Rosewood Hong Kong is named the World's Best Hotel for a second year running
Bangkok took two of the remaining podium places, and the academy behind the ranking now runs to more than 800 hoteliers, journalists and travellers across 13 regions.
Rosewood Hong Kong has been named the World's Best Hotel for a second consecutive year, topping the 2026 edition of The World's 50 Best Hotels list revealed on 15 September at Les Salles du Carrousel in Paris. It is also rated the best hotel in Asia.
The ceremony marked the first time the four-year-old ranking has been held outside London. Capella Bangkok climbed to second place, having itself led the list back in 2024, while Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River took third. Atlantis The Royal in Dubai placed fourth.
Atlantis The Royal also picked up the awards for best hotel in the Middle East and best beach hotel. Passalacqua, on Lake Como, held onto fifth place and kept the title of best boutique hotel for a third straight year running.
What sets Rosewood Hong Kong apart
Designed by Tony Chi, the 65-storey property on Victoria Harbour opened in 2019 with 413 rooms and suites, 11 restaurants and bars, and the multi-level Asaya wellness concept. It is the property's second successive year at the top of the ranking.
Asia's strength runs well beyond the winner: the continent claims 18 of the 50 places and seven of the top ten. Mandarin Oriental Qianmen in Beijing arrived at No.7, Upper House Hong Kong took No.8, and Mandarin Oriental Bangkok placed 10th.
Japan contributed four hotels to the list, led by Aman Tokyo at No.11. Patina Osaka, ranked 33rd, won the best new hotel award. Rosewood São Paulo made an 18-place jump to No.6, becoming the highest-ranked hotel in South America.
How Europe fared this year
Europe supplied the largest regional share of the list, with 21 entries in total. Italy and France each secured six places, and the UK claimed four, with Passalacqua confirmed as the continent's highest-ranked hotel overall this year.
Four Seasons Firenze followed at No.12, a property named in our guide to the best hotels in Florence for the city's run of grand riverside addresses. Casa Maria Luigia, the Modena property from chef Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore, made its debut at No.18 and received the highest new entry award among all ten newcomers on the list.
Paris placed four hotels in contention. Hôtel de Crillon climbed nine places to No.14, ahead of Le Bristol at No.19, Cheval Blanc Paris at No.20 and newcomer Plaza Athénée, which entered at No.41 in its first appearance on the ranking.
Hôtel du Couvent in Nice, ranked 38th, received the Art of Design Award. In the UK, Claridge's led at No.13, with Raffles London at The OWO at No.28, The Connaught at No.49, and Estelle Manor in Oxfordshire rising four places to No.43.
Who else is new on the list
San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara entered at No.22, The Peninsula Istanbul at No.31, Amangiri in Utah at No.45 and Aman Nai Lert in Bangkok at No.48, joining Casa Maria Luigia and Plaza Athénée among the debuts drawn from seven destinations.
Las Ventanas al Paraíso in Los Cabos climbed 19 positions to No.25, taking the highest climber award. Chablé Yucatán, at No.9, won the Eco Hotel Award after an assessment by the Sustainable Restaurant Association. Royal Mansour in Marrakech and Mount Nelson in Cape Town represent Africa, and Capella Sydney stands as the sole entry from Oceania.
Nihi Hotels co-founder James McBride received the Icon Award for his work founding Nihi Sumba, itself ranked 35th on the same list, and Badrutt's Palace in St Moritz, at No.36, was recognised separately for its approach to hospitality.
The ranking is determined by an academy of more than 800 hoteliers, travel journalists, educators and experienced travellers spread across 13 regions, with Deloitte adjudicating the results independently. It is now in its fourth year, and Wallpaper's own travel director is the chair of the European chapter of the voting academy.
The full 50 spans destinations from Sumba Island to Santa Barbara, with Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro at No.29 and The Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai at No.30 among the entries that did not place in the top ten but still made the cut this year.
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Image: Rosewood Hong Kong
