2026 and indeed, the summer travel season has arrived, bringing with it a monumental wave of hospitality debuts.

A shift is underway in the international luxury hospitality sector, one that favours deeper privacy, architectural preservation, hyper-curated guest experiences and small-scale, exclusive escapes. For the modern luxury traveller, the global map of indulgent stays is forever expanding, offering a fresh crop of design-forward sanctuaries that blend local heritage with contemporary sophistication and bring entirely new scenery into view. From the quiet shores of Venetian lagoons to the dramatic clifftops of Mallorca and the pristine, untouched marine reserves of the Kingdom, these latest openings have officially begun welcoming their first guests.

Here are the most exciting luxury properties to book for an unforgettable escape, at any time of the year.

Get Booking: New Stays - Abroad

Capella Kyoto, Japan

Opened: March 2026

Capella Kyoto Premier Temple King

Capella Kyoto

Debuting in the historic Miyagawa-cho geisha district, Capella Kyoto captures the essence of a traditional townhouse through a low-rise, four-storey design. The 89-key sanctuary balances contemporary restraint with heritage, offering select accommodations that overlook Kennin-ji temple or feature private onsen soaking tubs.

@capellatokyo
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Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli, Venice

Opened: March 2026

Cherubini Signature Suite Orient Express Veneziajpg

Orient Express Venezia 2

A masterfully restored 15th-century noble palace in the Cannaregio district. Designed by Aline Asmar d’Amman, the 47-key jewel box blends heavy Baroque heritage with plush Italian velvets, restored murals, and a signature fine-dining concept by three-MICHELIN-starred chef Heinz Beck.

@orientexpress.venezia
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Zannier Île de Bendor, Côte d'Azur, France

Opened: May 2026

Zannier Île de Bendor 3

Zannier Île de Bendor 1

Marking the complete transformation of a private Mediterranean island off the coast of Bandol. Zannier, partnering with the historic Ricard family, has built a 93-key village-style coastal enclave featuring artisan quarters, secluded stone estates, and an elite beach club that revives the island's 1950s bohemian glamour.

@zannieriledebendor
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Six Senses London, United Kingdom

Opened: March 2026

Six Senses London, United Kingdom 2

Six Senses London, United Kingdom 1

Marking the brand's highly anticipated UK debut, the luxury urban sanctuary is housed inside the meticulously restored, Grade II-listed Whiteley building (the former historic department store) in Bayswater. The property features 109 rooms and suites, a massive 2,300-square-meter wellness spa complete with London's first hotel magnesium pool, and the world's first "Six Senses Place" social and wellness members' club.

@sixsenseslondon
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Get Booking: New Stays - At Home

Four Seasons Resort Red Sea at Shura Island, Saudi Arabia

Opened: May 2026

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Four Seasons Resort Red Sea at Shura Island, Saudi Arabia 1

Four Seasons Resort Red Sea at Shura Island, Saudi Arabia 2

Standing out for its marine-first design, featuring a dedicated discovery centre that lets guests engage directly with the destination’s unique coral reef conservation efforts. The sanctuary is engineered with distinctive structural canopies that naturally temper the desert sun, creating a seamless, open-air transition from the private pool villas to the beach. This resort features 149 keys, including spacious beachfront villas with private plunge pools.

@fsshuraisland
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Miraval The Red Sea at Shura Island, Saudi Arabia

Opened: May 2026

Miraval The Red Sea at Shura Island, Saudi Arabia 3

Miraval The Red Sea at Shura Island, Saudi Arabia 2

An adults-only, all-inclusive sanctuary, Miraval The Red Sea features 180 rooms, suites, and private beachfront villas. At the heart of the resort is a sprawling 40,000-square-foot Life in Balance Spa (the largest spa on the island) offering region-exclusive hammam rituals and wellness programs. Guests can indulge in the Miraval magic with immersive culinary classes and digital-free reflection spaces complete this transformative, luxury retreat.

@miravaltheredsea
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Raffles Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Opened: May 2026

Raffles Jeddah 2

Raffles Jeddah 1

Rising 48 storeys above the Corniche, Raffles Jeddah blends modern waterfront luxury with the rich architectural heritage of the nearby Al-Balad district. The property features a striking facade wrapped in movable mashrabiya screens that cast dynamic patterns of light across its 182 expansive guestrooms and suites, which are among the largest in the city.

@rafflesjeddah
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The Four Seasons Resort and Residences AMAALA, Saudi Arabia

Opened: June 2026

Four Seasons Amaala Red Sea Lobby

Four Seasons Amaala Red Sea Spa Wellness

With a low-rise design inspired by traditional coastal villages, the debut resort opening in AMAALA operates entirely on renewable energy with a zero-waste infrastructure, the 202-key sanctuary centers its experience around the expansive 2,095-square-meter HYLIAA Wellness & Spa and an organic therapeutic garden.

@fsamaala
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Re-Imagined Re-Openings: The Grand Returns of 2026

The Maybourne Riviera, South of France

The Maybourne Riviera, South of France 1

The Maybourne Riviera, South of France 3

Images via IG: engagesummits

Operating on a seasonal calendar, Maybourne Riviera opened on March 16, for its 2026 season. This season is set to run through to November 13, 2026, before closing again for the winter. Found on the cliff edges of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, the quiet luxury hotel offers an avant-garde architectural statement overlooking the Monaco coastline and the Mediterranean Sea. The ultra-luxury hotel features modernist, glass-fronted rooms and suites designed by interior icons like André Fu and Bryan O'Sullivan, all positioned to maximise panoramic sea views.

@themaybourneriviera
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Aman Sveti Stefan, Montenegro

Aman Sveti Stefan, Montenegro 2

Aman Sveti Stefan, Montenegro

Following a five-year closure, Villa Miločer returned on May 22, and the iconic Aman Sveti Stefan island will fully reopen for the summer on July 1. One of the Adriatic's most cinematic addresses is officially back. Aman Sveti Stefan is the fortified 15th-century island village of terracotta-roofed stone cottages tethered to the Montenegrin mainland by a slender causeway near Budva, once the haunt of Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren and Marilyn Monroe. It remains the purest expression of Aman's quiet-luxury philosophy.

@amansvetistefan
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Don Carlos Marbella, Spain

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Don Carlos Marbella, Spain 3

The iconic Don Carlos Marbella has officially reopened following a comprehensive €45 million multi-year renovation. The legendary five-star beachfront estate has been completely revitalised with a reimagined contemporary Mediterranean aesthetic across its redesigned rooms, suites, and public spaces. Alongside the elevated design, the Costa del Sol landmark debuts upgraded world-class amenities, including sophisticated beach club concepts, state-of-the-art wellness facilities, and refined new culinary experiences.

@doncarlosmarbella
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Freegate Island, Seychelles

Freegate Island Seychelles

After five years of closure and a complete rebuild, Fregate Island Private will return to the Seychelles in October 2026, with 17 radically enlarged villas designed from glass, stone, and lightwood to dissolve into the landscape. The ultra-exclusive retreat integrates cutting-edge circular infrastructure, featuring an island-wide Waste to Wealth Hub and expanded solar energy fields to minimise its environmental footprint.

@fregateisland
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Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, Florence, Italy

Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, Florence, Italy 1

Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, Florence, Italy

Emerging from a massive 18-month total structural closure in April of this year, this former 15th-century Franciscan monastery has completely recalibrated its footprint. Under the creative direction of Luigi Fragola Architects, the 39 newly unveiled rooms and suites seamlessly integrate Impruneta terracotta flooring and Carrara Cipollino marble with hand-woven tapestries.

@belmondvillasanmichele
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Ones to Watch: Soon-to-Open Sanctuaries

Octola III

Amanvari Mexico

Amanvari Mexico 1

Fouquets Mykonos, Greece

Planned opening: June 27, 2026

Slated to open on June 27, 2026, Fouquet’s Mykonos marks the legendary Barrière Group's first property in Greece, bringing a uniquely French sensibility to the southern coast of the Aegean island. Nestled between the iconic bays of Paraga and Paradise Beach, the ultra-luxury resort comprises 61 minimalist, Cycladic-inspired suites and three expansive private villas, many featuring standalone infinity pools and direct access to secluded beachfront coves. Beyond its striking design by Kydoniatis Architects and Divercity Architects, the property introduces rare island architectural highlights, including a covered indoor swimming pool and a basketball court carved directly into the natural rock face. Wellness is anchored by the avant-garde, Dr. Barbara Sturm-designed Rock Spa — focusing on recovery and longevity via hyperbaric oxygen chambers and ice baths — while the dining will revolve around a landmark partnership with contemporary Japanese robata-grill concept, Roka.

@fouquets.mykonos

Amanvari, Los Cabos, Mexico

Planned opening: August 1, 2026

Opening on August 1, 2026, Amanvari marks the brand's highly anticipated debut in Mexico, tucked away on the untouched East Cape of the Baja Peninsula. Framed by the Sierra de la Laguna mountains and the Sea of Cortez, the remote sanctuary features an estate that seamlessly weaves together rugged desert, a natural estuary, and three miles of swimmable private beach. The architecture, designed by Elastic, centres on 23 bi-level stilted casitas crafted from natural stone and timber, each offering a private heated pool and floor-to-ceiling glass framing the shifting coastal light. Guests enjoy access to the wider Costa Palmas community, including a Robert Trent Jones II golf course and private marina, alongside standalone resort highlights like the Japanese omakase concept Sesui and a contemporary wellness centre equipped with a traditional Temazcal sweat lodge.

@amanvari_resort

Octola III, Lapland, Finland

Planned opening: December 1, 2026

Octola III will welcome guests on December 1, the ultra-private, invitation-only wilderness retreat set 500 meters above sea level on the historic foundations of a former radar station in the remote fells of Finnish Lapland. The intimate lodge accommodates up to six guests across three flexible suite configurations, offering a panoramic vantage point over the tundra of Finland, Norway, and Sweden that is ideal for stargazing and viewing the aurora borealis. Located just 20 minutes from Enontekiö Arctic Airport within a vast private sanctuary spanning tens of hectares, the property pairs complete seclusion and high-security discretion with fully serviced hospitality, including a dedicated host, private chef, a 220-square-meter indoor Games Den, and a traditional wood-burning sauna with an ice-swimming pond. For larger parties, the retreat can be combined with its adjacent sister property, the ten-bedroom Aurora Radar Station, for a comprehensive 1,000-square-meter full estate buyout that ensures absolute isolation in one of the world's most pristine natural environments.

@octolalodge

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