Nearly 2,000 architects, designers, students, educators, planners and industry leaders will converge on Aventura's JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa for five days in October when the National Organization of Minority Architects holds its 2026 annual conference.

The event, titled "The Leading Edge," runs Wednesday, Oct. 14, through Sunday, Oct. 18, at the resort on West Country Club Drive. It marks another major national conference at Turnberry this year, after the Defense Credit Union Council gathered there in early August.

NOMA's South Florida chapter, SoFloNOMA, is the local host. The organization, founded in 1971 by 12 Black architects, now represents more than 4,000 members and has 46 professional chapters nationwide, along with a network of student chapters.

Sessions and workshops planned across five days

The conference packs more than 60 sessions, along with keynotes and workshops, into its five days, according to NOMA's official conference site.

Programming begins Wednesday morning with the inaugural NOMA Golf Classic, scheduled from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Other Wednesday programming includes Legacy Project sessions and a Black Architects in the Making, or BAM, workshop.

The conference's opening keynote, expo and welcome reception follow Thursday. The two-day expo runs Oct. 15-16, while the Welcome Reception is scheduled for Thursday evening.

An Awards Gala cocktail hour begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, followed by a ticketed dinner. The conference's final scheduled events Sunday include sunrise yoga and a basketball game.

Of particular local relevance, a spotlight track called "EDGE CONDITIONS: Designing for Coastal & Community Resilience" explores coastal resilience, environmental justice, adaptive design and community-focused approaches to the built environment. Sessions include "Designing for Rising Seas: Architecture as a Tool for Cultural Continuity in Climate Adaptation" and "Beyond the Building: Designing Coastal Resilience Through Marine Waste."

A separate community and justice track includes programming on affordable housing and designing spaces that center youth voices.

Competitions and showcases built for architecture students

Architecture students get their own stage. A Student Design Competition runs Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., while the BAM workshop is scheduled Wednesday afternoon.

A "Student Thesis Research Showcase" highlights undergraduate and graduate research focused on equity, resilience and innovation in the built environment.

Conference emphasizes equity and community

NOMA's 2026 conference continues the organization's broader mission of promoting diversity and equity within the architecture profession and addressing inequities in the built environment.

NOMA President Bryan C. Lee Jr., a fellow of the American Institute of Architects, said in the organization's announcement of the South Florida conference that the gathering will focus on how architects can help shape the future of communities while confronting challenges facing the profession and the places they serve.

In-person and virtual attendance options

Virtual participation is available, with more than 10 sessions offered online across three days. Full conference and registration details are posted at conference.noma.net.

Curated local tours of noteworthy design projects and historic buildings in the area are offered as ticketed add-ons. The conference venue is JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa, 19999 W. Country Club Drive, Aventura, FL 33180.

Upcoming dates

  • Wednesday, Oct. 14 — Conference opens; inaugural NOMA Golf Classic and BAM workshop
  • Thursday, Oct. 15 — Expo opens; Student Design Competition; Welcome Reception
  • Friday, Oct. 16 — Expo continues; Awards Gala
  • Sunday, Oct. 18 — Final conference events, including sunrise yoga and basketball