For more than two decades, Modernism Week has grown from a niche celebration of midcentury architecture into one of the most influential cultural events in Greater Palm Springs. When the Modernism Week 2026 edition lights up Palm Springs from February 12–22, it will do so not only with a packed schedule of tours, talks, films, and exhibitions but with a legacy that has become deeply woven into the region’s identity and economy.
Modernism Week’s annual February festival has long been a magnet for architects, designers, preservationists, collectors, scholars, and curious visitors from around the world. What sets the two-week event and celebration apart is its ability to balance serious architectural scholarship with broad public appeal. In doing so, it has helped reposition Greater Palm Springs as one of the most important living laboratories of modern architecture anywhere in the United States.
Neighborhoods as the Heart of Modernism Week 2026
Among the most popular offerings each year are the neighborhood home tours, which return in full force for 2026. Fifteen curated tours will open the doors to historic communities across the valley, allowing participants rare interior access to homes that define desert modernism. Longtime favorites such as Vista Las Palmas, Racquet Club Estates, Sunmor Estates, Country Club Estates, and Canyon Estates are joined by new additions, including Alta, Andreas Hills, Casa Dorado at Indian Wells, and Firebird Estates.
Landscape architect and interior designer Michael Norpell will lead a talk & tour in the Deepwell Estates neighborhood of Palm Springs.
These tours do more than satisfy architectural curiosity. Organized in partnership with neighborhood groups, they raise funds that are reinvested locally, supporting preservation efforts, charitable organizations, and community improvements. Over the years, this model has become one of Modernism Week’s quiet successes: architecture tourism that directly benefits the neighborhoods being celebrated.
Several 2026 tours are already sold out, underscoring the sustained demand for authentic, place-based experiences. New offerings such as a multi-neighborhood author-led tour inspired by Unseen Midcentury Desert Modern and a contemporary-focused look at Alta’s dramatic indoor-outdoor residences reflect the festival’s expanding scope and willingness to explore both past and present interpretations of modernism.
The Palm Springs Modernism Show
The 2026 Modernism Show will feature a record number of dealers and retailers.
Another cornerstone of the 2026 program is the Palm Springs Modernism Show, returning to the Palm Springs Convention Center. The 26th Annual Palm Springs Modernism Show will feature 135 premier national and international dealers offering the best of midcentury and modern design. Widely regarded as the most attended event of Modernism Week, the show brings together vintage 20th-century furnishings, decorative arts, and contemporary design inspired by modernist principles.
The show has become a major economic driver during the festival, drawing collectors, designers, and retailers from across the country and beyond. Its continued growth mirrors the broader resurgence of interest in midcentury modern design and the city’s central role in that story.
Ideas, Dialogue, and New Perspectives
Modernism Week 2026 will offer more than 80 lectures, panels, and film screenings, reinforcing the festival’s commitment to education and dialogue. Highlights include a keynote presentation by architect and Princeton University professor of architecture Elizabeth Diller of Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and a symposium on the future of housing.
Australia-based architecture firm Architectus will be awarded the 2026 World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize for its conservation of the United Nations’ Historic Africa Hall in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
And for the first time outside of New York City, World Monuments Fund and Modernism Week are partnering to present the 2026 World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize ceremony, announcing the 2026 prize recipient in Palm Springs. The prestigious World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize recognizes contemporary architects and preservationists whose work demonstrates innovative, replicable approaches to conserving Modernist architecture worldwide.
The popular “Stories Untold” series also returns, continuing the festival’s effort to highlight architects and designers historically excluded from mainstream narratives. Alongside preservation-focused talks, international perspectives, and films premiering in Palm Springs, the program reflects a modern understanding of modernism: global, complex, and still evolving.
A Festival That Extends Beyond February
While February remains the centerpiece, Modernism Week now stretches well beyond its signature dates. Seasonal architecture bus tours run from February through May, offering small-group, expert-led explorations of Palm Springs’ modern, Spanish, and contemporary buildings. These tours have become a favorite among both visitors and locals, providing context and storytelling that deepen appreciation for the city’s built environment.
This year-round presence reflects Modernism Week’s evolution. What began as an annual festival has evolved into an ongoing educational and cultural platform, reinforcing Palm Springs’ reputation as a global destination for architectural tourism.
A Lasting Impact on the Region
Beyond its cultural influence, Modernism Week plays a tangible role in supporting the Greater Palm Springs community. As a nonprofit organization, it provides scholarships for local students pursuing architecture and design careers and awards grants to preservation groups throughout California. The festival also delivers a significant boost to the local economy during one of the region’s busiest tourism periods.
Perhaps most importantly, Modernism Week has helped residents and visitors alike see Palm Springs differently; not just as a resort destination, but as a place where design, history, and innovation intersect in everyday neighborhoods.
As Modernism Week 2026 approaches, it does so with confidence built on years of steady growth and community support. The festival’s success is no longer measured only by attendance or ticket sales, but by its lasting contribution to preservation, education, and the cultural life of Greater Palm Springs. In celebrating the modern past, Modernism Week continues to shape the region’s future.
