5 Pittsburgh area fall house tours to visit for design inspiration
– Anne Perri Cole, NEXT Pittsburgh, 9/2/2026
"It may be hot again this week, but picture this: There’s a chill in the air, leaves are changing. Autumnal beverage in hand, you’re finally getting to see inside a neighbor’s beautiful house that you’ve always wondered about. You could experience this all autumn long with fall house tour season. We’re partnering with Houses of Pittsburgh (the team behind Feeling Nebby) to bring you five house tours you don’t want to miss happening in and around Pittsburgh.
Churchill Midcentury Modern Home Tour
Series of events on Friday, Sept. 18, through Sunday, Sept. 20
Event tickets: From $17.85
The Churchill neighborhood is home to one of the country’s largest concentrations of midcentury modern houses built between the 1950s through the 1970s (including one we just toured). For the second time, the borough has partnered with the Pittsburgh Modern Committee of Preservation Pittsburgh on the series of events celebrating midcentury homes.
The weekend begins with a Friday evening fundraising soiree, followed by Saturday’s now sold-out house tour. Sunday wraps up the weekend with presentations from architecture experts, historians and homeowners. Tickets are sold separately for each event.
54th Annual Mexican War Streets House and Garden Tour
Sunday, Sept. 20, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Tickets: $35
The always-popular Mexican War Streets House and Garden Tour returns for the 54th year. The North Side neighborhood will welcome guests to tour 11 homes and two private gardens. Organizers tell us that several homes on the tour this year underwent major renovations with stunning results. While some homes have embraced more modern amenities, many have chosen to preserve the historic character and details of their homes.
The self-guided tour takes about three hours to complete. Organizers encourage guests to walk between the tour stops, as the neighborhood is relatively compact and easy to explore on foot. The tour serves as a fundraiser to support historic preservation, community events and annual giving to local nonprofits including Allegheny YMCA and Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy for Allegheny Commons Park.
Brighton Heights House Tour 2026
Saturday, Oct. 3, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Tickets: $25
My neighborhood, Brighton Heights, is a city neighborhood that feels more like the suburbs. For 20 years, neighbors have opened up their historic homes for guests to explore. I’m co-chair of the organizing committee for this year’s tour, and we will have nine properties to showcase. The featured house of the tour is a restored farmhouse that was once condemned but brought back to life by dedicated owners. There will be a Molly’s Trolley available to take guests to three stops near the properties.
Guests are encouraged to stay in the neighborhood after the tour for the final Brighton Heights Summer Series of the year hosted by Allegheny City Brewery and the Brighton Heights Citizens Federation. It runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Legion Park, which is the house tour check-in spot, and will have live music, kids’ activities, a local vendor market, several food trucks and a special house tour beer. Proceeds from the tour help to fund community events like Bright the Night, the Brighton Heights Book Fair and the Li’l Bridgey 5k.
41st Annual Shadyside House Tour
Saturday, Oct. 3, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Tickets: SOLD OUT – Giveaway open through Sept. 23
After a yearslong, pandemic-related hiatus, the Shadyside House Tour will return for its 41st year. The tour is already sold out, but there are several opportunities to win tickets, including on Houses of Pittsburgh.
This year’s tour will showcase eight distinctive properties, highlighting a broad cross-section of Shadyside architecture from preserved historic spaces to thoughtfully updated homes with more modern details. The neighborhood has a long history and some of our city’s grandest residences. This is a chance to explore that history and experience the remarkable architecture commissioned by some of Pittsburgh’s titans of industry.
Bellevue House Tour
Saturday, Oct. 17, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Tickets: VIP Package $125, General Admission $45
The biennial Bellevue House Tour invites guests to experience this thriving community. The self-guided walking tour showcases homes and architecture, but also its vibrant business district. A limited number of VIP tickets are available, offering additional perks, including gift cards to local restaurants and a chance to win an original watercolor, merchandise and more. All guests can also participate in a scavenger hunt featuring the neighborhood’s local retailers."