Looking back, 2025 delivered some heavy hitters: Waldorf Astoria New York finally reopened after an eight-year closure (only a couple of months shy of its suggested spring date), and One&Only Moonlight Basin swung open its doors in November.
But now, we’re looking forward and it’s all eyes on what’s going to make headlines in 2026. London is stealing the spotlight with not one but four major openings – including Six Senses’ first UK property. Meanwhile, momentum in the Middle East shows no sign of slowing, with Regent set to open its first regional hotel in Jeddah, and new openings in Amalaa amping up as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 program edges closer.
There’s also big news from the tail end of 2025 that will define the year ahead: the launch of Emblems Collection, Accor’s newest luxury portfolio (joining the likes of Raffles, Banyan Tree, and Fairmont). Announced in November 2025, with the takeover of Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa in the UK’s Wiltshire, in 2026 the brand is rolling out five properties across Europe and the US. We’ll be watching closely to see how it distinguishes itself within Accor’s already stacked lineup.
Americas
The Knox, Auberge Collection, Dallas
Opening late 2026, Martin Brudnizki will bring his signature maximalist style to Dallas’s lively Knox Street neighborhood. The hotel will sit close to one of the city’s most-loved attractions – the 3.5-mile Katy Trail, an urban green belt built along a former railway line, ideal if you want to explore Dallas on foot. Alongside 140 rooms, guests can expect a fitness studio, spa, and an outdoor pool.
auberge.com
Rimrock Banff, Emblems Collection, Canadian Rockies
Above the Rockies’ Bow Valley, on the slopes of Sulphur Mountain, Rimrock Banff will be the debut North American property for Accor’s Emblems Collection. The hotel will connect directly to Banff National Park, to offer year-round access to outdoor activities, whether skiing, hiking, or mountain biking. It will also be within walking distance of downtown Banff, the Gondola, and the Upper Hot Springs. For those who like sticking close to home base, Rimrock Banff will also house a spa with a mountainside infinity pool, saunas, and meditation rooms for a more relaxing getaway.
rimrockresort.com
Amanvari, Costas Palmas, Mexico
One of the most intimate openings of the year, Amanvari is arriving this spring on the East Cape of Baja California with just 18 casitas. Expect Aman’s pared-back aesthetic, an Aman Spa and signature dining spaces, all built from earthy materials like local stone and tropical hardwood, accented with Mexican ceramics and art. With views across beachfront, desert, and estuary, minimalist interiors will emphasize views of the Sea of Cortez and the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains. Activities include snorkelling, sailing, and diving from the marina and yacht club, plus hiking and visits to nearby organic farms and orchards.
aman.com
Santa Lucia Jungle Hacienda, Costa Rica
A convenient 90-minute drive from Costa Rica’s San José, Santa Lucia Jungle Hacienda, an Autograph Collection Hotel, will sit between rainforest and river at the base of Carara National Park. The 97-room resort, due in winter 2026, will offer riverside pools, Costa Rican cuisine, and excursions such as wildlife walks, guided hikes, boat safaris, and horseback riding, offering guests prime access to the country’s famous wildlife and untamed jungle landscape.
marriott.com
Four Seasons Resort & Residences Caye Chapel, Belize
Over in sunny Belize, next year, Four Seasons will launch its first private-island property: a 104-key resort on the edge of the Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve, part of the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere. If you’re looking for prime access, 18 overwater bungalows – reportedly the first in the region – will sit close to the island’s marine life and reef systems.
fourseasons.com
One GT, George Town, Grand Cayman
One GT will be a 144-ft glass tower with 95 condo-style suites designed for a home-from-home feel, overlooking George Town’s waterfront. Coming to Grand Cayman in winter 2026, the hotel will host the island’s first rooftop infinity pool, plus an additional third-floor pool deck and three dining concepts: French-Mediterranean, Asian fusion and an Italian bakery and café. And we love a resort with private butler service and the option for in-room or rooftop spa treatments.
onegt.com
Europe
Waldorf Astoria London, Admiralty Arch, London, UK
After reopening its New York flagship this year, Waldorf Astoria is turning its attention to London. The brand is restoring the Grade I–listed Admiralty Arch, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, originally commissioned by King Edward VII in memory of Queen Victoria. The Admiralty Arch also happens to be positioned at the end of The Mall and just opposite Buckingham Palace, making it a prime spot for visitors. And if that wasn’t exciting enough, culinary direction will come from Clare Smyth and Daniel Boulud, who between them share seven Michelin stars across their restaurant portfolios.
hilton.com
Cambridge House Auberge, London, UK
Coming this summer, Auberge Resorts Collection is transforming one of London’s Grade I–listed Palladian townhouses — formerly the In and Out Military Club — into Cambridge House Auberge. Overlooking Green Park towards Buckingham Palace, the 102-room hotel will welcome Major Food Group’s Major Grill, the group’s second in the capital, following the success of Carbone at Chancery Rosewood. The hotel’s double-level spa will draw inspiration from Roman bathhouses, featuring hydrotherapy facilities, two heated pools, and a circular relaxation lounge with a fire pit.
auberge.com
Six Senses London, UK
The Six Senses London, the brand’s first UK outpost, will allegedly arrive early 2026 (we’ve been waiting for this one for a while). The hotel will sit inside the reimagined Whitely Department Store, in the less-visited Queensway. With 109 rooms and suites, the hotel’s centrepiece will be the Six Senses Spa, home to a large swimming pool, biohacking recovery lounge, cryotherapy, saunas, steam rooms, plunge pools, and an aerial-yoga studio. The property will also introduce Six Senses Place, a private members’ concept, with specific details remaining under wraps.
sixsenses.com
The Shepherd Mayfair, London, UK
The Shepherd Mayfair will revive one of Mayfair’s earliest residential mansions in boutique luxury. The 82 guest rooms will be spread across six floors, with a British brasserie on the first floor and a lounge for coffee, pastries, and light lunches. A highlight will be Teddy’s, which promises to revive the Mayfair bar vibe from the 1960s and will be hidden on the lower ground, accessible via a secret Market Mews entrance and staircase.
theshepherdmayfair.com
Masseria Furnirussi, Emblems Collection, Puglia, Italy
One of Emblems Collection’s European debuts, Masseria Furnirussi will channel the relaxed energy of coastal Puglia. Set within Europe’s largest fig orchard, the hotel reimagines a traditional masseria in local white stone, surrounded by fruit trees and herb gardens. Sixty suites, many with private pools or terraces, look onto an oak-lined lagoon pool. Guests can unwind at the Purist Retreat & Spa, while dining will draw heavily on Puglia’s culinary traditions.
group.accor.com
Africa
Anantara Kafue River Tented Camp, Zambia
Anantara’s first safari property, opening in April 2026, will sit in Kafue National Park, Zambia’s oldest and largest reserve. Built on rosewood platforms at canopy height to protect the land below, the camp will feature 10 villas and three Horizon Terrace Suites. Beyond game drives, guests can join night safaris, try glamping experiences and enjoy riverbank picnics.
anatara.com
Middle East & Asia
Regent Jeddah Corniche, Saudi Arabia
Marking Regent’s first hotel in the Middle East, Regent Jeddah Corniche will occupy a waterfront location, with impressive views over some of the region’s highlights: the F1 racetrack, the Red Sea, and, of course, its namesake the Corniche. At 29 stories high, the hotel will be home to 182 rooms and five penthouses, with the world’s first Regent Spa.
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