The 2026 Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards are out, and for the first time in the guide’s 68-year history, the “Five-Star” halo has officially extended to the high seas.
Released today, the 2026 list underscores a pivotal shift in the luxury landscape: the traditional boundaries between land and sea hospitality are dissolving. The headline grabber? The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Ilma has been crowned FTG’s first-ever Five-Star cruise ship.
For advisors, this is a significant validation of a selling point many have already identified: the new wave of ultra-luxury yachting products is delivering service parity with the world’s best terrestrial hotels. But Ilma wasn’t the only nautical news. Celebrity Cruises also made history, snagging the first Five-Star restaurant at sea accolade for Le Voyage (onboard the Celebrity Xcel), the venue helmed by Master Chef Daniel Boulud.
Beyond the Big Capitals
While the cruise news steals the show, the terrestrial trends in the 2026 report reveal a clear traveler migration away from over-touristed hubs toward “second cities” and deeper regional immersion.
The guide expanded into nine new destinations this year—including Bhutan, Georgia, Grenada, and Uzbekistan—but the real story is where the stars are landing.
- Japan: It’s not just about Tokyo anymore. The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko earned an inaugural Five-Star rating, signaling the rise of luxury in Japan’s cultural heartlands.
- The U.S.: While major metros held steady, Sedona picked up its first Five-Star win with Mii amo, and The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes secured Orlando’s first top-tier hotel rating.
- Europe: Montenegro is officially on the elite map with One&Only Portonovi earning a Five-Star nod. Meanwhile, Edinburgh and Charleston saw their stock rise with Four-Star wins for 100 Princes Street and The Charleston Place, respectively.
Marriott’s Big Year & The Red Sea Arrives
If you’re tracking hotel group performance, Marriott International had a banner year. Atlanta is now home to a “double Five-Star” complex with The St. Regis Atlanta and its restaurant, Atlas Buckhead, both taking top honors.
Perhaps most notable for advisors eyeing the Middle East’s massive tourism investment: Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, became the first property from Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea giga-project to earn Five Stars. It validates the Kingdom’s push to compete on a global luxury level immediately upon opening.
Asia Pacific & The Privacy Pivot
Asia Pacific continues to dominate the development pipeline, claiming 40 percent of all new Five-Star hotel winners. Macau remains the undisputed heavyweight champion of the guide with 28 Five-Star properties—the most of any city globally.
However, the type of luxury winning in Macau is changing. The newest Five-Star recipients—Capella at Galaxy Macau, Paiza Grand, and Palazzo Versace Macau—reflect a shift toward “hotel-within-a-hotel” concepts that prioritize intimacy and privacy over massive scale.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 list includes a total of 2,422 properties, with 343 earning the coveted Five-Star rating. For travel advisors, the takeaway is clear: The definition of “Five-Star service” is becoming less about the hardware of a grand lobby and more about hyper-personalized, private, and remote experiences—whether that’s on a superyacht, in a Red Sea reserve, or a wellness retreat in Sedona.
“The 2026 list showcases properties deeply committed to delivering consistent and reliable world-class experiences,” said Amanda Frasier, FTG’s president of Standards & Ratings, noting that the winners reflect an “exciting evolution in luxury.”
For the full list of winners, visit ForbesTravelGuide.com.
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