Y Travel’s Curated Edit: Our Most Anticipated Hotel Openings of 2026
The start of a new year carries a certain magic - fresh possibilities, stories yet to be written, and journeys waiting to unfold. For the discerning traveller, 2026 arrives with a rare gift: a wave of extraordinary hotel openings around the globe. From historic European palazzos to remote wilderness lodges at the edge of the world, we’ve curated a selection of new addresses that promise to inspire, delight, and define the year ahead.
UK & Europe
Italy | Icons Reimagined
Venice is having a moment, with three exquisite openings on our radar. The Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli promises timeless elegance in the Floating City and an irresistible finale to one of the brand’s iconic Italian rail journeys. Joining it are Airelles Palladio Venezia and Four Seasons Venice, both offering refined sanctuaries overlooking the city’s legendary canals.
Rome follows with equal allure. Rosewood Rome debuts along the storied Via Veneto, while Experimental Roma introduces the French hospitality group’s signature avant-garde style to the Eternal City, complete with a dramatic rooftop and suspended swimming pool.
Elsewhere in Italy, EDITION Lake Como arrives on one of the world’s most romantic shores, while La Réserve Firenze graces Florence with understated sophistication. Belmond reopens two legendary Italian properties — Villa Timeo in clifftop Taormina and Villa San Michele perched above Florence — reaffirming their timeless allure and deep sense of place.
France | Riviera Glamour & Parisian Poise
The jet-set glamour of the French Riviera continues to enchant with Zannier Bendor on Île de Bendor, one of the region’s most famous private islands, following a five-year transformation. Further along the coast, COMO Le Beauvallon reimagines a striking 1914 Belle Époque palace overlooking the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, blending historic sophistication with contemporary elegance.
In Paris, Hôtel Raphael Champs-Élysées reopens on the capital’s most iconic avenue, while 1 Hotel Paris adds a nature-inspired, sustainable ethos to the City of Light’s luxury landscape. Vinophiles will adore Château La Commaraine, a 12th century wine estate in the heart of Pommard village in France’s Burgundy region, reimagined as a luxury gastronomic boutique hotel.
Greece | Island Sophistication
The Greek islands shine brightly in 2026. Stylishly understated Luura Paros launches in the heart of the Cyclades, while on Crete, Rosewood Blue Palace seamlessly blends luxury, wellness, and ancient landscapes. Four Seasons Mykonos crowns the cliffs above Kalo Livadi Bay, redefining island glamour with gleaming white architecture over the shimmering Aegean Sea.
United Kingdom | Heritage & Wilderness
London’s Mayfair district gains Cambridge House, a beautifully reimagined 18th-century Georgian mansion that has welcomed tastemakers throughout its storied past, and looks set to continue this tradition in 2026. Far from the buzz of central London, Scotland’s blustery northern coast introduces WildLand Hope, offering immersive, conservation-led hospitality intimately connected to the Highland landscape.
Rest of the World
Africa & the Indian Ocean | Wild Luxury
Africa’s great wildernesses welcome a compelling collection of lodges. In Uganda, Erebero Hills opens in the misty Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Botswana’s Okavango Delta, one of the planet’s last great wildernesses, welcomes Singita Elela, a lodestone of refined safari luxury.
Zambia’s Kafue National Park sees the arrival of Anantara Kafue River Zambia Tented Camp, while in Tanzania, Ubuyu, a Banyan Tree Escape, promises an intimate retreat set within the untouched wilderness of Ruaha National Park.
Off the African coast, the 115 islands that make up the Seychelles offer pristine beaches, turquoise waters, and lush nature reserves. Within this Indian Ocean paradise, exclusive Fregate Island reopens in 2026, combining barefoot luxury, and conservation-led hospitality.
Japan | Cultural Immersion
Capella Kyoto is another of the year's most anticipated openings. Set in Japan’s cultural heart, the hotel offers a serene sanctuary, reflecting the brand’s commitment to honouring the culture, heritage, and spirit of its destination. Six exclusive onsen suites allow guests to enjoy the tradition of Japanese bathing in private garden atriums.
The Americas | From Peaks to Patagonia
In Canada, Rimrock Banff arrives high above the Bow Valley in Banff National Park, where adventure meets quiet mountain refinement. Amanvari, Aman’s first Mexican property, brings serene minimalism to Baja California’s rugged Pacific coast, while Alila Mayakoba on the Riviera Maya blends cenotes, ancient ruins, and relaxed Caribbean chic.
South America dazzles with diversity. Four Seasons Cartagena revitalises 16th-century buildings in Colombia’s jewel-toned Caribbean port, adding a new layer of luxury to one of the region’s most atmospheric destinations. At the continent’s southernmost tip, Silversea's first land-based offering, The Cormorant at 55 South opens in Puerto Williams, Chile, offering a striking gateway to Silversea’s Antarctic expeditions.
The year ahead promises extraordinary journeys, moments that linger, and new favourites to call home - even if only for a few nights. From private islands to remote wilderness lodges, 2026 invites you to travel beautifully, thoughtfully, and inimitably the Y Travel way.