Asia Sweeps the Top Three at The 50 Best Hotels 2026

The ceremony took place in Paris, but Asia claimed the podium. Rosewood Hong Kong has retained its title as the world’s best hotel in The 50 Best Hotels 2026, followed by Capella Bangkok at No.2 and Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River at No.3. Announced on September 15, the ranking repeats last year’s top three, with the two Bangkok properties exchanging places.

For travellers in Asia, the results put several of the world’s most celebrated stays within the region. Six of the top ten are in Asian destinations: alongside the podium finishers, Mandarin Oriental Qianmen in Beijing ranks seventh, Upper House Hong Kong eighth and Mandarin Oriental Bangkok tenth. The concentration gives Hong Kong and Bangkok particular prominence at the top of the list.

Bangkok shares the highest city count with Paris, at four hotels each, but has the stronger showing among the leaders. Its three top-ten properties are joined by newcomer Aman Nai Lert at No.48. Hong Kong follows with three entries: Rosewood, Upper House and The Peninsula Hong Kong, which enters at No.46. London also has three.

Japan’s representation extends across three cities. Aman Tokyo rises from No.25 to No.11, while Bulgari Tokyo places No.24. Patina Osaka debuts at No.33 and takes the Best New Hotel award; Park Hyatt Kyoto returns at No.37. Together, they offer travellers a choice of destinations beyond the capital.

Elsewhere in Southeast Asia, Raffles Singapore ranks seventeenth, down from fifth in 2025. Indonesia has two entries: Desa Potato Head in Bali at No.21 and returning Nihi Sumba at No.35. No Vietnamese hotel appears in this year’s top 50, making the contrast with neighbouring Thailand particularly noticeable. These counts refer specifically to the top 50, rather than the organisation’s extended ranking.

The awards arrive with a new identity. Formerly known as 50 Best, the organisation became The 50 on September 9, uniting its rankings, awards, content and Discovery platform. The hotel list consequently drops “World’s” from its name. Owned by British media company William Reed, the business began with a restaurant ranking in 2002 and introduced its hotel awards in 2023. This is the fourth edition.

The results reflect votes from more than 800 academy members across 13 regions, including hoteliers, journalists and experienced travellers. Each has seven votes. Under the published rules, hotels cannot pay or apply for inclusion, and voters cannot select properties in which they hold a financial interest. There is no prescribed room count or facilities checklist; the ranking recognises the panel’s preferred hotel experiences.

Across the 2026 top 50, ten properties are labelled new entries and five are re-entries. “New” denotes arrival in the ranking, rather than necessarily a recent opening. Casa Maria Luigia in Modena makes the highest debut at No.18, while returning names include Badrutt’s Palace, Mount Nelson and Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc.

Beyond Asia, Rosewood São Paulo climbs from No.24 to No.6, becoming South America’s highest-ranked hotel. Las Ventanas al Paraíso rises 19 places to No.25 and wins Highest Climber. These movements are measured against the 2025 ranking. Atlantis The Royal in Dubai places fourth, while Passalacqua on Lake Como ranks fifth and leads Europe.

The strongest regional headline nevertheless belongs to Bangkok. With two podium positions, an established riverside landmark in the top ten and a newcomer joining the list, the Thai capital’s success spans both familiar favourites and its latest generation of luxury hotels.

The 50 Best Hotels 2026: The Full List

1. Rosewood Hong Kong — Hong Kong
2. Capella Bangkok — Bangkok
3. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River — Bangkok
4. Atlantis The Royal — Dubai
5. Passalacqua — Lake Como
6. Rosewood São Paulo — São Paulo
7. Mandarin Oriental Qianmen — Beijing
8. Upper House Hong Kong — Hong Kong
9. Chablé Yucatán — Chocholá
10. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok — Bangkok
11. Aman Tokyo — Tokyo
12. Four Seasons Firenze — Florence
13. Claridge’s — London
14. Hôtel de Crillon — Paris
15. Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab — Dubai
16. Capella Sydney — Sydney
17. Raffles Singapore — Singapore
18. Casa Maria Luigia — Modena (New entry)
19. Le Bristol — Paris
20. Cheval Blanc Paris — Paris
21. Desa Potato Head — Bali
22. San Ysidro Ranch — Santa Barbara (New entry)
23. One&Only Mandarina — Riviera Nayarit
24. Bulgari Tokyo — Tokyo
25. Las Ventanas al Paraíso — Los Cabos
26. Royal Mansour — Marrakech
27. Four Seasons Astir Palace — Athens
28. Raffles London at The OWO — London
29. Copacabana Palace — Rio de Janeiro
30. The Taj Mahal Palace — Mumbai
31. The Peninsula Istanbul — Istanbul (New entry)
32. Bulgari Roma — Rome
33. Patina Osaka — Osaka (New entry)
34. Mount Nelson — Cape Town (Re-entry)
35. Nihi Sumba — Sumba Island (Re-entry)
36. Badrutt’s Palace — St. Moritz (Re-entry)
37. Park Hyatt Kyoto — Kyoto (Re-entry)
38. Hôtel du Couvent — Nice
39. Portrait Milano — Milan (New entry)
40. Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo — Monaco
41. Plaza Athénée — Paris (New entry)
42. Hotel Sacher Vienna — Vienna
43. Estelle Manor — Witney
44. Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc — Antibes (Re-entry)
45. Amangiri — Canyon Point (New entry)
46. The Peninsula Hong Kong — Hong Kong (New entry)
47. Maroma — Riviera Maya
48. Aman Nai Lert — Bangkok (New entry)
49. The Connaught — London
50. San Domenico Palace — Taormina (New entry)