If you love midcentury design, mark your calendar. Modernism Week’s fall edition runs October 15 to 18, 2026 in Palm Springs. It’s four days of home tours, architecture bus tours, parties and talks, and it’s smaller and more relaxed than the big February festival.

We’re a little obsessed with midcentury modern here at Palm Trees and Floaties. Our house is an original MCM home, so this weekend feels like our holiday. Here’s how to make the most of it.

The Basics

• Dates: Thursday, October 15 through Sunday, October 18, 2026
• Where: Palm Springs, with events from morning to night every day
• How many events: More than 50 tours, talks, parties and experiences
• Tickets: Sold through modernismweek.com

One honest tip: the most popular tours sell out early. If something on this list catches your eye, check what’s still available today.

The Homes Everyone Wants to See

Home tours are the heart of Modernism Week. This fall’s lineup is anchored by three standouts:

• The Marquee at Twin Palms, this year’s official Featured Home
• The Kirk Douglas Estate
• Frey House II, Albert Frey’s famous hillside home, with twilight options

Other home tours include Blue Skies Village, CoCo Cabana, Desert Lanai 4 and the Liever Residence. Most home tours last 30 to 60 minutes, so you can fit a few into one day.

See the City From a Bus (or a Tram)

If it’s your first Modernism Week, start with the Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus Tour. It’s the festival’s signature tour and gives you a great overview of the city’s most important midcentury buildings.

Want something with more personality? Try these:

• Sinatra’s Rat Pack Homes & Hangouts for old Hollywood glamour
• Bella da Ball’s Celebrity Homes Tour, a sunset tour hosted by a drag queen
• Twilight Architectural Bus Tour for golden-hour views
• Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Tour, which is brand new this year

Bus tours run about 1.5 to 2.5 hours. If you’d rather walk, the Little Beverly Hills and Trailblazers & Visionaries walking tours are a lovely way to see neighborhoods up close.

Shop the Palm Springs Modernism Fall Show

This is the place to find vintage furniture, lighting, art and décor from dozens of top dealers. It’s at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

• Opening Night Party: Friday, October 16, 6 to 8 p.m. ($95 in advance, $110 at the door)
• Saturday, October 17: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sunday, October 18: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Weekend admission: $30, good for both days

Bring measurements of that empty corner at home. Trust us.

After Dark

Modernism Week knows how to throw a party. A few evening picks:

• Modernism Week After Dark at Spirit Animal and Amigo Room, with DJs and cocktails
• Sunset at The Lautner Compound, with cocktails and a dose of architectural history
• PS Underground’s “Nod to Mod” supper club
• Fall Dining Series at local favorites like Eight4Nine, Bar Issi, Trio, King’s Highway and Mr. Lyons

Prefer a seat and a story? Charles Phoenix brings his famously fun retro slideshow, and there’s a talk on the history of music in the Coachella Valley.

Why Stay in Palm Desert

Palm Springs hotels fill up fast during Modernism Week, and prices climb with them. Palm Desert is about a half-hour drive away and a lot calmer. You get your own pool to come home to after a long day of tours.

Palm Desert also has midcentury gems of its own, like the Sandpiper condos designed by William Krisel. And El Paseo’s shops and restaurants are minutes from our door, so dinner is easy on nights you’d rather skip the drive back to Palm Springs.

Our stays are made for a design weekend:

• The House: an original midcentury home with a private saltwater pool. Sleeps 4.
• The Condos: three retro condos with heated pools and a large hot tub. Great for couples, or book more than one for a group of friends.

Every stay is dog friendly, and booking direct means no Airbnb fees.

Check our dates for October 15 to 18

Already Thinking About February?

The big 11-day Modernism Week runs February 11 to 21, 2027. The schedule preview comes out October 25, and tickets go on sale November 1 at noon. February books up fast around here too, so it’s never too early to grab your dates.

Need a place to stay? See our Modernism Week rentals page for our homes and booking tips.

More Things to Do Nearby

• Palm Springs Midcentury Modern Architecture: a self guided drive past the most famous modern homes
• El Paseo Shopping and Dining: boutiques, galleries and dinner minutes from our stays
• Shields Date Garden: the classic place for a date shake since 1924

See you in the desert!

Top photo: the Palm Springs Visitors Center by Albert Frey. Photo: Bryanb7, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.