Hyatt just announced a major update to the World of Hyatt award chart coming on May 20th, 2026, and this one is bigger than a regular annual category shuffle. And yes, you would wish that rumors about the Category 9 and 10 were true instead. Let’s see what we can expect in the world of Hyatt bookings in the next few months.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products and services I use and love. As always, all opinions are my own.
What Is Changing With the Hyatt Award Chart in 2026?
Until now, the World of Hyatt program has had three pricing levels for award (on points) nights:
- Off-Peak
- Standard
- Peak
Starting May 2026, Hyatt is expanding to five redemption levels:
- Lowest
- Low
- Moderate
- Upper
- Top
This applies across:
- Hotels (Categories 1–8)
- All-Inclusive Resorts (Categories A–F)
- Miraval resorts
While the number of Hyatt hotel categories is not changing, there will now be five pricing bands within each category.
Keep in mind that there is a big jump between the Lowest and Top award pricing, I am talking about 35k vs 75k for the same Standard Room per night (if we are looking at the Category 8 Hyatt hotels).
HOTELS:
| Category | Lowest | Low | Moderate | Upper | Top |
| 1 | 3,000 | 4,500 | 6,000 | 7,500 | 9,000 |
| 2 | 6,000 | 7,500 | 10,000 | 12,000 | 15,000 |
| 3 | 8,000 | 12,000 | 15,000 | 17,500 | 20,000 |
| 4 | 12,000 | 15,000 | 20,000 | 22,500 | 25,000 |
| 5 | 15,000 | 20,000 | 25,000 | 30,000 | 35,000 |
| 6 | 20,000 | 25,000 | 30,000 | 35,000 | 40,000 |
| 7 | 25,000 | 30,000 | 35,000 | 45,000 | 55,000 |
| 8 | 35,000 | 45,000 | 55,000 | 65,000 | 75,000 |
ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORTS:
| HOTEL CATEGORY | LOWEST | LOW | MODERATE | UPPER | TOP |
| POINTS PER NIGHT | |||||
| A | 12,000 | 15,000 | 20,000 | 22,500 | 25,000 |
| B | 15,000 | 20,000 | 25,000 | 30,000 | 35,000 |
| C | 20,000 | 25,000 | 30,000 | 35,000 | 40,000 |
| D | 25,000 | 30,000 | 35,000 | 45,000 | 55,000 |
| E | 35,000 | 45,000 | 55,000 | 65,000 | 75,000 |
| F | 45,000 | 55,000 | 65,000 | 75,000 | 85,000 |
The five-tier chart and expanded award pricing take effect on May 20th, 2026.
Is Hyatt moving to Dynamic Pricing?
The short answer is no. Hyatt confirmed it will continue using a fixed award chart. That means every property still belongs to a category with a defined pricing range.
However, redemption levels within that category will now be based on anticipated demand and Hyatt says those levels will be reviewed periodically and updated if needed.
When Do These Changes Take Effect?
- The new five-tier award chart goes live on May 20th, 2026
- Annual category changes will also take effect on May 20th, 2026
Hyatt Annual Category Changes, 2026
Alongside the new 5-tier award chart, Hyatt is also rolling out its annual category changes, and this part matters as much.
When do category changes happen?
Hyatt confirmed that 112 Hyatt hotels are moving UP in category and 24 Hyatt hotels are moving DOWN.
The full list of Hyatt hotels shifting categories can be found here, and those Category changes take effect May 20, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. CT.
Keep in mind, Hyatt currently allows all members to book award stays up to 13 months out, meaning you can still lock in current pricing for stays as far out as June 19, 2027, if booked before May 20, 2026.
But seven hotels are moving categories immediately, effective February 2026.
- The Barnett (JdV by Hyatt): Category 5 → 4
- Grand Hyatt Grand Cayman Resort & Spa: Category 6 → 8
- Hyatt Place San Antonio-Northwest/Medical Center: Category 1 → 2
- Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach: Category 4 → 5
- Grand Hyatt Incheon: Category 3 → 4
- Hyatt Centric Malta: Category 2 → 3
- Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort: Category 4 → 5
Hyatt Hotels moving up to Category 8:
These are the ones to pay attention to, once a hotel hits Category 8, pricing can now range from 35,000 Hyatt points to 75,000 points per night.
- Andaz 5th Avenue: Category 7 → 8
- Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino: Category 7 → 8
- Hôtel du Louvre: Category 7 → 8
- Hotel Fluela Davos: Category 7 → 8
- Park Hyatt London River Thames: Category 7 → 8
These are exactly the types of properties that will feel the biggest impact under the new 5-tier pricing.
If you book your Hyatt stay before May 20, 2026 (before 8:00 a.m. CT): Your reservation follows the current award chart; Even if the hotel moves to a higher category, your price is locked in. If you cancel, you’ll get back the same number of points you originally used.
Any changes made on or after May 20, 2026 (8:00 a.m. CT) → your booking will reprice under the new award chart.
Popular Hyatt Hotels moving up:
A lot of everyday “solid value” hotels are quietly getting more expensive:
- Hotel Figueroa: 4 → 5
- Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort: 4 → 5
- Hyatt Regency Lisbon: 4 → 5
- Hyatt Regency Coral Gables: 4 → 5
- The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel: 6 → 7
- Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort Spa and Casino: 5 → 6Alila Mayakoba: 6 → 7
Not everything is going up, there are a few bright spots:
- Hyatt Centric Delfina Santa Monica: 6 → 5
- Andaz West Hollywood: 6 → 5
- Grand Hyatt The Red Sea: 7 → 6
- Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort: 7 → 6
What Types of Awards Are Impacted?
This is important: it’s not just standard rooms.
Hyatt confirmed that all free night redemption options are impacted.
That includes:
- Standard room awards
- Club room awards
- Standard suite awards
- Premium suite awards
- All-Inclusive resort awards
- Miraval resort redemptions
- Points + Cash awards
For All-Inclusive and Miraval stays, two new redemption levels will be added and the number of points required per night will change, including additional per-person point pricing where applicable.
Points + Cash pricing will also adjust to align with the five tiers.
What Is NOT Impacted?
Promotional Free Night certificates still would be up to Category 4 or 7.
- Category 1–4 Free Night Awards
- Category 1–7 Free Night Awards
These certificates themselves are not changing. However — and this is key — hotels may still move up or down in category later in May. So while your certificate rules stay the same, where you can use it might shift.
Who Gets Early Access to Award Nights?
Hyatt confirmed early award access will be available to:
- Explorist members
- Globalist members
- Lifetime Globalists
- World of Hyatt Credit Cardmembers
These members will be able to view and book award nights 1 month before other members (13 months in advance vs 12).
What This Means for Families Booking With Points
Here’s the practical takeaway.
- High-demand family destinations will likely cost more at peak times.
Think school breaks, ski season, beach resorts in summer. - Flexibility could unlock “Lowest” or “Low” pricing.
Midweek stays or shoulder season trips may become better value. - Book strategically before May 20th, 2026.
If you already know your 2026 travel plans, locking in award stays before the new chart goes live could protect you from higher tiers.
Our reccomended Category 7 and 8 Hyatt properties to book soon
If you’ve been collecting points for that aspirational stay, especially at high-demand luxury properties, now is the time to consider booking before those nights shift from 45k to 75k per night.
- Alila Ventana Big Sur, California Coast, USA (Category 8)
- Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica (Category 8)
- Grand Hyatt Tokyo, Japan (Category 8)
- Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa, Kauai, Hawaii (Category 8)
- Andaz Maui, Hawaii (Category 8)
- Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome, France (Category 8)
- Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa (Category 8)
- Park Hyatt Kyoto, Japan (Category 8)
- Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills, Japan (Category 8)
- Park Hyatt St. Kitts Christophe Harbour, St. Kitts & Nevis (Category 7)
- Hyatt Regency Aruba (Category 7)
- Park Hyatt London River Thames, England (Category 7)
Bottom line
Hyatt is not eliminating its award chart and that’s still a major differentiator compared to other programs.
The World of Hyatt 2026 award chart changes take effect May 20, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. CT, introducing five redemption tiers (Lowest, Low, Moderate, Upper, Top) while keeping a fixed award chart.
Hyatt has already released its 2026 category changes, with 112 hotels moving up and 24 moving down, making many redemptions more expensive, especially at Category 7 and Category 8 properties (up to 75,000 points per night).
If you’ve been saving Hyatt points for aspirational stays, booking before May 20, 2026 lets you lock in current pricing for stays up to 13 months out (through June 19, 2027).
For families traveling during spring break, summer, and holidays, expect higher pricing under the new system, making early booking and flexibility more important than ever.
