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From futuristic marvels on Kangaroo Island to whimsical Irish castles and expansive rainforest resorts, a slew of impressively designed and run hotels have been freshly awarded Michelin Keys for 2026.
How are Michelin Key hotels decided?
As you might have guessed, Michelin Keys are another arm of the prestigious Michelin guide, which famously bestows stars to the world’s most impressive restaurants.
To determine which hotels are worthy of a ‘key’, Michelin spends a year sending inspectors to hotels – and it can be any hotel – all over the planet, assessing them across five crucial criteria: interior design and architectural excellence, the consistency and quality of service, character, value, and what they describe as ‘a significant contribution to the setting’.
For 2026, 500 hotels were awarded their very first key, and more than 80 were upgraded. The total for one-key hotels is now 2,020, two-keys have reached 657 and the lauded three-key bracket now comprises 155 stays.
You can peruse every single Key-awarded hotel in Michelin’s database, but scroll on for a closer look at our personal favourites from this year’s awards.
Hotels with Michelin Keys for 2026
Starting things off strong, the latest three-key holder in Central America is a show-stopping hotel courtesy of luxury heavyweight Ritz-Carlton.
Nestled in the dense, lush tropical rainforest of the Peninsula Papagayo, Nekajui includes a central lodge with freestanding rooms, suites and villas sprinkled throughout the surrounding foliage.
In Ireland, Ashford Castle, which Time Out recently named as the world’s single most gorgeous place to stay, was awarded two keys. In South Africa, the astonishingly scenic Delaire Graff Lodges & Spa – a mountain-surrounded wine estate in the Cape Winelands – is the newest three-key destination in Africa.
Confusing, eye-catching and unique, City of Dreams – Morpheus in Macau, which features a webbed, warped steel exterior designed by the late Zaha Hadid, is one of Asia’s latest three-key hotel.
Repping Oceania is what looks like a structure that landed from outer space: Southern Ocean Lodge. It parallels the jagged shapes of the Aussie coast with pleasing accuracy, as well as bragging some jaw-droppingly stylish rooms.
More on hotels with Time Out
Our editors and writers have stayed in some stunning properties; using their expertise, we’ve just released a brand-new list of the world’s most beautiful hotels. We’ve also recently rounded up the greatest hotels in the UK, from city stays to country escapes.
For more hotel news, check out the best new hotels recognised by the Michelin Guide, as well as the World’s 50 Best Hotels ranking for 2026.
🏩 The most beautiful hotels in the world, according to Time Out.
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