Royal Mansour Marrakech has been named the best hotel in Africa after taking 26th place in The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2026 ranking.
More than 800 independent experts from the global hospitality and travel industry voted, covering 13 regions. The hotel ranked 13th in 2025, a drop of 13 places, but kept the top position in Africa.
Rosewood Hong Kong was named the world’s best hotel for the second consecutive year.
The ranking was launched in 2023 by William Reed, the company behind The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and The World’s 50 Best Bars, and has become an important reference point for the global luxury travel industry.
Royal Mansour opened in 2010 and has 53 private riads instead of standard rooms and suites, spread across a five-hectare site and including private pools. The property was designed around the layout of a traditional Moroccan medina, with interiors using zellige tiles, carved wood and plasterwork. The Grand Riad covers 1,800 square meters, and underground service tunnels let staff move around while keeping guest areas private.
The hotel has four restaurants, with menus developed in collaboration with Michelin-starred chefs Hélène Darroze and Massimo Alajmo, as well as a spa. Jean-Claude Messant, general manager of the Royal Mansour Collection, said the result recognized the hotel’s approach to hospitality, its links to Moroccan culture and the work of its teams.
The award comes as the collection expands, with new properties including Royal Mansour Casablanca and Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay. Competition among African luxury hotels is strong: La Mamounia in Marrakech ranked 30th in the 2025 edition, while Mount Nelson in Cape Town placed 34th in 2026.