Chilean Architect Smiljan Radić Awarded 2026 Pritzker Prize in Mexico City

Chilean architect Smiljan Radić was awarded the 2026 Pritzker Prize, often regarded as the Nobel Prize of architecture, during a ceremony held on May 11 at the Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City. The jury, chaired by Alejandro Aravena, recognized Radić for work that resists simple characterization and requires experiential understanding. In his acceptance speech, Radić thanked "architecture itself" and reflected on geographical and cultural influences from his biography, including the landscapes of Rapa Nui and the Atacama Desert. He concluded with a forward-looking statement about the "solid air that is still to come." Following the award, Radić delivered a conference titled "Architecture: Distraction and Knowledge" at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) on May 12. The event featured prominent architects such as Liu Jiakun, Diébédo Francis Kéré, Anne Lacaton, and Kazuyo Sejima. During the proceedings, Kéré emphasized the social impact of architecture, while university officials highlighted Radić's significance to Latin American architectural identity. The event served as a major gathering for international architectural discourse, celebrating Radić's contribution to contemporary cultural thought.