate the farm’s famed dairy products (including the iconic goat cheese) and seasonal produce.
Pick up some sweet and savoury treats and a few drinks from the shop to fuel the rest of your day – you’re about to explore on foot.
Afternoon
Hit the trails and explore rugged beauty.
Your afternoon is best spent in the rugged Brisbane Ranges National Park, a sprawling bushland reserve with Victoria’s most significant habitat for wildflowers. Choose from a network of walks and hikes that range from relatively flat trails to more challenging terrain.
You can expect plenty of gorgeous scenery whichever path you opt for, with eucalypt forests, rocky outcrops and panoramic lookouts throughout the park. There are also several scenic picnic spots where you can savour your Meredith Farm bounty.
Night
Cosy up by the fireplace with a charcuterie board. (Image: Sarah Miles)
A busy day of exploring calls for a relaxed evening in, and Blame Mabel delivers. Whether you’re staying in the restored farmhouse, the cosy self-contained cabin or the communal lodge, you’ll have access to ample cooking facilities and plenty of cosy corners to unwind in after dark.
Finish the evening with a round of board games, cosying up with a good book from the well-stocked bookshelf or a soak in the outdoor tub under a sky thick with stars.
Day 3
Morning
On your third and final day, you’ll want to soak up the quiet beauty of your surrounds. After being woken by the soft glow of morning sunlight, enjoy a lazy breakfast of freshly collected and cooked eggs or build-your-own muesli and creamy yoghurt, paired with seasonal produce from the garden.
Once you’ve packed, ease back towards Geelong for a relaxed afternoon.
Afternoon
Take home freshly baked treats. (Image: Paddock Bakery)
Pop by the Geelong Vintage Market to wander rows upon rows of collectable retro treasures, from furniture and home decor to books and vinyl.
To wrap up your long weekend adventure, wander through the surrounding Federal Mills precinct, which houses a mix of businesses, retailers and eateries. The precinct itself is a historic and character-filled space with large-scale hand-painted murals, making it a great spot for a leisurely stroll. Grab some freshly baked pastries from Paddock Bakery for the drive home.
