Hyatt just announced a major update to the World of Hyatt award chart coming in May 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.
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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 in May 2026. Hyatt says more details on the exact timing will be shared in April.
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 in May 2026
- Annual category changes will also take effect in May 2026
- Hyatt will release more details in April 2026
So if you’re eyeing a big redemption, you have a window.
Annual Category Changes (And Immediate Moves)
Every year, Hyatt shifts some properties up or down in category. That continues in 2026.
But seven hotels are moving categories immediately:
- 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
Everything else will be announced in April and take effect in May.
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 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. - Watch April closely.
That’s when Hyatt will release the full list of annual category changes.
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.
If you’ve been sitting on Hyatt points for that aspirational stay, especially at high-demand properties, now is the time to seriously consider locking it in.
For families tied to school calendars, this deserves real attention. Spring break, summer, holidays, those dates are the most likely to fall into the higher redemption tiers.
April will bring the full category shift list, and May 2026 is when everything officially changes.
