Michelin Awards “Keys” to 54 Australian Hotels Just Days After Rival Awards Revealed

Last year, the Michelin Guide announced its first foray into hotel rankings with a new evaluation system called Michelin keys – the hotel equivalent of its three-point star system for restaurants. Michelin has announced its coveted keys for 2026, expanding the Aussie contingent from 35 to 54 hotels.

Michelin inspectors awarded keys based on five criteria: excellence in architecture and interior design, quality and consistency of service, overall personality and character, value for money, and contribution to the local area. One key denotes a very special stay, two an exceptional stay, and three an extraordinary stay.

New to the keys club this year are notable stays previously covered by Broadsheet, including Halcyon House at Cabarita Beach (NSW), The Sanctuary at Alba Thermal Springs & Spa (Vic), and the Intercontinental Sydney Coogee Beach (NSW). Sequoia Lodge (SA) also debuted on the list, earning two keys straight out of the gate.

Lizard Island Resort (Qld) retained its three-key status, with Saffire Freycinet (Tas) and Southern Ocean Lodge (SA) both promoted from two to three keys. Capella Sydney was also bumped from one to two keys.

Speaking of Capella Sydney, the hotel is having a massive month. The 192-room luxury stay in the Sydney CBD was the only Aussie property named in the World’s 50 Best Hotels list for 2026, landing at number 16 overall and taking out the title of Best Hotel in Oceania.

The timing of both announcements will no doubt do wonders for Capella’s bookings, and highlights just how tight the race for global rankings has become. Michelin announced its keys just two days after the World’s 50 Best Hotels unveiled its rival list.

The Michelin Guide has spent the last decade expanding into new territories, including Thailand and New Zealand. Next month, the guide will announce its inaugural South Australian restaurant selection at a ceremony in Adelaide.

Here’s the full list of Australian venues with Michelin keys for 2026:

Three Michelin Keys

Lizard Island Resort – Cairns, Qld
Saffire Freycinet – Coles Bay, Tas
Southern Ocean Lodge – Kangaroo Island, SA

Two Michelin Keys

Capella Lodge – Lord Howe Island, NSW
Capella Sydney – Sydney, NSW
Jackalope Hotel – Mornington Peninsula, Vic
Longitude 131 – Yulara, NT
Sequoia Lodge – Crafers, SA
Silky Oaks Lodge – Mossman, Qld
Spicers Peak Lodge – Maryvale, Qld
Spicers Sangoma Retreat – Bowen Mountain, NSW
Thorngrove Manor – Adelaide, SA

One Michelin Key

1 Hotel Melbourne – Melbourne, Vic
Ardour Milton Park – Bowral, NSW
Basq House – Byron Bay, NSW
Blackbird Byron Bay – Mullumbimby Creek, NSW
Chalets at Blackheath – Blackheath, NSW
COMO The Treasury – Perth, WA
Crystalbrook Albion – Sydney, NSW
Drift House – Port Fairy, Vic
El Questro - The Homestead – Kununurra, WA
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney – Sydney, NSW
Gaia Retreat & Spa – Brooklet, NSW
Halcyon House – Cabarita Beach, NSW
Il Delfino Seaside Inn – Yamba, NSW
Intercontinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula – Sorrento, Vic
Intercontinental Sydney Coogee Beach by IHG – Sydney, NSW
Lanson Place Parliament Gardens – Melbourne, Vic
Le Mas Barossa – Rowland Flat, SA
Lon Retreat & Spa – Point Lonsdale, Vic
MACq 01 Hotel – Hobart, TAS
Maleny Lodge – Maleny, Qld
Mount Lofty House & Estate – Adelaide, SA
Mt Mulligan Lodge – Mount Mulligan, Qld
Osborn House – Bundanoon, NSW
Park Hyatt Sydney – Sydney, NSW
Pretty Beach House – Pretty Beach, NSW
QT Sydney – Sydney, NSW
Qualia – Hamilton Island, Qld
Sticky Rice Villas – Stirling, SA
The Calile Hotel, Brisbane – Brisbane, Qld
The Corinda Collection – Hobart, Tas
The EVE Hotel Sydney – Sydney, NSW
The Henry Jones Art Hotel – Hobart, Tas
The Islington Hotel – Hobart, Tas
The Langham Melbourne – Melbourne, Vic
The Langham, Sydney – Sydney, NSW
The Porter House Hotel Sydney – Sydney, NSW
The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne – Melbourne, Vic
The Sanctuary at Alba Thermal Springs & Spa – Fingal, Vic
The Sundays – Hamilton Island, Qld
The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart – Hobart, Tas
Wildlife Retreat at Taronga – Sydney, NSW
Yala Yallingup Retreat and Spa – Yallingup, WA

guide.michelin.com