Inside AD's 2026 Party Celebrating the AD100

A Night of Celebration and Design at the AD100 2026 Party

As the elevator doors opened on the way to the AD100 2026 party, we couldn’t help but ask Bunny Williams how many years she had been featured on the list. “Oh, I stopped keeping track years ago!” she said with a cheerful smile. (For the record, she first appeared in 1995.) Despite the number of years, she looked as vibrant as ever—her hair perfectly styled, adorned with big sparkly earrings, and her black pantsuit shimmering with sequins. The final touch? A pair of flats that allowed her to effortlessly move around the room greeting friends. “I love what I do, and I’m so happy that I get to keep doing it.”

The event took place at Le Jardin Sur Madison, a jewel-toned retreat from Regent Hotels & Resorts located in the Flatiron district. It brought together the AD100 2026 honorees who braved early holiday traffic, some traveling across the world, for the first AD100 celebration since 2021. The evening felt like a homecoming. “I wouldn’t miss this night for anything,” Robert Stilin told us. “I mean, it’s like the Oscars of design!”

Guests mingled in an elegant space designed by David Rockwell, a member of the AD100 Hall of Fame. The venue was layered with sculptural brass, green marble accents, and atmospheric lighting. Decorative artist Alana Tsui was on hand, painting a live mural of four Regent hotels.

Though it was a cold, crisp night—too frigid to tempt most to venture onto Le Jardin’s dramatic terrace with its skyline views—we found Ross Cassidy out there, unfazed by the chill. It must be that cozy mohair sweater, we ventured. “Can you believe it, it’s actually cashmere!” he said gleefully, inviting us to give the fuzzy knit blue pullover a stroke. “The best part is it’s from J.Crew—and it was on sale!” (Ross does love scoring a bargain, as anyone who’s watched his Roundtop and Brimfield market videos for AD knows.)

Back inside, designers happily hobnobbed, nibbling on tuna tartare, burrata tartlets, and yuzu meringue bites. By the communal wine-tasting table, where sommeliers helped guests choose the perfect pour, we found Mandy Cheng celebrating her fifth year on the AD100. “It’s still surreal to be in this room with so many designers who I’ve admired for so long,” she said.

That sense of camaraderie was everywhere. Near the jazz trio, we caught Shawn Henderson and Ryan Lawson in the midst of a reunion. “This is kind of a reunion. I haven’t seen him in weeks,” Lawson joked. “Which feels like years because I can never get enough of Shawn!” Henderson didn’t miss a beat: If he could choose anyone to design his home, he said, it would be Lawson.

Later in the evening, Global Editorial Director Amy Astley raised a glass. “Each year, the AD100 issue is our love letter to the extraordinary minds shaping the way we live,” she said. “Architectural Digest is honored to champion your work!”

She also asked AD’s guests for a moment of reflection. “This year marks the passing of two extraordinary AD100 Hall of Famers—Frank Gehry and Robert A.M. Stern,” she said. “Their groundbreaking visions transformed the world of architecture, and their influence will be felt for generations to come. We celebrate their enduring legacy tonight.”

Astley also thanked Regent Hotels & Resorts for helping set the tone of the night, noting the synergy between AD and the hospitality brand: “A celebration like this is only possible with partners who share our commitment to great design.” Melissa Messmer, InterContinental and Regent Hotels’ Global Head of Design for Luxury Brands, agreed. “We’re a design-led brand shaped by visionary architects and creative partners around the world. Tonight is a beautiful reminder that IHG’s portfolio is rooted in creativity, craft, and the extraordinary talent celebrated in the AD100.”

As guests bundled up and filtered into the December night, the warmth of the evening lingered—a reminder that great design, like great friendship, never goes out of style.