Modernism Week 2026

Every October, Palm Springs opens its most striking midcentury doors for Modernism Week Fall Preview, a four-day celebration of architecture, art, and design running October 15 through 18, 2026. Think of it as the smaller, more intimate sibling of the flagship February festival, with nearly 50 events spread across the Coachella Valley.

The highlights land fast. Double-decker architectural bus tours ($100 to $160) cruise past butterfly rooflines and glass-walled stunners designed by icons like Albert Frey and John Lautner. The Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale brings 50-plus national exhibitors selling vintage furniture, art, and design objects. A Friday evening preview party ($95) gives you first pick and a wine reception before the public crowds arrive Saturday. Home tours, including the popular Frey House II ($75 to $125), sell out quickly, so grab tickets as soon as the schedule drops.

Expect warm, dry weather in the low 90s during the day, cooling to the mid-60s by evening. Pack sunscreen, a hat, and a light layer for those twilight bus tours. If your top picks sell out, free events like the Art District Tour and the Walk of the Stars keep the weekend full.

Couples, design lovers, and families with older kids will get the most out of this lineup. Wrap your visit around a morning at nearby Lake Cahuilla Regional Park for paddling and shoreline trails, then look for desert-area rentals on Lake.com to make it a long weekend.