The hotels to know from the AHEAD Europe 2026 shortlist
Six Senses London, Chancery Rosewood, Rosewood Courchevel and Orient Express Venezia are among this year’s finalists, with winners to be revealed at Magazine London on 26 November.
The AHEAD Europe 2026 shortlist is out, offering a useful snapshot of the hotels shaping European hospitality design right now.
London has a particularly strong showing. Six Senses London appears across several categories, with Foster + Partners, EPR Architects and AvroKO among the studios behind the project. The Newman is another multiple finalist, with Kinsfolk & Co and Lind + Almond behind its interiors.
Chancery Rosewood, the transformation of the former US Embassy in Mayfair for Qatari Diar Europe, is shortlisted for Hotel Conversion. The project brings together David Chipperfield Architects, ReardonSmith Architects and Joseph Dirand Architecture.
One of the more unexpected names on the list comes from Belmond. Celia, a British Pullman carriage designed by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin, is shortlisted in the Event Spaces category.
Beyond London, Rosewood Courchevel Le Jardin Alpin features prominently. Tristan Auer’s work appears across multiple categories, with Studio KO also credited on shortlisted spaces including the Jardin Alpin Apartment and restaurant Salto.
Italy is another one to watch. Aline Asmar d’Amman’s work at Orient Express Venezia has been recognised across several categories, while Hugo Toro’s spa at Orient Express La Minerva in Rome is shortlisted for Spa & Wellness.
The European shortlist follows AHEAD Asia 2026, where winners were announced earlier this month at Pan Pacific Orchard in Singapore, marking the beginning of the awards programme’s 10th-anniversary year.
AHEAD Europe’s winners will be revealed on Thursday 26 November at Magazine London, coinciding with the final day of HIX Europe at ExCeL London.
For anyone keeping track of the hotels and designers setting the direction for European hospitality, this is a shortlist worth knowing.