Global hospitality group Marriott International has signed an agreement with V&A Waterfront Holdings to open The Cape Town EDITION at the V&A Waterfront in 2026, marking the debut of the EDITION luxury hotel brand in Africa.

The development will comprise a 142-room hotel alongside six private luxury residences, reinforcing Cape Town’s position as a leading international tourism and investment destination and adding to the ongoing expansion of the V&A Waterfront precinct.

Marriott senior vice-president for development in the Middle East and Africa Karim Cheltout said the agreement represented a strategic milestone for the group’s growth on the continent, with Cape Town identified as a natural entry point for the EDITION brand.

“The signing of our first EDITION hotel in Africa marks a significant milestone for the company’s growth strategy on the continent,” Cheltout said, noting that the city’s creative and cultural character aligned closely with the brand’s positioning.

The Cape Town EDITION is expected to include world-class dining venues, a signature rooftop bar, spa and wellness facilities, a pool, and meeting and event spaces, alongside curated social areas designed to reflect the city’s heritage and cosmopolitan identity.

The project will also incorporate The Residences at The Cape Town EDITION, a limited collection of six private homes positioned as a new benchmark for luxury living at the waterfront.

Design of the development has been commissioned to Shanghai-based architectural firm Neri & Hu, working in collaboration with local firm StudioMAS. The design aims to blend contemporary luxury with local architectural character, in keeping with the EDITION brand’s global aesthetic.

V&A Waterfront CEO David Green said the project would further strengthen the precinct’s role as a mixed-use destination combining tourism, leisure, residential and commercial activity.

“We are excited to be developing this architecturally stunning new building which will mark the launch of EDITION Hotels in Africa,” Green said, adding that the project responded to growing tourism demand and demand for destination-led hospitality experiences in Cape Town.

Located at the edge of the planned Granger Bay development, the property will offer views across the Atlantic Ocean, the City Bowl and Table Mountain, while benefiting from proximity to the V&A Waterfront’s transport infrastructure, superyacht facilities, retail and dining offerings, and public promenade.

The development forms part of ongoing investment at the V&A Waterfront, one of Africa’s most visited destinations, and is expected to contribute to construction activity, employment and long-term tourism growth in the Western Cape.