Pritzker Prize announcement postponed over Epstein Files

Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, the recently arrested Prince Andrew, as well as Woody Allen and left-wing linguistics icon Noam Chomsky: the new tranche of the Epstein Files, released on January 30, 2026, has shaken the worlds of politics, cinema, and the arts — including architecture. Because of revelations in the Files concerning Tom Pritzker, president of the Hyatt Foundation — the body that oversees the Pritzker Architecture Prize — the announcement of the world’s most prestigious architecture award has been postponed to a date yet to be determined.

The term “Epstein Files” refers to the body of documents that emerged from investigations and court proceedings linked to Jeffrey Epstein, the American financier arrested in 2019 on charges of sex trafficking of minors. These materials include court records, testimonies, flight logs, address books, emails, and evidentiary documents reconstructing the network of relationships and the system of abuse attributed to him. Their public significance stems largely from the presence of influential figures — across politics, finance, and entertainment — whose appearance in the documents does not automatically imply criminal involvement, but raises questions about the power structures that allowed Epstein to operate for years. The relationship between Pritzker and Epstein did not first emerge with this latest wave of documents: their contacts had already been reported in earlier journalistic investigations. However, the new files have shed light on the extent and duration of their communications.

The prize has stated that the jury’s selection process remains independent from the Pritzker family but — as reported by the New York Times — the announcement of the 2026 winner, usually expected in early March, will be postponed by several weeks. Meanwhile, Tom Pritzker has announced his resignation as executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels, the family’s hospitality group. In a statement, he said the decision was made “in the best interest of the company,” reiterating that his relationship with Epstein was limited to professional matters.