The global Michelin Keys for 2026 have been unveiled, distinguishing a total of 2,832 hotels across the world. The new selection includes 194 Michelin Key distinctions and promotions within Europe, the continent with the highest count of Key hotels in the world.
Although the Michelin Guide is most well-known for its stars, a distinction reserved for the best restaurants in the world, the organisation introduced a similar mark of quality for hotels in 2024. The so-called Michelin Keys are awarded following the level of experience a hotel might offer. One Michelin Key indicates a ‘very special stay’, two an ‘exceptional stay’, and three an ‘extraordinary stay’.
Initially, the selection of hotels spread across 15 destinations in North America, Europe, and Asia but it has grown a lot over the past two years and Michelin Keys can now be found in 79 destinations.
“This second global selection of the MICHELIN Keys reflects the extraordinary momentum driving the hospitality sector once again this year. With 470 newly distinguished establishments, we are witnessing a continuous upscaling of the offering, driven by even more creative and ambitious projects. All around the world, hoteliers are reinventing the stay experience through more immersive, personalised, and experiential concepts,” stated Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guide.
As far as the 2026 selection is concerned, the Michelin Guide added 194 Michelin Key distinctions and promotions within Europe. The continent’s total number of Michelin Keys has thus reached 1,338 hotels.
There was significant growth in France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom, and Italy and France remain the most-awarded countries with 224 and 220 Keys respectively. Meanwhile, Liechtenstein and Slovakia were able to take home their first Michelin Keys.
Europe saw eight new Three-Key properties being added inn 2026. Seven of those were promoted, while one was a newcomer within the selection. That honour goes to Venice’s Airelles Palladio, the first Airelles property outside France and a new arrival overlooking the Giudecca Canal which also took home the Michelin Guide Opening of the Year Award.
“This capacity for innovation is expressed both in must-visit destinations and in emerging tourist markets. Often driven by visionary independent hotelkeepers, this evolution in concepts is now inspiring the industry as a whole. It is also supported by investments from major international groups, which are helping to accelerate this transformation. The 2026 selection thus celebrates the diversity, vitality, and excellence of an ever-evolving sector, one that continues to push the boundaries of the hospitality experience and invite travelers to discover new destinations,” said Gwendal Poullennec.
The other new Three-Key hotels in Europe are:
- Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Collection (Florence, Italy)
- Borgo Santandrea (Amalfi, Italy)
- Splendido, A Belmond Hotel (Portofino, Italy)
- Château de la Chèvre d’Or (Èze, France)
- Le Couvent des Minimes (Mane, France)
- Beau-Rivage Palace (Lausanne, Switzerland)
- Kulm Hotel St. Moritz (St. Moritz, Switzerland)
Overall, the Michelin Guide Inspectors noticed a hospitality landscape shaped by changing travel habits and increasingly diverse guest expectations. Slow and immersive travel, wellness, and water-based luxury were some of the main trends within the hotel industry according to the Michelin Guide.
