Forbes Travel Guide (FTG) has released its 2026 Star Awards, expanding to more than 100 countries and naming a record number of new Five-Star winners — including the first-ever Five-Star cruise and cruise-ship restaurant — signalling a structural shift in where and how luxury travel is evolving.
Overview
Forbes Travel Guide, the independent global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas, and ocean cruises, has unveiled its 2026 Star Awards.
The 68th annual list marks a geographic milestone, spanning more than 100 countries, with first-time inclusions such as Bhutan, Croatia, Georgia, Grenada, Laos, Poland, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Uzbekistan.
Beyond geography, the 2026 results point to deeper changes in the luxury landscape: new formats of luxury (notably cruising), the rise of secondary destinations, and a move toward more personal, place-led hospitality.
What’s New in 2026
A historic first for luxury cruising
- Ilma by The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection becomes FTG’s first-ever Five-Star cruise ship.
- Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud (Celebrity Xcel) earns the first Five-Star cruise-ship restaurant rating.
This reflects the rapid professionalisation of high-end cruising and its growing parity with top-tier land-based hospitality.
Smaller destinations, bigger luxury impact
Luxury demand is dispersing beyond major capitals, and FTG’s results mirror that shift.
Notable inaugural Five-Stars include:
- Wymara Villas, Turks and Caicos
- The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko, Japan
- One&Only Portonovi, Montenegro
Meanwhile, The Charleston Place (Charleston) and 100 Princes Street (Edinburgh) gained Four-Stars, elevating the profile of their respective markets.
Marriott International’s luxury strength
Marriott’s top-tier portfolio performed strongly:
- The St. Regis Atlanta and Atlas Buckhead deliver Atlanta’s first dual Five-Star hotel-restaurant pairing.
- The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes secures Orlando’s first Five-Star hotel accolade.
- Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve (Saudi Arabia) becomes the Red Sea project’s first Five-Star hotel.
From standardised to personalised luxury
FTG’s list highlights a broader industry pivot toward bespoke, locally rooted experiences.
Examples include:
- Mii amo, Sedona — destination-specific wellness journeys tied to the red rock landscape.
- Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties — slower, locally immersive guest experiences.
Intimacy over scale in Macau
For the fourth consecutive year, Macau leads the world with 28 Five-Star hotels.
New winners — Capella at Galaxy Macau, Paiza Grand, and Palazzo Versace Macau — lean toward “hotel-within-a-hotel” models that prioritise privacy and curated service over mass luxury.
Why It Matters
- Luxury is decentralising. FTG’s geographic expansion shows meaningful investment in secondary and emerging destinations.
- Cruising is now a peer to top hotels. The first Five-Star cruise ratings legitimise ultra-luxury at sea.
- Experience is the differentiator. Personalisation and place-led design are becoming central to top-tier ratings.
- Brand portfolios matter more. Large groups — notably Marriott — are consolidating influence at the very top of luxury.
For operators, this raises the bar for operational consistency, cultural localisation, and experience design — not just physical product.
Regional Highlights
United States — New Five-Star Hotels
- The Chateau at Nemacolin, Farmington, Pennsylvania
- Mii amo, Sedona
- The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
- The St. Regis Atlanta
- Yacht Club at The Boca Raton
United States — New Five-Star Restaurants
- Atlas Buckhead, Atlanta
- Aurelia at Castle Hill, Newport, Rhode Island
- Flybridge, Boca Raton
Europe — New Five-Star Hotels
- The Maybourne Riviera, France
- One&Only Portonovi, Montenegro
- Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona, Spain
- Mandarin Oriental Savoy, Zurich, Switzerland
Asia Pacific — 40% of all new Five-Stars
- Bvlgari Hotel Tokyo
- Capella at Galaxy Macau
- Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li
- Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing
- Paiza Grand, Macau
- Palazzo Versace Macau
- Regent Hong Kong
- ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts
- The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko, Japan
- The St. Regis Macao
Middle East — New Five-Star Hotels
- Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi
- Grosvenor House, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Dubai
- Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Saudi Arabia
- Rosewood Doha
Caribbean & Mexico
- Wymara Villas, Turks and Caicos
- Grand Velas Los Cabos, Mexico
FTG 2026 Awards — Totals
- Hotels: 343 Five-Star | 708 Four-Star | 679 Recommended
- Restaurants: 82 Five-Star | 138 Four-Star | 80 Recommended
- Spas: 118 Five-Star | 241 Four-Star
- Cruise ships: 1 Five-Star | 9 Four-Star | 9 Recommended
- Cruise restaurants: 1 Five-Star | 8 Four-Star | 5 Recommended
At a Glance
- FTG 2026 covers 100+ countries — the widest footprint yet.
- First-ever Five-Star cruise and Five-Star cruise restaurant awarded.
- Secondary destinations gain momentum.
- Macau remains the world’s Five-Star leader.
- Marriott’s luxury brands show outsized performance.
- Luxury is becoming more local, personal, and intimate.
Also read Forbes Travel Guide 5 Stars for the Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong and the Ritz-Carlton Spa, Hong Kong
