The Hottest New Hotels Opening Their Doors In 2026

Planning your 2026 adventures? Forget the big five: we’re homing in on the 15 new big hotel openings to watch for this year.

15 New Hotel Openings To Know In 2026

(© Ross Couper)

Singita Elela – Okavango Delta, Botswana

For more than three decades, Singita has set the standard for African safaris, beginning on a family-owned reserve in South Africa and evolving into a collection of 16 lodges. Its latest addition marks the brand’s arrival in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, one of Africa’s most extraordinary ecosystems. Due to open this December, Singita Elela – which means ‘to flow’ in Setswana – is set within a private 170,000-hectare concession and, inspired by its name, will comprise eight circular camps that sit raised above the floodplains, meant to immerse guests in the Delta’s mosaic of waterways and islands. Like with all Singita properties, its design focuses on natural materials and hand-finished details. And as always, unlike other safaris, the experience is tailored rather than scheduled. singita.com

(© Dave Watts)

Chesa Marchetta – Sils Maria, Switzerland

Following the success of The Fife Arms in the Scottish Highlands, excitement is rife for the launch of Chesa Marchetta. The second property from Artfarm – the hospitality arm of Hauser & Wirth founders Iwan and Manuela Wirth – the new hotel is located in Sils Maria, a village in the Swiss Alps, which has long drawn creatives, from German philosopher Nietzsche to Italian-Swiss painter Segantini. Over four years, Argentine architect Luis Laplace has meticulously restored the 17th-century guesthouse and transformed it into a cosy 13-room retreat which, like The Fife Arms, pays homage to its local heritage, here layered with Engadin furniture and works by local artists and artisans. chesamarchetta.ch

Notting Hill Suite

Six Senses London – UK

For many a Londoner of a certain age, Whiteleys in Bayswater will almost certainly carry a nostalgia of its days as a faded shopping centre, better known for its cinema, chain stores and fast food outlets that never quite drew the sophisticated crowds from neighbouring Notting Hill. Since its shuttering in 2018, the Grade II-listed building – which originally opened as one of the capital’s first department stores in 1863 – has been transformed by Foster + Partners into a mixed-use development, crowned by the first UK outpost for the Six Senses brand. Anchored by a 2,300sq/m spa, with London’s first magnesium pool within a hotel, alongside an Alchemy Bar and a longevity medical clinic, the property will also be home to Whiteley’s Kitchen, Bar and Café, a neighbourhood spot that will champion local producers. Upstairs, the 109 rooms and 14 branded residences have been outfitted by New York-based AvroKO together with EPR Architects, who have taken the building’s historic bones and layered it with natural materials, muted palettes and thoughtful textures that fuse in a sense of calm that defines Six Senses. sixsenses.com

MORE: The Coolest New Hotels Opening In London In 2026

Public West Hollywood – Los Angeles, US

As the man credited with inventing the boutique hotel when he opened Morgans Hotel in 1984, Ian Schrager is someone who needs no introduction. Since then, he launched his first PUBLIC hotel in New York and now after an eight-year hiatus – when he joined forces with Marriott to develop the EDITION brand – Schrager is back with the soon-to-open PUBLIC, West Hollywood. Taking up residence in the former Standard Hotel, known for its outrageous reputation on the Sunset Strip, the property has been resurrected with typical Schrager finesse. Designed together with British Architect John Pawson, expect a sweeping social-hub lobby, a pool and, of course, an open-air rooftop terrace with 360-degree views of Los Angeles. With 137 rooms and following his ethos of ‘luxury for all’, the arrival of PUBLIC in West Hollywood will create a new edge for the neighbourhood and set the stage for the place to see and be seen. publichotels.com

(© Joe Kelly)

NIHI Rote – West Timor, Indonesia

For those who know NIHI Sumba, the opening of NIHI Rote is big news. The original property, once a remote surf retreat on the island of Sumba, evolved into one of the world’s most influential barefoot-luxury hotels and a cult-favourite shaped by its community engagement, extraordinary location and the vision of its founders. Now the brand is expanding for the first time, with NIHI Rote set to open this summer on the island of Rote in West Timor. The resort will comprise 21 thatched pool villas positioned to overlook the surrounding reefs and long, glassy waves that have long drawn surfers to this corner of Indonesia. Staying true to NIHI’s spirit, days will unfold through Spa Safaris, family-friendly ‘Edge of Wildness’ camps, paddle, pickleball and quiet stretches of beach which still feel largely untouched. Alongside the resort, the launch of the Rote Hospitality Academy by NIHI will support local youth through training and cultural preservation, continuing the brand’s commitment to purposeful hospitality. nihi.com

The Standard – Lisbon, Portugal

Anyone who remembers The Standard in its early days knows the brand built its reputation on its downtown cool, provocation and youth culture, propelled by André Balazs in the 1990s. What began with the Sunset Strip and New York outposts has evolved once again, since the brand was acquired by Hyatt Hotels in 2024. Now in its new era, its latest iteration in Lisbon follows the benchmark set by its Bangkok property with its bold, playful design and high-energy atmosphere. Located above the steep, colourful alleyways of Alfama, the oldest neighbourhood in the Portuguese capital, the 172-room hotel is housed in the former Royal Navy Hospital, overlooking the water. Transformed by architect Samuel Torres de Carvalho, there will be a pharmacy bar, all-day restaurant, and a rooftop bar, which will be the neighbourhood destination from where to watch those famous Alfama sunsets. standardhotels.com

Waldorf Astoria Admirality Arch – London, UK

Most Londoners know Admiralty Arch as the grand stone gateway you walk through on your way to Buckingham Palace. Commissioned by King Edward VII in honour of Queen Victoria and completed in 1912 by Sir Aston Webb, it has lived many lives, most recently as functional government offices. Now, after a decade in the making, the landmark building has finally taken shape as the first Waldorf Astoria in the UK. The restoration – one of the most expensive hotel redevelopments in UK history – has brought the Grade I-listed monument back to life, which now unfolds to include 100 rooms and suites, restaurants led by Clare Smyth MBE and Daniel Boulud – and a subterranean spa, newly carved out beneath the arch and which alone took years to excavate. Originally due to debut in 2022, this is a long-awaited opening in a city already heaving with new luxury hotels. And given we’ve had our eye on this one for so long, our hopes are high that good things come to those who wait. hilton.com

Amanvari – East Cape, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Love it or not, Aman’s rapid expansion has been hard to ignore, yet Amanvari – opening this spring – feels like the return to something more considered for the brand. Set along the untouched East Cape of Baja California, the 18-key resort sits within the 1,500-acre Costa Palmas community, where desert, estuary and three miles of swimmable beach meet the glassy Sea of Cortés. In a departure from the usual Jean-Michel Gathy aesthetic, the resort has, this time, been designed by Elastic Architects, with early input from Heah & Co. The result features elevated casitas for wide-open views, their sand-hued palettes, open-air courtyards and artworks by Mexican artisans giving the architecture a gentler, more grounded character. The resort will anchor itself with a temazcal-equipped Aman Spa, an open-air yoga pavilion and Spa Houses, while dining draws on Baja’s seasonal produce with Japanese and Italian influences. The first Aman property to open in Mexico, it is a welcome shift for the brand, where predictability has recently overshadowed individuality. aman.com

Delano Miami Beach – Florida, US

There are few hotels that shaped their era quite like Delano Miami Beach, the 1947 Art Deco landmark that became a defining reference in 1994 when Ian Schrager and Philippe Starck turned it into the blueprint for the modern boutique hotel. Now part of Ennismore’s ever expanding collection, the hotel is about to begin its new chapter following a six-year makeover by Elastic Architects and Ennismore’s design studio. Staying true to what put the Delano on the map in the first place, the redesign smartly retains original details such as the white columns, those signature billowy curtains, and that long cinematic pool, while the 171 rooms and suites have been updated from its 90s minimalism aesthetic with a softer, more fluid palette. There will be four restaurants and bars, including the revival of the iconic Rose Bar, while a new wellness studio and spa will firmly anchor the hotel in the present. delanohotels.com

Casa JK Place Roma – Rome, Italy

With its rare mix of warmth, polish and timelessness, it’s no surprise the JK Place brand has such a devoted fan base. Starting with its Florence property over two decades ago, the small collection has expanded to include outposts in Capri, Rome and Milan. Now, following its Paris opening in 2019, the brand has returned to the Italian capital with the soon- to-launch Casa JK Place Roma. Set within an 18th-century palazzo, the new addition has once again been designed by Michele Bönan with his signature understated elegance. Together with founder Ori Kafri’s warm and informal air, as well as his meticulous attention to detail, the result is almost like staying at a friend’s home, with each of the 15 one and two-bedroom residences unfolding to include kitchens, generous wardrobes and proper dining spaces for longer stays. In addition, there will be a private lounge, gym, bar and restaurant that round out the property with the same relaxed sophistication regulars love. jkplaces.com

Eha – Hiiumaa Island, Estonia

Encircled by the Baltic Sea and centuries of local tradition, nature-led Eha is the next wellness hotel to add to your bucket list. Set to open in summer 2026, the intimate 11-key resort is hidden on one of Europe’s quietest islands, Hiiumaa: two-thirds forested and home to some of the continent’s darkest, clearest skies. That tranquility is key: just eight suites and three forest cabins keep guest numbers intimate (max 22 at a time). Blending ancestral healing traditions with evidence-based practices, guests will enjoy a nourishing five-night retreat as standard, themed around one of five seasons: summer, spring, autumn, winter, and springrise. eharetreat.com

One bedroom pavilion at Barkaa, The Malkai (CGI)

The Malkai – Oman

Oman is making moves in the global luxury travel sphere, and The Malkai is yet another string in the coastal middle eastern nation’s bow. Family-owned and slated to open in autumn 2026, The Malkai is the result of a decade-long dream and comprises three tented camp locations: the coastal farmlands of Barkaa, the soaring Al Hajar mountains, and the sweeping Sharqiyah Sands. If you’re searching for a new experience in 2026, this is it. themalkai.com

(CGI)

The Cormorant At 55 South – Fuegian Archipelago, Chile

Antarctic exploration is peaking once more – but this time we know the best way to visit is by boat. Before you set sail, resting your head at the far end of Chile is a necessity, and The Cormorant at 55 South is set to make that all the easier from January 2026. Courtesy of cruise operator Silversea in the brand’s first dry-land venture, The Cormorant at 55 South will be the world’s southernmost hotel, offering a luxurious new gateway to the land of ice. Expect 150-rooms with forest or water views, plus excellent Silversea service whether you’re about to sail with the brand or not. silversea.com

The Delos Pool at Zannier Bendor (CGI)

Zannier Bendor – Île de Bendor, France

After a five year transformation, the seven hectare former jet-set honeypot Île de Bendor will reopen in spring 2026 with the Provençal-style village reimagined as the 93-key boutique hotel Zannier Bendor. Guests can also expect a wellness spa, beach club, diving centre and a whopping eight dining spaces – a wonderland for this tiny island’s visiting population. zannierhotels.com

Camp Xaudum, Vestige Namibia

Vestige Namibia

In a first for this family-run Spanish brand, Vestige is expanding into Africa in summer 2026, opening four new destinations in northern Namibia. Well known for their tranquil resorts across mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands (with properties in Menorca, Formentera and Mallorca also scheduled to open in 2026), guests can expect the same values of community, harmonious design and meaningful experiences they know and love, just with new African surroundings. vestigecollection.com