2026 Modernism in America Awards

Now in its 13th year, the Awards celebrate the documentation, preservation and reuse of modern buildings, structures and landscapes built in the United States or on U.S. territory. The Awards recognize those building owners, design teams, advocacy and preservation organizations that have made significant efforts to retain, restore, and advocate for the aesthetic and cultural value of such places.

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Modernism in America Awards.


Early nomination deadline: Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 11:55pm Eastern
Nomination close: Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 11:55pm Eastern


Review the nomination guidelines carefully before submitting and contact awards@docomomo-us.org with any questions.


Award Categories  

Design

This juried award recognizes informed, thoughtful, and creative design efforts to preserve, restore, or adapt a modern building, structure, or landscape of local, regional, or national significance, securing its presence for future generations. Design Awards are recognized in the following subcategories:

  • Residential
  • Commercial
  • Civic/Institutional


Documentation

This juried award recognizes exceptional efforts to document modern buildings, structures, landscapes, or neighborhoods of local, regional or national significance. Documentation efforts can also include significant individuals within the Modern Movement such as architects, designers, landscape architects, artists, photographers, and more. Nominations may be submitted in the form of a website, book, publication, or exhibition. 

 

Book submissions and student research projects are each considered subcategories within the Documentation category and are only judged against other books or student projects.


Advocacy

Presented by the Docomomo US Board of Directors, this award recognizes outstanding efforts to preserve and advocate for threatened modern buildings, structures, or landscapes of local, regional, or national significance through advocacy efforts. This award seeks to recognize preservation and advocacy organizations and other groups (including Docomomo US chapters) who have gone above and beyond to work collectively and collaboratively to advocate for a modern site or structure. 

Students who have been involved in research or advocacy are encouraged to nominate their projects in the appropriate category.


2026 Awards Committee

The Awards Committee helps shape the annual program by reviewing nomination and eligibility guidelines, selecting jury members, and providing guidance on submissions on a case by case basis. A sincere thank you to this year's committee members: Meredith Bzdak (Chair), Monty Freeman, Tonia Moy, Theodore Prudon, and Richard Southwick.

The 2026 Awards Jury will be announced in the coming weeks.


About


The Modernism in America Awards is the only national program that celebrates the people and projects working to preserve, restore and rehabilitate our modern heritage sensitively and productively. The program seeks to advance those preservation efforts; to increase appreciation for the period and to raise awareness of the on-going threats against modern architecture and design while acknowledging the substantial contribution preservation in general and the postwar heritage in particular makes to the economic and cultural life of our communities.

 


Previous Award Winners