Italy stands as Europe’s absolute queen when it comes to hospitality excellence: in 2026 it holds the highest number of dream hotels on the Old Continent, ranking only behind the United States. The Michelin Guide has unveiled the new global selection of the Michelin Keys which this year celebrates “the diversity, vitality and excellence of a sector that is continuously evolving, which keeps pushing the boundaries of the hospitality experience and invites travelers to discover new destinations,” as highlighted by Gwendal Poullennec, Director International of the Guide.
Among the 470 new establishments worldwide awarded with these Keys, spanning every size, style, setting and price range, Europe and Asia recorded the largest number of new entrants. The recognitions grew significantly in France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom, but also in China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand and Saudi Arabia. And for the first time, other countries see their hotels being honored, including Armenia, Benin, Botswana, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Mongolia, Myanmar, Rwanda, Slovakia and Zimbabwe.
Italy is Europe’s most awarded
With a total of 224 awarded hotels, the Bel Paese takes center stage in Europe, where today there are 1,338 hotels crowned with Keys across more than 35 destinations, including 194 new entries and promotions.
After Italy, France follows with 220 awarded hotels, then the United Kingdom (131) and Germany (130). Seven European hotels have earned the status of “Three Keys,” while Slovakia and Liechtenstein receive Keys for the first time.
The Italian Michelin Keys 2026
Of the 224 Keys awarded to Italy this year, 44 are new entries or promotions compared with the previous year: there are 17 Three Keys (with 4 new entries/promotions), 49 Two Keys (with 6 new entries) and hotels with One Key number 158, including 34 new entries.
Let’s take a look at them all.
Three Keys
One of the 2026 entrants to the Three Keys was Airelles Palladio Venice in Venice, which also wins the Opening of the Year Award.
Also earning the top accolade are Borgo Santandrea in Amalfi, Collegio alla Querce Auberge Collection in Florence and Splendido – A Belmond Hotel in Portofino. The new Three Keys Michelin entries paint a picture of luxury hospitality capable of celebrating the history and identity of the places: Collegio alla Querce preserves the Renaissance past of the Florentine complex with Tuscan materials, period furnishings and contemporary art; Airelles Palladio reclaims historic buildings on Giudecca enriched with Venetian craftsmanship; Splendido in Portofino reaffirms its bond with the Riviera through frescoes, Genoese terrazzo, Lavagna stone and Albisola ceramics.
Here are all the Italian Three Keys Michelin 2026 (we indicate with N the properties that for the first time received one or more Keys or obtained a higher recognition than the previous year).
- Capri: JK Place Capri;
- Chiusdino: Borgo Santo Pietro;
- Civita di Bagnoregio: Corte della Maestà;
- Conca dei Marini: Borgo Santandrea N;
- Firenze: Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Collection N, Four Seasons Hotel Firenze;
- Lisciano Niccone: Reschio Hotel;
- Modena: Casa Maria Luigia;
- Moltrasio: Passalacqua;
- Montalcino: Castiglion del Bosco – A Rosewood Hotel;
- Portofino: Splendido – A Belmond Hotel, Portofino N;
- Positano: Il San Pietro di Positano;
- Roma: Bvlgari Hotel Roma;
- Taormina: San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel;
- Venezia: Airelles Palladio, Venezia N, Aman Venice, Cipriani – A Belmond Hotel, Venice.
Two Keys
Among the One- or Two-Keys, there are 3 new entries: Vetera Matera in Matera, The Carlton – A Rocco Forte Hotel in Milan and Villa Treville in Positano.
The other new Two Keys are Villa d’Este in Cernobbio, Splendido Mare – A Belmond Hotel in Portofino and Masseria Torre Maizza – A Rocco Forte Hotel in Savelletri di Fasano.
Here are all the Italian Two Keys Michelin 2026 (N marks the properties that received one or more Keys for the first time or that obtained a higher recognition than the previous year):
- Amalfi: Santa Caterina;
- Capri: Capri Palace Jumeirah;
- Casole d’Elsa: Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany;
- Castelnuovo Berardenga: Borgo San Felice Resort;
- Castiglioncello del Trinoro: Monteverdi Tuscany;
- Cernobbio: Villa d’Este N;
- Cogne: Bellevue Hotel & Spa;
- Firenze: Palazzo Portinari Salviati Residenza d’Epoca, Villa Cora, Villa La Massa;
- Lecce: La Fiermontina Palazzo Bozzi Corso;
- Limone sul Garda: EALA My Lakeside Dream;
- Lipari, Isole Eolie: Therasia Resort Sea&Spa;
- Matera: Vetera Matera N;
- Menaggio: Grand Hotel Victoria;
- Merano: Castel Fragsburg, Villa Eden The Private Retreat;
- Milano: The Carlton, Milan a Rocco Forte Hotel N, Bvlgari Hotel Milano, Four Seasons Hotel Milano, Grand Hotel et de Milan, Mandarin Oriental Milan, Portrait Milano;
- Montaione: Castelfalfi;
- Palermo: Villa Igiea, a Rocco Forte Hotel;
- Piegaro: I Borghi dell’Eremo;
- Pinzolo: Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomiti;
- Plose: FORESTIS Dolomites;
- Portofino: Splendido Mare, a Belmond Hotel, Portofino N;
- Positano: Villa Treville N;
- Roma: Orient Express La Minerva, Palazzo Tàlia, Hotel de Russie, a Rocco Forte Hotel, Hotel de la Ville, a Rocco Forte Hotel, The St. Regis Rome;
- San Cassiano: Aman Rosa Alpina;
- San Giustino Valdarno: Il Borro;
- Savelletri di Fasano: Masseria Torre Maizza, a Rocco Forte Hotel N, Borgo Egnazia;
- Siculiana Marina: ADLER Sicilia;
- Sorrento: Bellevue Syrene 1820, La Minervetta;
- Taormina: Grand Hotel Timeo – A Belmond Hotel, Taormina, Villa Sant’Andrea – A Belmond Hotel;
- Torno: Il Sereno;
- Tremezzo: Grand Hotel Tremezzo;
- Venezia: The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice, Nolinski Venezia – Evok Collection;
- Viareggio: Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte.
One Key
Here are all the Italian One Key Michelin hotels for 2026 (N indicates properties that for the first time received one or more Keys or that obtained a higher recognition than the previous year):
- Amalfi: Hotel Miramalfi;
- Anacapri, Island of Capri: Caesar Augustus N;
- Anterselva: Ansitz Heufler by Norbert Niederkofler N;
- Aragona: Resort Fontes Episcopi N;
- Arco: Vivere Suites and Rooms;
- Arezzo: Villa Fontelunga;
- Arzachena: Cascioni Eco Retreat;
- Averlengo: San Luis Retreat Hotel & Lodges;
- Bari: Bra Hotel N;
- Bologna: Grand Hotel Majestic N;
- Buggiano Castello: La Monastica Resort & Spa;
- Cagliari: Palazzo Boyl 1840 N, Casa Clàt;
- Caldaro: Lake Spa Hotel SEELEITEN;
- Camaiore: Locanda al Colle;
- Capalbio: Locanda Rossa;
- Capri: Capri Tiberio Palace, La Palma Capri, an Oetker Collection Hotel, La Minerva N, Punta Tragara N;
- Castelnuovo Berardenga: Castel Monastero;
- Castelrotto: COMO Alpina Dolomites;
- Castiglione della Pescaia: L’Andana;
- Cerreto Guidi: Villa Petriolo;
- Cinigiano: Castello di Vicarello;
- Como: Palazzo Albricci Peregrini;
- Conca dei Marini: Monastero Santa Rosa;
- Cortina d’Ampezzo: Ancora Cortina N;
- Cortona: Monastero di Cortona;
- Cremolino: Nordelaia;
- Cutrofiano: Critabianca;
- Fiesole: Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, Florence;
- Firenze: The James Suite Hotel Firenze 1564 N, Brunelleschi Hotel, Grand Hotel Minerva, Hotel Lungarno, Riva Lofts Florence, Stella d’Italia, The Place Firenze, The St. Regis Florence, Velona’s Jungle Luxury Suites;
- Forio, Isola di Ischia: Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa, Botania Relais & Spa;
- Forte dei Marmi: Pensione America, Principe Forte dei Marmi;
- Gagliano del Capo: Palazzo Daniele;
- Gargnano: Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda;
- Gavorrano: Conti di San Bonifacio;
- Griante Cadenabbia: The Lake Como EDITION N;
- Lana: Vigilius Mountain Resort;
- Lecce: La Fiermontina Luxury Home, Patria Palace;
- Locorotondo: Leonardo Trulli Resort N, Ottolire Resort;
- Maranza: Milla Montis;
- Marsala: Baglio Oneto N;
- Massa Lubrense: Villa Fiorella Art Hotel, Relais Blu;
- Matera: Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita;
- Menfi: La Foresteria Planeta Estate;
- Milano: Casa Brera, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Milan N, Casa Cipriani Milano, Hotel Principe di Savoia, Dorchester Collection, Palazzo Parigi Hotel & Grand Spa, Vico Milano;
- Montalcino: Castello Banfi – Il Borgo, Villa Le Prata – Residenza del Vescovo;
- Montepulciano: Precise Tale Poggio Alla Sala;
- Napoli: Grand Hotel Parker’s N;
- Niscemi: Wine Relais Feudi del Pisciotto;
- Noto: Dimora delle Balze N, Country House Villadorata, Masseria della Volpe, Seven Rooms Villadorata;
- Orta San Giulio: Villa Crespi;
- Ortisei: Gardena Grödnerhof Hotel & Spa;
- Orvieto: Palazzo Petrvs;
- Ostuni: VISTA Ostuni N, Paragon 700 Boutique Hotel & SPA;
- Otranto: Baglioni Masseria Muzza;
- Perugia: Tenuta di Murlo N, Borgo dei Conti Resort, Castello di Monterone;
- Pettenasco: Laqua by the Lake;
- Pienza: Casa Newton;
- Pisticci: Torre Fiore Hotel Masseria N;
- Pognana Lario: Villa Làrio;
- Polizzi Generosa: Susafa;
- Porto Cervo: Romazzino, A Belmond Hotel, Costa Smeralda N;
- Porto Ercole: Il Pellicano, La ROQQA;
- Positano: Le Sirenuse;
- Praiano: Casa Angelina;
- Quattro Castella: Relais Roncolo 1888 N;
- Ravello: Caruso, A Belmond Hotel, Amalfi Coast, Palazzo Avino;
- Redagno: Berghoferin Fine Hotel & Hideaway N;
- Riva del Garda: Lido Palace;
- Roma: Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome N, Corinthia Rome N, JK Place Roma, Hassler Roma, Hotel Eden, Dorchester Collection, Hotel Locarno, Hotel Vin, Hotel Vilòn, Maalot Roma, Palazzo Ripetta, Palazzo Roma, Portrait Roma, Singer Palace Hotel, Six Senses Rome, The First Arte Rome, Umiltà 36;
- Salina, Isole Eolie: Hotel Signum;
- San Cassiano: Lagació Hotel Mountain Residence;
- San Lorenzo di Sebato: Castel Badia N, Castel Maurn N;
- San Pantaleo: Petra Segreta Resort & Spa N;
- San Pietro in Cariano: Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amistà;
- Santa Caterina Valfurva: Sunny Valley Mountain Lodge N;
- Sant’Agnello: Mediterraneo Sorrento;
- Santa Margherita Ligure: Grand Hotel Miramare;
- Sant’Omero: Villa Corallo;
- Santo Stefano di Sessanio: Sextantio;
- Sarentino: Terra – The Magic Place;
- Savelletri di Fasano: Masseria Calderisi, Masseria Torre Coccaro;
- Scala: Palazzo Pascal;
- Senales/Schnals: Goldene Rose Karthaus;
- Siena: Certosa di Maggiano N;
- Siracusa: Donna Coraly Country Boutique Hotel, Lùme;
- Sirmione: Villa Cortine;
- Soprabolzano: ADLER Lodge Ritten;
- Sorrento: Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria;
- Stresa: Boutique Hotel Stresa N;
- Taormina: The Ashbee Hotel N;
- Tavarnelle Val di Pesa: COMO Castello del Nero;
- Tolentino: Interno Marche N;
- Torre Canne di Fasano: Canne Bianche Lifestyle Hotel;
- Torri del Benaco: Cape of Senses;
- Torrita di Siena: Lupaia, Siena House;
- Umbertide: Vocabolo Moscatelli;
- Venezia: Orient Express Venezia N, Ca’ di Dio, Corte di Gabriela, Londra Palace Venezia, Hotel Metropole Venice, Il Palazzo Experimental, Palazzo Venart Luxury Hotel, Violino d’Oro;
- Verona: Vista Verona;
- Vicenza: La Barchessa di Villa Pisani;
- Vico Equense: Hotel Capo La Gala;
- Villandro: Ansitz Steinbock N;
- Zafferana Etnea: Monaci delle Terre Nere.
The Special Prizes
The Michelin Guide also awarded 4 special prizes to establishments that distinguish themselves through a distinctive approach to hospitality. The Desert Rock Resort in Umluj, set among the Hegiaz Mountains in Saudi Arabia, claimed the Architecture & Design prize, while the wellness accolade went to the Schloss Elmau Luxury Spa Retreat in Germany. Italy returns to the fore with Airelles Palladio Venice, the first brand property outside France and winner of the Opening of the Year prize. The Londolozi Game Reserve, in Kruger National Park, was finally recognized for the local experience offered to guests, deeply connected to the landscape and culture of the region.
