The Imperial New Delhi Named India’s No. 1 Hotel in Condé Nast Traveller UK Readers’ Choice Awards 2026

The Imperial New Delhi has been named India’s No. 1 Hotel in the Condé Nast Traveller UK Readers’ Choice Awards 2026, earning a place on the publication’s list of ‘The Best Hotels in the World’. The hotel received a score of 99.89/100, which it says is the highest awarded to any hotel or resort in the world this year.

The recognition follows the hotel’s distinction of two MICHELIN Keys for exceptional stays.

The Readers’ Choice Awards drew over 296,356 survey responses from readers across the United Kingdom. The 2026 results are published on Condé Nast Traveller’s website and will be celebrated in the magazine’s November issue.

Louis Sailer, Senior Executive Vice President, The Imperial New Delhi, said: “Being named No. 1 Hotel in India by the Condé Nast Traveller UK Readers’ Choice Awards 2026, with an exceptional score of 99.89/100 — the highest score awarded to any hotel in the world — is a moment of immense pride for The Imperial New Delhi. This extraordinary recognition is above all a testament to our remarkable team, whose passion, dedication, craftsmanship and unwavering commitment to excellence define The Imperial every day. We are deeply grateful to our guests and patrons from home and across the world for their trust, loyalty and affection, and to the readers of Condé Nast Traveller UK for this incredible honour. My deepest appreciation also goes to our owners for their continued trust and support, which empowers our team to pursue excellence with confidence and conviction. This is a proud moment for everyone who is part of The Imperial family, and one we will cherish deeply.”

Opened in 1936, The Imperial sits on eight acres of landscaped gardens in the heart of the capital and brings together Victorian, Art Deco and Lutyens’ architecture. Conceived in 1934 by Blomfield and inaugurated by Lord Willingdon, the hotel is known for its marble colonnades, Persian carpets and storied corridors, and houses more than 5,500 original works of art spanning the 17th and 18th centuries. Its guests over the decades have included Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Lord Mountbatten.

The hotel’s other recent recognitions include World’s 50 Best Discovery 2025 and Best City Hotel in India at the inaugural Tatler Best India 2026. It is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, Virtuoso, American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts and Serandipians.

Images: courtesy of The Imperial New Delhi