The Peninsula Hong Kong has been named the world’s top hotel in 2026, leading a list of five hotels recognised in the 39th edition of Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards.
The ranking is based on votes from 798,867 readers who shared their experiences and identified their preferred travel destinations, hotels, resorts and other hospitality services.
The awards reflect travellers’ choices across different regions, with the selected hotels recognised for their accommodation, hospitality, dining experiences, facilities and locations.
From Hong Kong to Italy, the United States and Japan, the list features hotels that have attracted visitors through their history, services and approach to hospitality.
Here are the five hotels that ranked among the world’s best in 2026.
1. The Peninsula, Hong Kong
The Peninsula Hong Kong has taken the top position in the 2026 ranking. Located along the Kowloon waterfront, the hotel opened in 1928 and has remained part of Hong Kong’s hospitality industry for almost a century.
Known among regular guests as The Pen, the hotel has built its reputation around its history, accommodation and services. Its entrance features a fleet of 14 Rolls-Royce Phantoms, which guests can use as part of their experience.
The property has nine bars and restaurants, offering visitors different dining and drinking options. Its spa also provides treatments, including the Margy’s Monte-Carlo facial.
The guest rooms feature dark veneer finishes and champagne-toned interiors, with views across Hong Kong’s harbour. The hotel also places emphasis on staff service, which has contributed to its standing among visitors.
Its position at the top of the ranking reflects the continued appeal of a hotel that has served generations of travellers and residents since the 1920s.
2. Passalacqua, Moltrasio, Italy
Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Italy, secured the second position in the 2026 ranking. The hotel is located on the shores of Lake Como and operates from a historic villa surrounded by seven acres of gardens and terraces.
The property opened in its current form in 2022 as a sister hotel to Grand Hotel Tremezzo. Both properties are owned by Paolo, Antonella and Valentina De Santis.
Passalacqua’s accommodation is spread across three buildings. The original villa contains 12 suites, while the former stables have been converted into an eight-suite palazzo. A separate four-suite property, Casa al Lago, occupies a building near the lake.
The interiors feature painted glass, etched mirrors, leather furnishings and hand-blown Murano chandeliers. The property also incorporates marble, including Breccia Pontificia, a stone associated with the work of Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
Outside, the grounds contain olive trees, mimosa, roses, magnolias and fountains. Terraces descend towards Lake Como, providing guests with views of the water and surrounding area.
With accommodation prices starting from $1,898, Passalacqua offers visitors access to the lake, gardens and facilities within a historic setting.
3. Park Hyatt Chicago, United States
Park Hyatt Chicago ranked third among the world’s top hotels in 2026. Located on the Magnificent Mile, the hotel overlooks Chicago’s historic Water Tower and provides access to several attractions within the city.
The property is known for its accommodation, dining facilities and wellness services. Its suites include open-air terraces, living areas and bathrooms with heated floors, rain showers and soaking tubs.
Some rooms offer views of Lake Michigan, while the DuSable and Lake Michigan Suites provide guests with opportunities to enjoy the waterfront from their accommodation.
The hotel has also updated its guest rooms with new furnishings, textures and Le Labo bath products.
For visitors interested in wellness, the property offers Wellbeing and Mindfulness Suites. These rooms include sound machines, while the Wellbeing Suite also features a private Tonal smart gym.
Dining is another part of the hotel’s offering. NoMI, its signature restaurant, serves seasonal dishes and provides views across Chicago.
The hotel’s location, accommodation and range of facilities have helped it secure a place among the five hotels recognised by Condé Nast Traveler readers.
4. Le Méridien Essex Chicago, United States
Le Méridien Essex Chicago occupies the fourth position in the ranking. Located opposite Grant Park, the hotel offers access to several attractions, including Museum Campus and the Art Institute of Chicago.
The 14-storey property has 274 guest rooms and combines a mid-century modern design with views of Chicago’s skyline and Lake Michigan.
Its location allows guests to reach Museum Campus within a five-minute walk, while the Art Institute of Chicago is about 15 minutes away on foot.
The guest rooms include features such as bathroom mirrors with built-in speakers and Frette bathrobes. These details form part of the hotel’s approach to accommodation and guest services.
Its fitness centre also provides Peloton bikes equipped with Hulu and Netflix, allowing visitors to access entertainment while exercising.
Guests can dine at Grant Park Bistro, the hotel’s restaurant, which serves New American dishes with European influences. Its menu includes charred broccolini risotto and Iberico pork skirt steak.
The hotel’s location, room facilities and dining options contributed to its fourth-place position in the global ranking.
5. The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto, Japan
The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto, completes the list at number five. Situated along the Kamogawa River, the hotel opened in 2014 as one of the first international luxury hotel brands to establish a presence in the Japanese city.
The property combines contemporary accommodation with elements of Kyoto’s history and culture. Its location along the river also provides guests with access to the city’s attractions while offering a place to retreat from its busy streets.
The guest rooms feature cherry blossom carpets, woodwork, calligraphic artworks and bathrooms designed to accommodate visitors seeking a private space during their stay.
The hotel offers several dining options, including Mizuki, which serves Japanese cuisine, and Chef’s Table by Katsuhito Inoue, whose menu draws inspiration from Japan’s 72 micro-seasons.
La Locanda provides Italian dishes for guests seeking another dining option.
Its wellness facilities include an indoor swimming pool and a spa offering treatments such as green tea massages. These facilities provide visitors with opportunities to relax during their stay in Kyoto.
With accommodation prices starting from $1,116, The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto, brings together dining, wellness and accommodation within a setting that reflects the city’s cultural heritage.
Chisom Michael is a data analyst (audience engagement) and writer at BusinessDay, with diverse experience in the media industry. He holds a BSc in Industrial Physics from Imo State University and an MEng in Computer Science and Technology from Liaoning Univerisity of Technology China. He specialises in listicle writing, profiles and leveraging his skills in audience engagement analysis and data-driven insights to create compelling content that resonates with readers.
