Europe continues to dominate The 50 Best Hotels list, with 21 properties securing a spot in the 2026 rankings.
Asia followed closely behind with 18 hotels, while North America contributed six, South America and Africa each added two, and Oceania rounded out the list with one entry.
Rosewood Hong Kong claimed the World’s Best Hotel title, defending its crown after placing third in 2024 and winning for the first time last year. Now in its fourth edition, the ranking continues to set the standard.
The 413-room skyscraper overlooking Victoria Harbour earned accolades for its culinary scene, featuring 11 restaurants and bars across 65 floors, alongside a multi-level Asaya spa and a 25-meter infinity pool.
“Rosewood Hong Kong’s retention of the No. 1 spot for a second consecutive year highlights Asia’s enduring influence at the pinnacle, while Europe’s robust presence and 10 new entries this year reflect a dynamic, diverse, and competitive global hotel landscape,” noted Faye Huggett, director of community for The 50 Best Hotels.
“As The 50 continues to evolve, our ambition remains to champion the people, places, and ideas shaping the future of hospitality.”
The best hotels in Europe
Passalacqua on Lake Como, ranked first in 2023, remains the highest-ranked European hotel for the second consecutive year, dropping one spot to fifth.
This 18th-century property, featuring just 24 rooms, also received the Best Boutique Hotel Award for the third year in a row.
Four Seasons Firenze followed as the next highest-ranked European property, securing 12th place.
Italy and France each claimed six spots on the list. The other Italian entries include Casa Maria Luigia in Modena (18th), Bulgari Roma (32nd), Portrait Milano (39th), and San Domenico Palace in Taormina (50th).
Casa Maria Luigia was the highest new entry this year, while San Domenico Palace is famously known as the setting for the second season of The White Lotus.
In France, four of the top hotels are located in Paris: Hôtel de Crillon (14th), Le Bristol (19th), Cheval Blanc Paris (20th), and Plaza Athénée (41st). Hôtel du Couvent in Nice took 38th place and won the Johnnie Walker Art of Design Award, while Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc ranked 44th.
Across the Channel, four UK hotels made the list, including three in London: Claridge’s (13th), Raffles London at The OWO (28th), and The Connaught (49th). Estelle Manor in Witney was the sole exception outside the capital, ranking 43rd.
Other European entries include Four Seasons Astir Palace in Greece (27th), The Peninsula Istanbul in Türkiye (31st), Badrutt’s Palace in Switzerland (36th), Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo in Monaco (40th), and Hotel Sacher Vienna in Austria (42nd).
The top 20 hotels in the world
- Rosewood Hong Kong
- Capella Bangkok, Thailand
- Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, Bangkok
- Atlantis The Royal, Dubai, UAE
- Passalacqua, Lake Como, Italy
- Rosewood São Paulo, Brazil
- Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing, China
- Upper House Hong Kong
- Chablé Yucatán, Chocholá, Mexico
- Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Thailand
- Aman Tokyo, Japan
- Four Seasons Firenze, Florence, Italy
- Claridge’s, London, UK
- Hôtel de Crillon, Paris, France
- Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, Dubai, UAE
- Capella Sydney, Australia
- Raffles Singapore
- Casa Maria Luigia, Modena, Italy
- Le Bristol, Paris, France
- Cheval Blanc Paris, France
How the rankings are determined
The 50 Best Hotels list is determined by an 800-member academy. Thirteen academy chairs, divided across 13 geographical regions, assemble voting panels comprising hoteliers, travel journalists, hotel educators, business travelers, and consumer travel enthusiasts.
Academy members cast seven votes for any hotel they have visited worldwide, regardless of their region, in order of preference. Voters must have stayed at the hotel within the last three years.
All voters remain anonymous except for the academy chairs to prevent lobbying, and the results are adjudicated by Deloitte.