Kennedy Center Honors Move to Capital One Arena Amid Trump Name Controversy

Kennedy Center Honors to be held at Capital One Arena as legal battle over adding Trump's name continues. Details on the event and ongoing dispute.

Editorial Desk

October 2, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Washington, United States — This year’s Kennedy Center Honors will be held at Washington’s Capital One Arena instead of the iconic performing arts venue that has been at the center of a legal dispute over adding President Donald Trump’s name to the building.

The 49th annual awards are set to take place at the downtown arena, according to a Kennedy Center spokesperson. The decision comes after a federal judge blocked the institution from returning Trump’s name to the facility. The center’s board voted last month to close the venue along the Potomac River waterfront following the court ruling.

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The event, which honors lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts, was established in 1978. The 2026 honorees will be announced later, with the ceremony scheduled for December 7. The move to Capital One Arena marks a significant shift for the ceremony, which has traditionally taken place at the Kennedy Center.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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