The 2026 Kennedy Center Honors will be held at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C., on Dec. 7, marking the first time the event will not take place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a spokesperson for the institution confirmed Friday.
The Kennedy Center’s main building remains closed for safety assessments, according to the Trump administration, as legal and political disputes over the facility’s future continue. The relocation follows a federal judge’s ruling that blocked plans to add former President Donald Trump’s name to the building’s exterior, a decision upheld by Congress in 1964 legislation designating the center as a memorial to John F. Kennedy.
Key Details
- Event: 2026 Kennedy Center Honors (49th annual)
- Date: Dec. 7, 2026
- Venue: Capital One Arena (home of the Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards, and major concerts)
- Previous Location: John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (riverfront venue)
- Current Status: Kennedy Center building closed for safety assessments; legal challenges ongoing
A Kennedy Center spokesperson described Capital One Arena as “one of the nation’s premier live entertainment venues” in a statement announcing the move.
Background: Legal and Political Disputes
The relocation coincides with a legal battle over the Kennedy Center’s name. In 2025, the Trump administration and the Kennedy Center’s board—appointed by Trump—attempted to add his name to the building’s facade and an outdoor plaza. A federal judge ruled that this violated a 1964 law prohibiting the renaming of the facility, which Congress designated as a memorial to John F. Kennedy. The law explicitly states the board “shall not” alter the center’s designation or add another person’s name to the exterior.
The Trump administration has framed the closure as necessary for safety repairs, suggesting the renovations would proceed only if the name change were allowed. Last year, Congress appropriated over $250 million for renovations, though the scope and timeline of the work remain unresolved.
2025 Honorees and Broadcast Changes
The 2025 Kennedy Center Honors, held at the Kennedy Center, recognized actor Sylvester Stallone and country musician George Strait. CBS broadcast the event annually from 1978 to 2025, but the contract for the 2026 program has not yet been finalized. The Kennedy Center spokesperson stated that a broadcast partner for the 2026 ceremony would be announced later this fall.
Statements from Stakeholders
- Kennedy Center Spokesperson: Confirmed the Dec. 7 date and venue change, calling Capital One Arena a premier venue. No explanation for the relocation was provided.
- Federal Judge: Ruled twice that the name change requires congressional approval, which has not been granted.
- Trump Administration: Has linked the safety repairs to the name change, asserting the renovations would not proceed without it.
The Kennedy Center Honors, established in 1978, annually recognizes individuals for lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts. The 2026 honorees have not yet been announced.