Located thirty minutes from the Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel has been included in the 2026 extended list of The World’s 50 Best Hotels, marking the first appearance by a Regent property since IHG Hotels & Resorts began repositioning the luxury brand.

The annual ranking, launched in 2023, is compiled through nominations and voting from an international academy of travel experts, hoteliers, journalists and experienced travelers. The extended list recognizes properties considered among the notable hotels in the world beyond the 50 hotels included in the main ranking.

For Carlton Cannes, the recognition adds a contemporary accolade to a hotel whose history is closely intertwined with the French Riviera. Opened in 1913 on Cannes’ Boulevard de la Croisette, the property has hosted generations of international visitors and became associated with the city’s film, political and cultural elite.

The hotel underwent a major renovation before reopening in March 2023 as Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel. The project was undertaken by owner Katara Hospitality as part of the property’s transformation and its integration into IHG’s Regent Hotels & Resorts portfolio.

The hotel’s history has also extended into popular culture. Alfred Hitchcock used the Carlton as a filming location for To Catch a Thief, the 1955 film starring Grace Kelly and Cary Grant. During production, Kelly met Prince Rainier III of Monaco, adding another chapter to the hotel’s long association with prominent figures. The property has also appeared in Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing” music video.

“The recognition is a testament to Pierre-Louis Renou, General Manager, and the team of Carlton Cannes,” said Tom Rowntree, Vice President of Luxury & Lifestyle Brands at IHG Hotels & Resorts, in a statement. “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 an exceptionally high standard.”

Renou described the recognition as a reflection of the hotel’s staff and its longstanding place in Cannes.

“It is a privilege to stand amongst such great company within this year’s World’s 50 Best Hotels extended list,” Renou said in a statement. “This is a tribute to the remarkable team of our hotel who are the individuals bringing its story to life every day for every guest.”

Carlton Cannes is part of Regent Hotels & Resorts, which IHG acquired in 2018. The brand currently has 11 open hotels and a further 12 properties in development, according to IHG. Its portfolio includes Regent Hong Kong and Regent Santa Monica Beach, with forthcoming properties planned in destinations including Kuala Lumpur and Sanya.

The 2026 recognition places Carlton Cannes within a new chapter of the hotel's long history, pairing its century-old Riviera heritage with its current identity as part of IHG’s luxury portfolio.

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Yvon Lux is the editor of her Apple News channel covering lifestyle news and current events. When she’s not busy writing about impactful brands and standout products, she and her husband can be found snuggling with their emotionally needy, perpetually sleepy golden retriever, or she’s chipping away at her Juris Doctor. Connect with her on Instagram and subscribe to her Apple News channel.