Two Australian hotels just made Tripadvisor’s list of the world’s best for 2026

Let's be honest: most of us only leave a review if a venue was absolutely incredible or a total disaster. Case in point? Hotels.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of travellers head to Tripadvisor to share the good, the bad and the ugly of the hotels that they’ve stayed at. And every year, the platform sifts through its massive database of 8 million properties to find the ones that received the highest quantity of top ratings over the last 12 months, crowning them in its Travellers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Hotels. 

In 2026, two Australian hotels have been named among the world’s 25 best – and they’re both in sunny Queensland. Leading the pack is Brisbane’s Emporium Hotel South Bank. It didn't just claim the crown for the Best of the Best Hotels in Australia; it also landed 21st on the global list.

There’s nothing minimalist about this luxury boutique stay overlooking the Brisbane River. If you don’t notice it the moment you enter the foyer, decorated with big, bold prints and colour, you’ll notice it in the selfie-rific lifts, the 143 swanky suites, the 23-metre infinity pool, and the level 21 bar with spectacular views of the river, city skyline and parklands. 

The second Aussie hotel to crack the global list was the exclusive Reef House Adults Retreat Palm Cove in North Queensland, which snagged the 22nd spot globally. If the ‘adults-only’ tagline hasn’t hooked you, then the 28 signature inclusions will. We’re talking sparkling wine on arrival, daily poolside sorbet, beachfront yoga, mixology classes, poolside butlers, a heated mineral pool and so much more.

You can check out the full list of winners in the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Hotels here.

The world's best hotels for 2026, according to Tripadvisor

1. G.H. Universal Hotel, Indonesia
2. Hotel Colline de France, Brazil
3. Hotel Sporting Family Hospitality, Italy
4. Royal Lancaster London, UK
5. FivePine Lodge and Spa, Oregon
6. La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa, Vietnam
7. Abigail’s Hotel, Canada
8. Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba
9. Hotel Moments Budapest, Hungary
10. La Sinfonía del Rey Hotel & Spa, Vietnam
11. Hotel Schutterhof, Austria
12. Milaidhoo Maldives
13. Hotel Da Baixa, Portugal
14. Nayara Gardens, Costa Rica
15. Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort, Belize
16. Palacio Nazarenas, A Belmond Hotel, Peru
17. Serenity at Coconut Bay, St. Lucia
18. The Loutrel, South Carolina
19. Dinarobin Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa, Africa
20. Kapama Private Game Reserve, South Africa
21. Emporium Hotel South Bank, Australia
22. The Reef House Adults Retreat Palm Cove, Australia
23. Hotel Nordik, Italy
24. The Bryant Park Hotel, New York
25. Sant Jaume Design Hotel, Spain

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