The Leading Edge - NOMA's 2026 Conference Registration Now Open
“The Leading Edge” to Convene Designers, Students, and Community Leaders in a Critical Moment for Equity, Advocacy, and the Future of the Built Environment
NOMA will convene its 2026 Annual Conference, The Leading Edge, October 14–18, 2026, at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa in Aventura, Florida, bringing together almost 2,000 architects, designers, students, educators, planners, and industry leaders from across the country for five days of programming focused on design justice, leadership, resilience, and community.
Hosted in partnership with the South Florida chapter, SoFloNOMA, the conference comes at a pivotal time for the nation as communities continue to grapple with political polarization, attacks on voting rights, gerrymandering, disinvestment, housing inequity, and the enduring impacts of redlining and segregation on the built environment. Attendees can expect workshops, keynotes, student programming, career development opportunities, and networking events that spotlight diverse voices in design and reinforce NOMA’s mission of equity and justice in the built environment. Conference highlights include an inaugural charity golf tournament, as well as a two-day expo; the Legacy Project volunteer event; NOMA Awards Gala Dinner and program featuring The Phil Freelon Professional Design Awards and NOMA Barbara J. Lurie Student Design Competition; Bro’s Arts Ball; and the annual Professionals versus Student basketball game. This year, Gensler joined as NOMA’s first Legacy Sponsor.
“For more than 50 years, NOMA has created spaces where designers can come together not only to advance the profession, but to confront the systems that shape our communities,” said Tiffany Brown, MBA, Assoc. AIA, NOMA’s Executive Director. “At a moment when many communities are experiencing deep uncertainty and division, gathering together matters more than ever. Our work sits at the intersection of policy, place, equity, and opportunity. The conversations happening in South Florida this October will help define how architects and designers lead with courage, compassion, and accountability in this next chapter of our country.”
<< Read the complete press release here >>
<< Early-Bird registration is now open but wont last long! >>
