New Sandals resorts 2026 news breaks down to this: as of today, three Sandals resorts in Jamaica are still closed for storm renovation. Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Caribbean Cay (formerly Sandals Royal Caribbean) reopen December 18, 2026, and Sandals South Coast reopens November 18, 2026. Five other properties, Sandals Dunn's River, Sandals Ocho Rios, Sandals Royal Plantation, Sandals Negril, and Beaches Negril, already reopened back on December 6, 2025, and are open now. The single biggest change since this page was last updated: Sandals Royal Caribbean has a new name, Sandals Caribbean Cay, along with 84 new rooms and a bigger private island experience. Here's the current, resort-by-resort status.
Current Status: Every Affected Resort at a Glance
| Resort | Status | Reopening / Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Sandals Montego Bay | Closed | December 18, 2026 |
| Sandals Caribbean Cay (formerly Sandals Royal Caribbean) | Closed | December 18, 2026 |
| Sandals South Coast | Closed | November 18, 2026 |
| Sandals Dunn's River, Ocho Rios, Royal Plantation, Negril | Open | Reopened December 6, 2025 |
| Beaches Negril | Open | Reopened December 6, 2025 |
| Beaches Exuma (Bahamas) | Under construction | Targeting 2027 |
| Beaches Barbados | Under construction | Groundbreaking late 2025, 600 rooms |
| Beaches Runaway Bay (Jamaica) | In development | No official date yet |
Sandals Caribbean Cay: The Big Rename
Sandals renovations after storm damage usually mean the same resort reopens under the same name with a refresh. This one is different. Sandals Royal Caribbean is being rebranded Sandals Caribbean Cay, confirmed directly on Sandals' own site, drawing its new name from the private-island experience that's long been the property's signature draw. Beyond the name, this is a real expansion: 84 new rooms and suites bring the total to 291, new SkyPool Suites and Swim-up Suites join the lineup, and Oceanview Butler Suites are set to debut in June 2027. New dining includes Suppa (a family-style Jamaican comfort-food restaurant), the Keynote Rum Bar, Heart & Sol cafe, and Jerk Shack, alongside a refreshed Sandals Cay private island with a new Parisol Beach Club and restaurant. Reopening is set for December 18, 2026, the same date as Sandals Montego Bay.
Formerly Sandals Royal Caribbean, now with 84 more rooms and an expanded private island. Reopens December 18, 2026.
Sandals Montego Bay's Renovation
Sandals Montego Bay is part of the same reopening wave, closed now and reopening December 18, 2026, backed by a reported $150 to $200 million investment across the two Montego Bay-area properties as part of Sandals' broader "Sandals 2.0" push toward lighter, more modern design. Expect redesigned arrival spaces, upgraded pools, and new dining and lounge concepts when it reopens, alongside Sandals Caribbean Cay on the same date.
Sandals South Coast Reimagined
Sandals South Coast reopens sooner, November 18, 2026, under the "South Coast Reimagined" renovation. New additions include Butch's Island Chophouse and a deeper connection to the surrounding 500-acre nature reserve that's long set this property apart from Sandals' other Jamaica resorts. Both South Coast and the two Montego Bay-area properties pushed back from an original May 30, 2026 target announced right after the storm, worth knowing if you'd seen that earlier date anywhere else.
South Coast Reimagined: new dining and a stronger connection to its 500-acre nature reserve. Reopens November 18, 2026.
The 5 Resorts That Already Reopened
Sandals Dunn's River, Sandals Ocho Rios, Sandals Royal Plantation, Sandals Negril, and Beaches Negril all reopened December 6, 2025, and are open and bookable now. These five had less severe storm damage than the three properties still closed, and Sandals deliberately set their reopening a few weeks out from the storm to give staff time to recover before returning to work.
The Sandals Dunn's River reopening in particular got attention at the time since it's one of the newer additions to the Sandals portfolio (originally opened under Sandals in May 2023 after an earlier property on the site closed in 2010), and travelers had asked whether a newer resort would face the same delays as the older properties, it didn't.
If you're booking a Jamaica stay for the rest of 2026, these five are your only currently-open Sandals or Beaches options on the island until South Coast and the two Montego Bay-area resorts come back online.
New and Upcoming Properties Beyond Jamaica
Sandals resorts opening 2026 2027 isn't only a Jamaica story. Beaches Exuma, the family-resort replacement for the now-closed Sandals Emerald Bay in the Bahamas, is still under construction and targeting a 2027 opening, a 500-acre property planned with 12 restaurants and an 18-hole golf course built around the original Emerald Bay course. Barbados broke ground in late 2025 as a 600-room property, with suite categories reportedly ranging up to 3,000 square feet.
Beaches Turks and Caicos added a 101-room Treasure Beach Village expansion in March 2026, bringing that resort to 858 rooms total, part of what Sandals' leadership has publicly described as a plan to roughly double the Beaches brand's footprint over the next four years. Upcoming Sandals resorts still without a firm date include Beaches Runaway Bay in Jamaica, planned for a stretch of coastline between Ocho Rios and Montego Bay with around 400 suites. Recent guests and staff report it's still in development, with the property currently used internally as an employee perk while construction continues, but no official opening date has been announced. Treat that one as a "watch this space" rather than a bookable timeline for now.
Added 101 rooms in March 2026 with its new Treasure Beach Village, now 858 rooms total.
What Actually Matters for Your Vacation
If you already have a booking at Sandals Caribbean Cay under its old name, Sandals Royal Caribbean, nothing about your reservation changes, it's the same resort and the same team, just a new name and a bigger private island when you arrive. If you're booking fresh for Jamaica right now, your open options today are Dunn's River, Ocho Rios, Royal Plantation, and Negril (plus Beaches Negril for families), the three renovated properties aren't bookable for stays before their reopening dates. And if you'd bookmarked an old "May 30, 2026" reopening date for Montego Bay, Caribbean Cay, or South Coast from an earlier announcement, that date has passed and been replaced by the later dates above, worth double-checking before you plan around it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sandals Royal Caribbean still open?
It's closed for renovation and reopening December 18, 2026, and it's also getting a new name: Sandals Caribbean Cay. Existing bookings carry over automatically.
What is Sandals Caribbean Cay?
It's the new name for Sandals Royal Caribbean, rebranded as part of a renovation that adds 84 rooms, new dining, and an expanded private island. Reopens December 18, 2026.
When does Sandals Montego Bay reopen?
December 18, 2026, the same date as Sandals Caribbean Cay.
When does Sandals South Coast reopen?
November 18, 2026, under its "South Coast Reimagined" renovation.
Are Sandals Dunn's River, Ocho Rios, Negril, and Royal Plantation open right now?
Yes. All four, plus Beaches Negril, reopened December 6, 2025 and are bookable now.
Is Beaches Runaway Bay still happening?
As far as we can confirm, yes, it's still in development, but Sandals hasn't announced an official opening date. Treat any specific date you see elsewhere as unconfirmed until Sandals announces one directly.
Planning a Trip to a Reopening Resort?
We track these reopening dates closely and can help you time a booking around the right one, or find an open alternative today.
Talk to a Sandals Specialist →See our full Jamaica resort guide, the complete guide to Sandals Resorts, or what a Sandals vacation actually costs.
