The 2026 World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize will take place during a special program at Modernism Week, marking the first time this prestigious award is presented outside New York. Established in 2008, the prize honors contemporary architects and preservationists who demonstrate innovative and replicable approaches to conserving Modernist architecture globally.

This year’s award ceremony will celebrate the restoration of Africa Hall in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Designed by Italian architect Arturo Mezzedimi and completed in 1961, this historic structure served as the headquarters for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and was a vital diplomatic venue for newly independent African nations.

The Modernism Prize will be awarded to Architectus, an Australian architecture firm responsible for the decade-long, $60 million restoration. Collaborating with local experts, Architectus restored the building's concrete structure, millions of mosaic tiles, and hundreds of original pieces of furniture designed by Mezzedimi. They also worked alongside Mezzedimi's grandson for historical design research and with the grandson of Ethiopian artist Afewerk Tekle to restore Tekle's monumental stained-glass triptych, ‘Total Liberation of Africa’. Additionally, the historical fountains, gardens, and stairs surrounding Africa Hall were restored

Barry Bergdoll, jury chair and Columbia University professor, emphasized Africa Hall's significance as a vital Modern architectural expression in Africa, blending international ideas and local identity during a key period of decolonization. The restoration has revitalized Mezzedimi’s design, showcasing its craftsmanship and symbolic power.

Alongside the Modernism Prize, a new Stewardship Award for Modernist Homes will recognize the rehabilitation of the Umbrella House in Sarasota, Florida. Designed by Paul Rudolph in 1953 and restored by Hall Architects, this project focused on reconstructing the home’s original shade structure, reinforcing its importance within Sarasota School modernism.

Architectus will join Dr. Jonathon S. Bell, Senior Vice President for Global Preservation Strategy at WMF, Javier Ors Ausín, Senior Manager, Special Programs at WMF; and Susan Macdonald, Head of Buildings and Sites at the Getty Conservation Institute, for a panel discussion exploring the complexities of restoring significant Modern architecture while honoring its design integrity and symbolic meaning.

The World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize has been made possible, in part, by support from Knoll.