The 12 Most Anticipated Luxury Hotel Openings of 2026

A Year of Extraordinary Debuts

The luxury hospitality pipeline for 2026 is remarkable in both scale and ambition. Across six continents, developers and hoteliers are unveiling properties that push the boundaries of design, sustainability, and guest experience. At Best Resorts & Hotels, we've had the privilege of previewing several of these openings through our content partnerships — and the caliber of what's coming is genuinely extraordinary.

Here are the twelve openings we believe will define the year.

1. Aman Nai Lert Bangkok — Thailand

Aman's long-awaited Bangkok debut occupies a seven-acre heritage estate in the heart of the city. The property preserves the original Nai Lert Park while introducing 52 suites designed by Kerry Hill Architects. The integration of century-old rain trees with contemporary Thai architecture creates a sanctuary that feels impossibly removed from the surrounding metropolis.

What sets this opening apart is Aman's commitment to cultural programming — from private temple visits with resident monks to Thai boxing sessions with championship trainers.

2. Rosewood Schloss Fuschl — Austria

Perched on the shores of Lake Fuschl in the Salzkammergut region, this 15th-century hunting lodge has been meticulously restored under Rosewood's stewardship. The 98-key property features a lakeside spa, a private marina, and interiors that blend Habsburg-era grandeur with contemporary Alpine design.

The Salzkammergut region was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Rosewood's restoration honors that designation with locally sourced materials and partnerships with regional artisans.

3. Four Seasons Resort Marrakech — Morocco

Four Seasons expands its Moroccan presence with a resort that reimagines the traditional riad on a grand scale. Set within 40 acres of olive groves and gardens, the property features 140 rooms and suites, each with private terraces overlooking the Atlas Mountains.

The resort's culinary program, developed in partnership with local chefs, offers immersive cooking experiences that trace Morocco's spice routes from market to table.

4. Mandarin Oriental Bali — Indonesia

Located on the dramatic cliffs of Uluwatu, this property represents Mandarin Oriental's first foray into Bali. The 112-villa resort cascades down limestone cliffs to a private beach, with each villa featuring an infinity pool that appears to merge with the Indian Ocean.

The spa draws on Balinese healing traditions enhanced by the brand's signature wellness protocols, including sound therapy sessions conducted in a natural cave formation.

5. The Lana, a Dorchester Collection Hotel — Dubai

Rising 75 stories above the Dubai skyline, The Lana represents Dorchester Collection's Middle Eastern debut. Designed by Foster + Partners, the tower's undulating facade is inspired by the movement of desert sand dunes. The 225 rooms and suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows with views spanning from the Burj Khalifa to the Arabian Gulf.

The property includes six restaurants, a rooftop infinity pool, and a 3,000-square-meter spa conceived as an urban oasis.

6. Belmond Castello di Casole — Italy (Reopening)

After an extensive renovation, this 10th-century Tuscan estate reopens with 39 suites spread across the main castle and surrounding farmhouses. The 4,200-acre property includes working vineyards, olive groves, and a farm-to-table restaurant that sources 80% of its ingredients from the estate.

Belmond's restoration preserves original frescoes and terracotta floors while introducing contemporary comforts that never compromise the property's medieval character.

7. Six Senses Svart — Norway

Perhaps the most architecturally ambitious opening of 2026, Six Senses Svart is the world's first energy-positive hotel. Designed by Snøhetta, the circular structure hovers above the Holandsfjorden fjord on stilts, producing more energy than it consumes through solar panels and geothermal systems.

The 94-room property offers direct access to the Svartisen glacier and the Arctic Circle, with experiences ranging from Northern Lights viewing to midnight sun kayaking.

8. Raffles London at The OWO — England

Occupying the former Old War Office — Winston Churchill's World War II headquarters — this property represents one of London's most significant architectural conversions. The Grade II-listed Edwardian Baroque building houses 120 suites, nine restaurants and bars, and a Guerlain spa.

The building's storied history is woven throughout the guest experience, with guided tours of the original war rooms and a cocktail bar in Churchill's former office.

9. One&Only Aesthesis — Greece

Located on the Athenian Riviera, this urban resort occupies a 30-acre coastal estate that was once a private cinema complex. The property's design pays homage to the golden age of Greek cinema while introducing One&Only's signature blend of luxury and cultural immersion.

The resort features a private beach, a Chenot Espace wellness center, and culinary programming that celebrates the diversity of Greek regional cuisine.

10. Bulgari Resort Maldives — Maldives

Bulgari's first Maldivian property occupies an entire atoll, with 100 overwater and beach villas connected by wooden walkways. The Italian jeweler's design DNA is evident in every detail — from the geometric patterns of the villa facades to the custom Bulgari amenities.

The resort's marine biology center offers guests the opportunity to participate in coral restoration projects, combining luxury with environmental stewardship.

11. Park Hyatt Marrakech — Morocco

Set within a 20-hectare estate featuring 100,000 olive trees, Park Hyatt Marrakech offers 130 rooms designed by the late Karl Lagerfeld's studio. The property represents one of Lagerfeld's final hospitality projects, blending his signature monochromatic aesthetic with traditional Moroccan craftsmanship.

12. Patina Ubud — Bali, Indonesia

From the team behind Patina Maldives, this 50-villa property is nestled within a tropical river valley in Ubud. Each villa is designed to minimize its footprint while maximizing connection to the surrounding rice terraces and jungle canopy. The property's wellness program integrates traditional Balinese healing with contemporary neuroscience.

What These Openings Tell Us

The common thread across these twelve properties is a rejection of homogeneity. Each opening represents a deep commitment to place — to the history, culture, and natural environment of its location. The era of the interchangeable luxury hotel is definitively over.

For properties seeking to compete in this landscape, the imperative is clear: authenticity, sustainability, and experiential depth are no longer differentiators — they are prerequisites.

At Best Resorts & Hotels, we help both established and emerging luxury properties tell their stories through cinematic content that captures not just what a property looks like, but what it feels like. Several of the properties listed above are already our content partners, and we look forward to sharing their visual narratives throughout 2026.

Sources: Robb Report, Condé Nast Traveler, Luxury Travel Magazine, Hotel Management