Regent Hotel’s Carlton Cannes, first opened in 1913, is on the World’s 50 Best Hotels 2026 extended list.
All companies that own or operate luxury hotels know they have got to offer best-in-class facilities and services every single day, but there are some competitive markets where nothing but the very finest will do. Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Paris, London and New York are among the most competitive markets for 5-star hotels in the world, places where hoteliers most definitely need to bring their A-game.
Cannes, on the famed French Riviera, presents a whole other level of competition, where any hotel must bring its AAA+-game. Which makes the recent inclusion of Regent Hotels’ Carlton Cannes on the World’s 50 Best Hotels extended list, even more impressive and prestigious.
Since 2023, hundreds of leading travel experts, hoteliers, journalists and seasoned travellers have contributed to the naming of The World’s 50 Best Hotels, an annual accolade that has quickly become a global benchmark celebrating properties at the pinnacle of hospitality excellence. This year, Carlton Cannes has been recognized within the 2026 extended list of 100, marking the first inclusion of a Regent hotel, following InterContinental Hotels Group PLC’s (IHG’s) reimagining of the brand.
Originally opened in 1913, Carlton Cannes has been an icon for more than 100 years, famously the first luxury hotel to open in Cannes and long regarded as one of the French Riviera’s most renowned hotels. When you are the first in luxury, you have to own luxury, and the hotel has always been regarded as a jewel of the Côte d’Azur, patronized by film stars, presidents and guests who appreciate its elevated level of luxury, amenities and service.
“This recognition is a testament to Pierre-Louis Renou, General Manager, and the team at Carlton Cannes,” says Tom Rowntree, Vice President of Luxury & Lifestyle Brands at IHG Hotels and Resorts. “Making a lasting impression with the breadth of anonymous 50 Best contributors and meeting the rigorous selection criteria demonstrates the team’s consistent ability to operate at a consistently high standard. Carlton Cannes is a hotel with a reputation for a reason — one of which is flying the flag for Regent and championing all that IHG is doing to forward the brand for today’s upper-luxury guest.”
Even if you’ve never been there in person, you might still recognize the Carlton Cannes. The hotel was featured in Sir Elton John’s I’m Still Standing music video in 1983, and three decades earlier the legendary director Alfred Hitchcock chose the Carlton Cannes as the location to film To Catch a Thief, which starred Grace Kelly and Cary Grant. The hotel held a special place in the heart of Kelly since it was at the hotel while filming the movie that she first met her future husband, Prince Rainier III of Monaco.
“It is a privilege to stand among such great company within this year’s World’s 50 Best Hotels extended list,” says Renou. “This is a tribute to the remarkable team at our hotel who are the individuals bringing the story to life every day for every guest. It is a great honour to steward such an icon, which continues to hold such a special place in the hearts of so many.”
The Carlton Cannes reopened in March 2023 following an entire renovation and extension project, the first ever since its original opening 110 years earlier. Two wing extensions enabled the addition of several new and luxurious suites and include an interior garden of 2,000 square metres, an infinity pool, a fully equipped fitness centre and spa, as well as a 1,800-square-metre Conference Centre.
Regent Hotels was established in 1970 and is now part of the IHG Hotels & Resorts luxury and lifestyle portfolio. IHG, among the most globally recognized and popular hotel and resort companies, now operates 21 hotel brands and includes IHG One Rewards, one of the world’s largest hotel loyalty programs, with more than 160 million members.
