Italy is the country with the most MICHELIN Keys in Europe: 224 hotels, including 34 new properties awarded One Key, 6 awarded Two Keys, and four hotels receiving the MICHELIN Three Keys for the first time.
The MICHELIN Guide today unveils its 2026 hotel selection, available on the MICHELIN Guide’s platforms, including the online magazine, where you can explore both the global selection and the details of the Italian selection (MICHELIN Keys 2026: A Guide to the Global Selection; All 2026 MICHELIN Keys in Italy). After months of unannounced visits, MICHELIN Guide inspectors have selected 470 new hotels in 79 destinations. The 2026 selection introduces MICHELIN Keys to 10 destinations for the first time, while more than 80 hotels have been promoted within the selection.
Italy ranks as the European destination with the highest number of hotels awarded MICHELIN Keys in the 2026 selection. There are 224 properties in the new selection with One, Two, or Three Keys, placing Italy in second place worldwide, surpassed only by the United States. According to Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide, the expansion of the hotel selection comes at a particularly exciting time for the industry. As the Guide expands its presence in the world of hospitality and lifestyle, Poullennec highlights the role of independent and boutique hotels in driving the sector’s evolution. “This second global selection of MICHELIN Keys reflects the extraordinary dynamism that continues to characterize the hospitality sector this year. With 470 new properties receiving awards, we are witnessing a continuous improvement in quality, driven by increasingly creative and ambitious projects. Around the world, hoteliers are reinventing the guest experience through more immersive, personalized, and experiential concepts. This capacity for innovation is evident in both must-visit destinations and emerging tourism markets. Often led by independent and visionary hoteliers, this evolution of concepts now inspires the entire sector. It is also supported by investments from major international groups, which help accelerate the transformation. “The 2026 selection thus celebrates the diversity, vitality, and excellence of a constantly evolving sector that continues to push the boundaries of the hospitality experience and invites travelers to discover new destinations,” said Gwendal Poullennec.
From hidden gems to contemporary icons: a world of diverse stays
This year’s new additions highlight the diversity of the hotel landscape. The new hotels awarded MICHELIN Keys include establishments of every size, style, setting, and price range.
The MICHELIN Guide’s global selection of hotels now includes over 9,400 properties, including 2,832 awarded MICHELIN Keys. More than 2,200 hotels have been added to the global selection since the announcement of the MICHELIN Keys in October 2025.
Europe and Asia saw the highest number of new additions. Significant growth has been observed in France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom, as well as in China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia. The Americas have also seen notable new additions in Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, and the United States, while inspectors were particularly impressed by the quality of this year’s new selections in Africa and Oceania. The MICHELIN Key is also reaching new destinations. In 2026, hotels in Armenia, Benin, Botswana, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Mongolia, Myanmar, Rwanda, Slovakia, and Zimbabwe will receive MICHELIN Keys for the first time.
Of the 2,832 hotels awarded MICHELIN Keys, 155 hold Three Keys, 657 hold Two Keys, and 2,020 hold One Key.
Europe: Italy is the country with the most MICHELIN Keys
Italy leads the continent with 224 award-winning hotels, followed by France with 220; the United Kingdom has 131, and Germany has 130.
The 2026 European selection now includes 1,338 hotels awarded MICHELIN Keys across more than 35 destinations, with 194 new Keys and promotions. Seven hotels have been promoted to Three MICHELIN Keys, while Slovakia and Liechtenstein receive their first MICHELIN Keys.
Italy takes center stage in the new selection, with 34 properties receiving One MICHELIN Key, 6 receiving Two MICHELIN Keys, and four hotels receiving Three MICHELIN Keys. Among these, three new entries stand out, each receiving Two MICHELIN Keys right off the bat—Vetera Matera in Matera; The Carlton, Milan by Rocco Forte Hotels in Milan; Villa Treville in Positano—and one that debuts in the 2026 selection by being awarded Three MICHELIN Keys: Airelles Palladio, Venezia in Venice, which also wins the Opening of the Year Award.
Also receiving the highest distinction are Borgo Santandrea in Amalfi, Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Collection in Florence, and Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino, in the town of the same name in the province of Genoa.
The new MICHELIN Three Keys hotels in Italy
Airelles Palladio, Venice
Opening in 2026 following an ambitious three-year restoration project, Airelles Palladio marks the international debut of the prestigious French group and introduces a hospitality concept to Venice that is unprecedented in both scale and design. Located on the Giudecca, across from St. Mark’s but set apart from the city’s busiest thoroughfares, it occupies a complex of historic buildings nestled within expansive gardens—a particularly rare sight in Venice. The architectural restoration preserves the character of the buildings, blending it with sophisticated interiors, Venetian craftsmanship, antiques, and contemporary design, while the exceptional spaciousness of the property finds one of its greatest expressions in the Airelles x Guerlain Spa, with its 1,700 square meters spread over three floors. Equally ambitious is the culinary concept, which brings together the distinct visions of Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Nobu Matsuhisa, Norbert Niederkofler, and Cédric Grolet.
Given the scope of the project, the quality of the restoration, and the richness of the experience, Airelles Palladio offers a new interpretation of the grand Venetian hotel, raising the standards of luxury hospitality in the city: a combination of qualities recognized with the award of the Three Keys and the MICHELIN Special Award for “Opening of the Year 2026.”
Borgo Santandrea, Amalfi
In a secluded location above Conca dei Marini, Borgo Santandrea unfolds across terraces and gardens all the way to its private beach—a rare and distinctive feature. The interiors blend 20th-century Italian design, pieces from the owners’ collection, custom-made furnishings, and artisanal craftsmanship, all in harmony with local colors and materials. The connection to Campania continues in the culinary offerings, which reinterpret regional ingredients and traditions with a contemporary twist.
Design, craftsmanship, cuisine, and landscape thus define a cohesive identity, in which a contemporary vision of hospitality intertwines with a deep connection to the Amalfi Coast. It is precisely this ability to offer an authentic experience intimately linked to the destination that fully expresses the spirit of the MICHELIN Three Keys.
Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Collection, Florence
Opened in 2025 following an extensive restoration project, Collegio alla Querce is the result of the transformation of a 16th-century complex that, for over a century, housed the Collegio dei Barnabiti, a prestigious educational institution. Nestled in the hills overlooking the city, in a secluded setting surrounded by greenery, it offers a privileged view of Florence and the Duomo, combining proximity to the city center with the intimate atmosphere of a country residence. Its history remains clearly evident in the architecture and interiors, where frescoes and coffered ceilings harmonize with art, contemporary furnishings, and local materials. The past also emerges in the most distinctive details: Bar Bertelli occupies what was once the principal’s office and preserves the original portraits of the “Principi degli Studi,” the most deserving students, while the chapel and theater have been restored as part of the hotel’s new life.
The result is a sophisticated and contemporary retreat, whose uniqueness lies precisely in the balance between history, elegance, and the character of the place—elements that make a stay here a distinctive experience, in the spirit of the MICHELIN Three Keys.
Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino
Housed in a former Benedictine monastery and first converted into a hotel in 1902, the Splendido has welcomed generations of distinguished guests, becoming one of the iconic symbols of Portofino’s “Dolce Vita” and establishing, over time, a tradition of impeccable hospitality and service. The recent renovation, designed by Martin Brudnizki, preserves and enhances the hotel’s soul through Ligurian materials, colors, craftsmanship, and decorative traditions, complemented by antiques, restored furnishings, and custom-made pieces, in a project deeply rooted in the local culture.
It is precisely this blend of heritage, design, landscape, and the art of hospitality—along with an authentic sense of place that permeates the entire guest experience—that makes the Splendido a unique destination, the perfect embodiment of the MICHELIN Three Keys.
Four Special Awards, Four Ways to Stand Out
The 2026 selection also highlights four hotels whose distinctive approach to hospitality has caught the attention of the MICHELIN Guide inspectors, with Special Awards dedicated to architecture and design, wellness, new openings, and connection to the local area.
The MICHELIN Guide Architecture & Design Award goes to the Desert Rock Resort in Umluj, Saudi Arabia, a striking property nestled in the landscape of the Hegiaz Mountains.
The MICHELIN Guide Wellness Award recognizes the Schloss Elmau Luxury Spa Retreat & Cultural Hideaway in Elmau, Germany, for its particularly rich and diverse approach to wellness.
The MICHELIN Guide’s Opening of the Year Award goes to the Airelles Palladio Venice in Venice: the first Airelles property outside of France, overlooking the Giudecca Canal.
The MICHELIN Guide’s Local Experience Award spotlights the Londolozi Game Reserve in the Kruger National Park, South Africa: a pioneering safari resort that has long been committed to connecting guests with the region’s landscape and culture.
The 2026 MICHELIN Keys Selection at a Glance
- One MICHELIN Key 2020
- Two MICHELIN Keys 657
- Three MICHELIN Keys 155
- Total hotels awarded MICHELIN Keys 2,832
- New hotels awarded one MICHELIN Key entering the selection 470
- New Three-Key hotels (including promotions) New Two-Key hotels (including promotions) 18,120
- Hotels promoted within the selection 80+
The MICHELIN Guide’s Hotel Selection
The MICHELIN Guide’s hotel selection is based on the work of its inspectors, who travel anonymously and independently to identify hotels capable of offering exceptional experiences. The selection includes a wide variety of establishments: from historic buildings and grand hotels to independent boutique hotels, from the most remote lodges to the most innovative new openings.
The MICHELIN Key is the hotel award granted by the MICHELIN Guide, equivalent to the MICHELIN Star for restaurants. Introduced in 2024 in 15 destinations across North America, Europe, and Asia, the MICHELIN Key has since expanded to become a global award.
Hotels receive One, Two, or Three MICHELIN Keys, depending on the level of experience offered:
- One MICHELIN Key: a special stay.
- Two MICHELIN Keys: an exceptional stay.
- Three MICHELIN Keys: a unique stay.
