This year’s Kennedy Center Honors will be held at downtown Washington’s Capital One Arena rather than the traditional Kennedy Center venue, an institution spokesperson confirmed on Friday. The prestigious annual gala performance, which honors lifetime achievements in American performing arts, is scheduled for December 7. Capital One Arena typically serves as home to the NBA’s Washington Wizards and the NHL’s Washington Capitals. The relocation stems from the ongoing closure of the Kennedy Center’s main building, which the Trump administration attributes to safety assessments amid ongoing legal and political disputes. Last year, Congress allocated upwards of $250 million for facility renovations. President Trump has proposed a comprehensive two-year overhaul of the property, conditioning the extensive project on receiving approval to add his name to the building’s facade and an outdoor plaza. Both the president and the Kennedy Center board, featuring Trump-appointed members, indicated that the renovation plans could stall if court rulings prevent the branding additions. Meanwhile, the future television broadcast of the event remains uncertain. CBS broadcast the gala annually from 1978 through 2025, but that partnership contract concluded after the 2025 program. The Kennedy Center anticipates announcing its broadcast partner for the upcoming 2026 ceremony later in the fall. The 2025 class of honorees featured notable figures such as country music star George Strait and actor Sylvester Stallone.
Source: cbsnews.com
