FRIENDS of the Upper East Side is now accepting nominations for our 2026 Annual Awards, which honor outstanding achievement in preservation, architecture, and advocacy on the Upper East Side. The awards will be presented at our Annual Awards Ceremony in the spring.

Our award categories are flexible and can vary from year to year. Past honorees have been recognized for excellence in Restoration, Rehabilitation, Design, and Stewardship, and both individuals and advocacy groups are eligible.

We welcome nominations in both architecture and advocacy. The awards committee will consider all submissions—large and small—that contribute to preserving the unique character and sense of place of the Upper East Side.

Please review the eligibility requirements below and submit your nominations by January 16, 2026.

Eligibility

1. Projects must be located between 59th and 110th Streets, and between 5th Avenue and the East River, including Central Park and Roosevelt Island.
2. Projects must have been substantially completed between December 1, 2024 and December 1, 2025.
3. Only the exteriors of architectural projects and/or historically significant interiors will be considered.
4. Preservation projects should be for restoration, rehabilitation, or adaptive re-use of historic buildings (including post-World War II architecture). The buildings may be located either in or out of the historic districts.
5. New construction is also eligible.
6. Individuals or advocacy groups that are nominated must have contributed to the preservation of the Upper East Side’s built environment.