Kennedy Center Honors to Move Off-Site for First Time in History

Kennedy Center Honors to move to Capital One Arena for first time in history. Details on venue change and renovation delays.

Editorial Desk

October 2, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — The Kennedy Center Honors will be held at a new location for the first time in its nearly 50-year history, as the main venue undergoes extensive safety assessments and renovations.

The annual celebration of American performing arts, traditionally hosted in the Kennedy Center’s Opera House, will now take place at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C., which can accommodate around 20,000 guests. This marks a significant shift from the usual 2,300-seat venue.

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The ceremony is scheduled for December 7, though the honorees have yet to be announced. The Kennedy Center has been closed since September 15 due to a partial ceiling collapse in the Grand Foyer, prompting ongoing safety evaluations. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has repeatedly opposed the renovation plans unless his name is added to the building, a proposal that has faced legal challenges.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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