Palm Springs Life magazine has been honored with a General Excellence Award at the 2026 National City & Regional Magazine Awards, presented by the City & Regional Magazine Association (CRMA) during its annual conference on June 1 in New Orleans. The award is among the highest honors in regional publishing, recognizing overall achievement in editorial quality, production, and vision.
The CRMA Awards celebrate excellence in city and regional journalism, design, photography, and editorial content. In selecting Palm Springs Life for the top honor, judges praised the magazine's distinctive editorial voice and its vibrant celebration of desert living. "Palm Springs Life brings life to the desert with an appreciation for the architecture, setting and Old Hollywood glamour," the judges noted.
"This recognition is especially meaningful because regional magazines play such an important role in documenting the character of a place," said Emily Chavous Foster, editor-in-chief of Palm Springs Life. "Palm Springs Life has always sought to celebrate not only the beauty and glamour of the desert, but also the people, culture, architecture, and stories that give this community its identity. We're incredibly honored to see that work recognized on a national stage."
In addition to the General Excellence Award, Palm Springs Life was a finalist in the Online Excellence category among a competitive field of large-market publications, as well as in the Spread Design and Illustration category. These recognitions underscore the publication's commitment to exceptional visual storytelling, editorial excellence, and innovative design. The magazine's achievements were also highlighted in CRMA Finalists Magazine 2026, which showcases the year's honorees and their award-worthy work.
The award underscores the importance of regional magazines in documenting the character of a place. Palm Springs Life, which debuted in March 1958, serves as Southern California's premier source for architecture and design, art, entertainment, food, fashion, philanthropy, and notable events throughout the Coachella Valley. Through exceptional storytelling and award-winning design, the magazine chronicles the people, places, and ideas shaping desert life today and defining its future.