Nine New Zealand hotels have been awarded MICHELIN Keys in the 2026 selection, taking the number of Key hotels across Aotearoa to 28.
The latest selection sees eight New Zealand hotels awarded a new One MICHELIN Key, while Wallingford Homestead receives a new Two MICHELIN Keys distinction. Rosewood Matakauri in Queenstown and Delamore Lodge on Waiheke Island have also been promoted from One Key to Two Keys.
The MICHELIN Guide’s 2026 hotel selection was unveiled on 19 September, with the new hotels joining a global programme that now encompasses 2,832 MICHELIN Key hotels across 79 destinations.
Globally, 470 hotels have joined the 2026 selection, including 10 destinations receiving the distinction for the first time. The worldwide selection now comprises 155 Three-Key, 657 Two-Key and 2,020 One-Key hotels.
The MICHELIN Key is the hotel equivalent of the MICHELIN Guide’s restaurant distinctions and recognises hotels that the Guide’s inspectors consider to be outstanding experiences. The selection covers a broad range of properties, from independent and boutique hotels to larger luxury establishments.
New Zealand’s New One-Key Hotels
The eight hotels receiving a new One MICHELIN Key are:
Annandale Coastal Farm Escape & Luxury Villa Collection, Canterbury – A working farm and collection of five luxury villas overlooking the Pacific, offering a secluded coastal escape.
Craggy Range Luxury Vineyard Retreat, Hawke’s Bay – A collection of cottages and lodges within the Craggy Range winery, with private terraces overlooking the vineyards.
Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses, Kaikōura – A small lodge known for its location, design and personalised approach, including accommodation set among the trees.
Hulbert House Luxury Boutique Lodge, Queenstown – A restored 19th-century Victorian villa with eight guest rooms featuring period furnishings and views across the lake or gardens.
Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat, Lake Pukaki – A small luxury retreat comprising villas and a residence, with the Moraine Lodge restaurant providing a chef-driven, garden-to-table dining experience.
ROKI Collection Queenstown – A 15-suite property overlooking Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables, combining contemporary interiors with a secluded setting.
The Clements Hotel, Cambridge – A historic hotel dating back to 1866, with its Beaux-Arts façade, stained glass and sweeping staircase restored as part of its latest redevelopment.
The Manse, Hawke’s Bay – A luxury private lodge in a former residence, surrounded by countryside, vineyards and views towards the Ngaruroro River and surrounding ranges.
New Two-Key Hotel
Wallingford Homestead has been awarded Two MICHELIN Keys. The property, created by restaurateurs Chris and Jeanette Stockdale, puts food at the centre of its hospitality offering, with former chef Chris Stockdale overseeing estate-to-plate tasting and sharing menus based on seasonal local produce.
Two Hotels Promoted
Two existing New Zealand Key hotels have moved up from One to Two Keys.
Rosewood Matakauri, Queenstown, and Delamore Lodge, Waiheke Island, have both received the promotion in the 2026 selection.
Seven hotels have also retained their Two-Key status from 2025: Blanket Bay in Glenorchy, Huka Lodge in Taupō, Otahuna Lodge in Christchurch, Rosewood Cape Kidnappers in Hawke’s Bay, Rosewood Kauri Cliffs in Northland, The Lindis in Omarama and Wharekauhau Country Estate in Featherston.
A further 10 hotels retained their One-Key status, including Hotel Fitzroy Curated by Fable, Park Hyatt and The Hotel Britomart in Auckland; Azur Lodge, Eichardt’s Private Hotel, Gibbston Valley Lodge & Spa and Stoneridge Lodge in Queenstown; Eagle Nest in Russell; Bay of Many Coves in Marlborough; and Solitaire Lodge in Rotorua.
The 2026 additions and promotions bring New Zealand’s MICHELIN Key selection to 28 hotels, within a wider MICHELIN Guide selection of 71 hotels across the country.
Global Hotel Recognition Expands
The expansion of the MICHELIN Key programme reflects the Guide’s growing focus on hotels and the wider travel experience.
Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide, said the 2026 selection highlights the increasing diversity of hotel concepts and the role of independent and boutique operators in developing new hospitality experiences.
He said 470 newly distinguished establishments globally demonstrate continued investment in more immersive, personalised and experiential stays, with independent hotelkeepers and international hotel groups both contributing to the evolution of the sector.
The MICHELIN Guide says its inspectors assess hotels according to five universal criteria, with the Keys intended to distinguish properties offering particularly noteworthy stays rather than simply reflecting luxury or price.
With 2,832 hotels now carrying MICHELIN Keys worldwide, the programme has established a global hotel recognition system alongside the Guide’s established restaurant ratings.