All paths — and gondolas — lead to Venice in 2026. With five major hotel reopenings and redesigns scheduled, the city’s palaces are being reimagined for contemporary luxury just as the Venice Biennale (May 9–November 22) returns, making this an especially enticing year to linger after the day-trippers depart.
Airelles Palladio, Giudecca — Opening April 2026
Airelles makes its Italian debut on Giudecca in a building with layers of history: a 16th-century lace atelier, an academy, boarding house, a convent for noble widows and the church of Santa Maria della Presentazione. The hotel blends French savoir-faire with Italian craftsmanship across 17 rooms and 28 suites, including the Conventino villa with a private pool. Period antiques, Fortuny chandeliers, Murano glass, Rubelli textiles and historic-themed paintings set a richly Venetian tone.
Guerlain will operate an expansive spa offering treatments inspired by Venice (Aqua Vinizia, Terra Vinizia, Crystal Glow, Gondola Sway), with Rossano Ferretti overseeing hair services. Facilities include a hammam, Finnish sauna, gym, yoga studio, a nearly 700-square-foot indoor pool and a kids-club pool. Dining is a highlight: three restaurants feature menus from Nobu Matsuhisa (Matsuhisa by Nobu), Jean-Georges Vongerichten (ABC Kitchens Palladio) and Norbert Niederkofler (Villa Frollo), with pastries by Cédric Grolet.
Orient Express Venezia, Cannaregio — Opening April 2026
Set in the restored 15th-century Palazzo Donà Giovannelli, the new Orient Express Venezia continues the brand’s glamorous narrative. Architect Aline Asmar d’Amman led an eight-year restoration that reveals original frescoes, refurbished façades and Murano chandeliers. The hotel offers 29 rooms and 16 suites decorated with hand-painted murals, Art Deco furniture and velvet drapery.
Public spaces include a Library of Cultures and a Music Room, while an outdoor courtyard and garden provide all-day dining. A private boat is available for intimate dinners around the lagoon, and the Wagon Bar recalls the train-car glamour that made Orient Express famous.
Danieli, A Four Seasons Hotel, Venice — Opening August 2026
The storied Hotel Danieli (Palazzo Dandolo), close to Piazza San Marco, resurfaces as Danieli, A Four Seasons Hotel after a multi-year redesign that preserves its palatial character. Pierre-Yves Rochon’s interiors emphasize Venetian craft through Rubelli fabrics, Murano glass and Carrara marble. The property reopens with 120 rooms and suites, with a further 56 accommodations slated for 2027.
Highlights include the rooftop Terrazza Danieli for aperitivi, Restaurant Terrazza Danieli from executive chef Adriano Rausa, the lobby-adjacent Bar Dandolo, and a Danieli Spa set to launch later in 2026 — a mix that will appeal to families as well as luxury travelers.
Hotel Cipriani, A Belmond Hotel — Renovation updates
The legendary Hotel Cipriani, long a magnet for fashion and film figures, is mid-renovation under architect Peter Marino. Early phases revealed a dramatic double-height lobby and refurbished lagoon-facing suites. The second phase (opening April 23) introduces a restyled Michelin-starred Oro restaurant with chef Vania Ghedini and creative input from Massimo Bottura. Poolside Il Porticciolo, Bar Gabbiano and Cip’s Club remain signature venues, and a Dior Spa is scheduled to open in June, completing the refreshed offerings.
San Clemente Palace — Island retreat enhancements
On a private 15-acre island between Giudecca and the Lido, San Clemente Palace continues to evolve. A winter refresh refitted 20 Venice Prestige Suites among the hotel’s 182 keys; the San Clemente Suite offers sweeping city views. Grounds improvements include 100 new trees and a redesigned olive hill. Leisure amenities were upgraded: a heated outdoor pool, a full spa, tennis courts and a three-hole golf experience complement multiple dining options and an enhanced Clemente Bar, making the island a self-contained escape just 10 minutes by boat from San Marco.
Why 2026 matters
These reopenings and upgrades refresh Venice’s portfolio of palaces and island retreats: restored historic fabric paired with modern spas, celebrated chefs and elevated family-friendly facilities. Whether you’re arriving for the Biennale or planning a quieter return to La Serenìssima, 2026 offers fresh reasons to stay longer and travel by vaporetto and boat between newly reimagined addresses.
