If you had to pick one hotel in Israel for a vacation, which name would come to mind first? This year, there’s an official answer: the World Travel Awards announced its 2026 Israel winners, and a Tel Aviv hotel claimed the top spot. Alongside the main winner, a Jerusalem hotel and two Tel Aviv properties earned recognition in various categories.
2+The winners were announced at the World Travel Awards Middle East Gala Ceremony 2026, held September 13 at the One&Only One Za’abeel hotel in Dubai, with senior executives and leaders from the Middle East tourism and hospitality industry in attendance.
This year’s winner of Israel’s Leading Hotel is Carlton Tel Aviv. This is the main category where hotels compete for the top title in Israel, making the Tel Aviv property the headliner among Israeli winners this year.
For the Carlton, the win carries extra weight when you look at who held the title in previous years. In 2024 and 2025, it was the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem that was named Israel’s leading hotel. This year, the crown passes from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv—or more precisely, from Tel Aviv back to Jerusalem.
But the competition doesn’t stop at one title. In Israel’s Leading Boutique Hotel category, The American Colony Hotel Jerusalem won. So Jerusalem still maintains representation on the list of hotels that stood out this year.
2+In the Israel’s Leading Conference Hotel category, InterContinental David Tel Aviv took the prize. This is a separate category from the overall title, focusing on hotels that lead in conferences and business hospitality. Israeli hotels have won in the luxury categories in previous years too. Among the names that have stood out is the David Kempinski Tel Aviv, which earned recognition for its luxury suite.
The winners list this year paints an interesting picture of Israel’s hotel landscape: Tel Aviv gets the main title and the conference hotel award, while Jerusalem wins the boutique hotel category. Meanwhile, the main title shifts this year to a different hotel from the one that held it the previous two years.
2+For anyone planning a vacation in Israel, this is another way to get a picture of which hotels earn international recognition—but it’s worth remembering: a competition title doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the cheapest hotel or the right fit for everyone. Price and actual experience can vary depending on dates, room type, and travel season. But if you’re looking just at the main title, this year’s picture is clear: Carlton Tel Aviv is the hotel chosen as Israel’s leader for 2026.