Kennedy Center Honors: Five Names, One New Venue
The ceremony moves to Capital One Arena as legal disputes over the building’s renovation and naming continue.
By Andrew Yang ·
The Kennedy Center Honors will take place away from its historic home for the first time, a logistical shift driven by an ongoing legal fight between the White House and federal courts. On Monday, the institution announced that Paul Anka, David Foster, Andy Garcia, David Mamet, and Barbara Mandrell will receive the award. The event is scheduled for December 7 at Washington’s Capital One Arena, marking a break from the tradition of holding the ceremony inside the performing arts center.
The decision follows months of legal uncertainty regarding the building’s future. President Donald Trump has sought to add his name to the Kennedy Center as part of a renovation plan. This proposal has triggered a court battle that has forced the venue to close its stages to performances for an extended period. The relocation of the awards show ensures the ceremony proceeds despite the operational freeze at the main site.
The 2026 honorees represent a mix of musical and theatrical veterans with distinct political alignments. David Mamet, known for plays like “Glengarry Glen Ross” and “American Buffalo,” recently told Fox News that he was once a “brain-dead liberal” who “discovered my conservative beliefs.” Paul Anka, the songwriter behind “My Way,” is a longtime friend of Trump and has previously rewritten the song with lyrics aligned with MAGA themes.
The other recipients have also maintained close ties to the current administration or conservative circles. David Foster, a producer who has worked with Natalie Cole and Chicago, has performed for Trump in the past. Andy Garcia, recognized for roles in “The Godfather Part III” and “The Untouchables,” joins Barbara Mandrell, a Country Music Hall of Fame inductee whose hits include “Years.”
Since its inception in 1978, the Kennedy Center Honors has typically recognized artists across the political spectrum. Previous ceremonies saw Republicans awarding liberal icons like Barbra Streisand and Warren Beatty, while Democrats honored conservative figure Charlton Heston. During his first term, Trump skipped the event entirely, but his return to office has increased his direct influence over the institution.
Trump’s administration replaced the center’s board of directors with loyalists who named him chairman. He personally selected last year’s honorees and hosted that ceremony. As the legal dispute over the building’s naming continues, the center remains closed to regular performances. Trump issued a statement expressing pride in the new class of honorees and the continuation of the tradition that has defined the center for nearly 50 years.
The shift to Capital One Arena is the latest operational adjustment in a year marked by governance changes and litigation. The five artists will accept their honors in a temporary venue while the permanent home of the institution remains the subject of legal and political debate.
