The global hospitality community is preparing for a monumental shift as The World’s 50 Best Hotels officially announces Paris as the host city for its highly anticipated 2026 edition.

Marking the first time the illustrious event has been hosted outside of London since its inception in 2023, the move to the French capital represents a crucial milestone in the global growth of the awards. The multi-day event programme will culminate in the industry’s most prestigious annual awards ceremony during the week commencing 14 September 2026.

A Natural Choice for Global Hospitality

Bringing the awards to a city synonymous with haute couture, refined gastronomy, and legendary palace hotels marks a new chapter for the organisation.

“We wanted a host city that embodied timeless hospitality, and one that is home to some of the world’s most exceptional hotels, so Paris was a natural choice,” says Emma Sleight, Head of Content for The World’s 50 Best Hotels. “This September, we look forward to gathering our growing, international hotels community to celebrate the world’s best hotel experiences and the people who craft them.”

The week-long, invite-only programme will serve as a definitive snapshot of modern luxury travel, shaping the aspirations of discerning consumers, seasoned travellers, and hoteliers worldwide.

Crucial Changes to the Voting System for 2026

To reflect the reality of luxury travel and recognize properties with enduring impact, The World’s 50 Best Hotels has introduced a significant update to its voting structure:

• Extended Three-Year Voting Window: In a change from the previous 24-month rule, the 2026 voting window has been extended to three years. This crucial adjustment allows voters to consider exceptional, deeply memorable properties that they may not visit as frequently but which still represent the pinnacle of hospitality.

• The 51-100 List Returns: Following its successful debut in 2025, the extended 51-100 ranking will continue to shine a spotlight on a broader selection of outstanding global destinations. This list will be revealed in the months leading up to the main event.

• Strictly Independent: The awards remain entirely free of ‘pay-to-play’ mechanics. Hotels cannot pay to enter, nominate themselves, or purchase tickets, ensuring the final list remains a pure reflection of excellence.

New Leadership in the Academy

The 2026 ranking will be determined by the 50 Best Hotels Academy—an esteemed, gender-balanced panel of more than 800 anonymous industry experts, including luxury travel journalists, hoteliers, and seasoned globetrotters.

To lead this panel, the organization has appointed Jesse Ashlock as the new Academy Chair for USA & Canada East. Ashlock, who recently served as the Deputy Global Editorial Director and U.S. Head of Editorial Content of Condé Nast Traveler, joins Samantha Brooks (Chair for USA & Canada West) as part of a elite group of 13 regional Academy Chairs selected for their peerless expertise and industry connections.

The Event Line-up: What to Expect in Paris

The week-long celebration promises to be a masterclass in networking and industry thought-leadership, featuring:

• The ‘Welcome to Paris’ Event & Opening Banquet: An exclusive gathering held the night before the main reveal, allowing the masterminds behind the world’s top 100 properties to connect with their global peers.

• #50BestTalks: Unpacked: The organisation’s signature leadership forum, providing a high-profile platform for hoteliers and travel experts to dissect groundbreaking trends shaping the future of luxury hospitality.

• The Glittering Awards Ceremony: A star-studded evening featuring red-carpet arrivals, live interviews, a drinks reception, and the dramatic countdown of the world’s top 50 properties, followed by an official press conference with the newly crowned winners.

As the countdown to September begins, the luxury hospitality world turns its eyes to Paris, where the defining benchmarks of global hotel excellence are set to be rewritten.

Following the success of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and The World’s 50 Best Bars, 50 Best launched The World’s 50 Best Hotels in 2023, marking the brand’s first global launch since 2009.

The World’s 50 Best Hotels list is created by The World’s 50 Best Hotels Academy, an influential group of more than 800 independent leaders, each selected for their expert opinion of the international hotel scene.

The World’s 50 Best Hotels event programme – including the awards ceremony and unveiling of the list – provides a unique opportunity to unite hoteliers, restaurateurs, bar owners, media, business and luxury travellers at a captivating celebration of hospitality, passion and talent. The first edition of the awards was held in London, UK, in September 2023.