Belgium: new openings and major renovations in luxury hospitality in 2026

Long overshadowed by its Parisian and Amsterdamian neighbours, Belgian luxury hospitality is undergoing a cycle of renovations that returns Brussels, and also Ghent, Antwerp and Bruges, to the map of city-break destinations. The market remains modest in size compared to France, but the signatures of major houses, including Corinthia, Rocco Forte, IHG and independent Flemish operators, have driven a steady upmarket shift over the past five years.

Three addresses are commanding attention this year: a grand Belle Époque comeback on Place De Brouckère, a fully renovated five-star on Rue Royale, and a boutique hotel that has become a benchmark in Ghent.

The opening of the Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria Brussels ★★★★★, on the corner of Rue Royale and Rue de la Loi, is the most significant hotel event in the Belgian capital in a decade. The Maltese group Corinthia, already owner of iconic addresses in London and Lisbon, has entirely renovated the former Astoria, a Belle Époque landmark built in 1909 that had been closed for years.

The building has recovered its grand marble foyer, its monumental staircase and its original reception rooms, all restored to their original state under the supervision of Brussels heritage authorities. 126 rooms and suites, a spa, two restaurants and a cocktail bar make up the final programme. The property targets an international business and leisure clientele already familiar with the Corinthia ecosystem.

The positioning embraces its kinship with the golden age of European palaces: original marquetry, restored ironwork and reconfigured Baccarat chandeliers, while integrating contemporary technical standards (Hästens mattresses, Calacatta marble bathrooms, discreet room technology). A strategy of authenticity that Corinthia shares with its London and Lisbon properties.

The other major news for the capital concerns the Hôtel Métropole, a 120-year landmark on Place De Brouckère, closed since 2020. The building, historically owned by the Wielemans-Ceuppens group, has been acquired by a consortium of investors financing a major renovation. The official opening is expected in late 2026 or early 2027, after several delays related to the restoration of painted ceilings, stained glass and mouldings.

The Métropole is the only hotel in Brussels to have preserved its original interior architecture: the 1894 café, Empire salons, the grand staircase. Its return will fill a significant gap in Brussels’ five-star offer. The final positioning has not yet been announced: will it remain an independent palace or join a major collection such as Leading Hotels or The Set Hotels? The market is watching.

In Brussels, we are witnessing a shift in cycle: after a decade of stagnation, two of the city’s most beautiful 19th-century buildings are coming back to life. The capital is finally joining Paris, Vienna and Budapest on the heritage palace stage.

In Ghent, the capital of East Flanders, 1898 The Post has established itself as the city’s boutique hotel benchmark. Housed in the former central post office building constructed in 1898, it offers 38 rooms and suites, a rooftop bar with views over the Belfry, and a restaurant led by a local Michelin-starred chef.

The property belongs to the Belgian group Zannier Hotels, which also owns discreet addresses in Provence, Cambodia and Mongolia. The renovation preserved the brick vaulting, Belle Époque ironwork and original safes, which have been integrated as furniture in the common areas.

For travellers discovering Ghent or using it as a stop on the Brussels-Bruges route, 1898 The Post remains the city’s only five-star boutique hotel, complemented by the Grand Hôtel Casselbergh in Bruges (118 rooms, in the medieval centre) for those seeking a more classic experience.

What stands out in Belgium’s 2026 hotel landscape is the consistency of positioning: every opening or renovation is rooted in a heritage building, avoids the bling effect, and bets on service quality over wow factor. International groups choose Belgium for their discreet addresses, not for high volume.

By 2027, the Brussels market should offer renewed competition between the Corinthia Astoria, the Métropole, the existing Steigenberger Wiltcher’s and the Hôtel Amigo (Rocco Forte). Enough to establish Brussels as a premium city-break destination in Europe, on a par with Vienna or Lisbon.

Sources: Corinthia Hotels · official communications from Hôtel Métropole · Zannier Hotels · France 3 · Brussels heritage authorities.