Modernism Week Palm Springs: What to Know for 2026–2027
What began in 2006 as a celebration of Palm Springs’ remarkable midcentury architecture has grown into one of the country’s largest and most celebrated architecture and design festivals. Today, Modernism Week actually happens twice a year: an 11-day festival each February and a smaller four-day edition in October. Together, the two events draw design lovers from around the world for home tours, talks, parties, exhibitions and a deep dive into the architecture and style that helped put Palm Springs on the map.
The Main Event: February
The February Modernism Week festival is the big one, with literally hundreds of events spread across Palm Springs and the surrounding desert cities. Scheduled for February 11–21, 2027, the complete roster will be unveiled on October 25 and tickets going on sale November 1. Expect a jaw-dropping smorgasbord of home tours, neighborhood tours, architectural bus trips, lectures, films, cocktail parties and the legendary Palm Springs Modernism Show.
Tours of private homes are traditionally among the hardest tickets to score, especially if the house has not been open previously. Some neighborhoods like Vista Las Palmas, Twin Palms and Indian Canyons offer tours that include multiple residences, while other tours celebrate architects such as William Krisel, Donald Wexler, Albert Frey and E. Stewart Williams. There are even double-decker bus tours led by architectural experts or, if you prefer, drag queens (a uniquely Palm Springs experience).
Another must-see is the Palm Springs Modernism Show, where leading dealers from around the country gather at the Palm Springs Convention Center with an extraordinary mix of 20th-century furniture, art, lighting, and decorative objects. It’s part museum, part treasure hunt, and traditionally one of the most popular events of the entire festival. Serious collectors can get an early look at the opening-night Preview Party, while the public show runs through the weekend.
And it isn’t all about architecture and décor. Modernism Week brings out Palm Springs’ social side too, with retro cocktail parties, vintage fashion and plenty of opportunities to dress the part. Palm Springs’ LGBTQ+ community is very much part of the scene, and the Arenas District joins in the fun with street parties, late night dancing, and plenty of festive revelry.
The Fall Edition: October
The good news is you don’t have to wait until February, because what began as an October mini-festival has grown into a four-day Modernism Week of its own. Scheduled for October 15–18, 2026, one of the things we like most about the fall edition is its scale. The crowds are lighter, the schedule is easier to navigate, and you still get access to some truly exceptional architecture. There’s even a sizeable dealer marketplace at the Convention Center.
This year’s October lineup features more than 50 events and tours, including a beautifully reimagined 1957 post-and-beam home in Twin Palms, Kirk Douglas’ Movie Colony estate, Albert Frey’s Frey House II, and rarely opened homes by architects including Donald Wexler and John Lautner. Several of the most coveted tours have already sold out, which is a pretty good indication of how popular the fall edition has become.
Make Descanso Your Home Base
With the most popular Modernism Week tours often selling out quickly, the best strategy is simple: book your favorite events and your room as early as possible. We might happen to know of a casually elegant retreat for men located in the stylish Uptown Design District, just steps from some of the desert’s top midcentury modern décor and designer boutiques. Want to take a peek?