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Several Irish properties feature in the Michelin Guide’s 2026 list of hotels awarded **Michelin Keys**, the classification Michelin introduced in April 2024 to recognise outstanding accommodation. The guide highlights hotels for design, service and local contribution, and this year’s update names a number of Irish recipients across the three key levels.
What the Michelin Keys measure
The Michelin Keys are organised into **one**, **two** and **three** keys, with three representing the highest accolade. Unlike Michelin Stars for restaurants, the Keys focus on hotels’ architecture and interiors, personality, service quality and consistency, the balance between experience and price, and the property’s relationship with its surroundings.
Four Irish hotels added to the Michelin Keys for 2026
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For 2026, Michelin added almost 500 new hotels to the Keys roster and upgraded more than 80 properties. The programme now covers more than 9,000 hotels worldwide.
Who received keys in Ireland
The Guide lists several Irish hotels among the 2026 recipients. Four properties are shown as One Key awardees: The Leinster and The Fitzwilliam Hotel in County Dublin, Glenlo Abbey Hotel in County Galway and Marlfield House Hotel in County Wexford. Michelin’s listings put the total number of Irish hotels with Keys at 20.
Top-tier retainers
Two Irish estates retained the top Three Key distinction this year: Adare Manor in County Limerick and Ballyfin Demesne in County Laois. Several hotels kept their Two Key status as well, among them Cashel Palace in County Tipperary and The Merrion in County Dublin.
Full list of Irish hotels with Michelin Keys (2026)
Three Key Hotels in Ireland:
- Adare Manor, Co Limerick
- Ballyfin Demesne, Co Laois
Two Key Hotels in Ireland:
- Cashel Palace, Co Tipperary
- Ashford Castle, Co Mayo
- Park Hotel Kenmare, Co Kerry
- Sheen Falls Lodge, Co Kerry
- The Merrion, Co Dublin
One Key Hotels in Ireland:
- Castlemartyr Resort, Co Cork
- Gregans Castle Hotel, Co Clare
- Dromoland Castle, Co Clare
- The Leinster, Co Dublin
- The Fitzwilliam Hotel, Co Dublin
- Dylan, Co Dublin
- The Wilder Townhouse, Co Dublin
- Glenlo Abbey Hotel, Co Galway
- The Killarney Park, Co Kerry
- The Victoria, Co Kerry
- No. 1 Pery Square, Co Limerick
- Marlfield House Hotel, Co Wexford
- Regency House, Belfast
Recognition through the Michelin Keys highlights hotels that score highly across design, service and community engagement. For Irish tourism and hospitality, inclusion in the Guide is likely to raise the profile of these properties among travellers seeking quality and a strong local sense of place.
