Kennedy Center Honors to take place at Capital One Arena

The 2023 Kennedy Center Honors will be held at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C., as opposed to the Kennedy Center itself, announced a spokesperson for the organization on Friday. This decision comes amid the Kennedy Center's main building being under closure for safety assessments, ordered by the Trump administration, alongside ongoing legal and political disputes surrounding the center.

Congress had allocated more than $250 million for renovations to the facility last year. President Trump has pledged a substantial renovation project, aiming for a timeline of about two years, and he remains interested in having his name incorporated into the building's exterior and an outdoor plaza. The president and the Kennedy Center board, with appointees selected by Mr. Trump, indicated that the extensive renovation might not proceed if the courts do not permit his name to be included.

This year's Kennedy Center Honors are scheduled for December 7. The annual gala honors individuals who have made significant contributions to American culture through performing arts. Capital One Arena serves as the home for the Washington Capitals hockey team and the Washington Wizards NBA basketball team. CBS has been broadcasting the Kennedy Center Honors annually from 1978 to 2025.

The contract for that partnership is set to expire after the 2025 program, according to a source familiar with the agreement. The Kennedy Center is anticipated to reveal its broadcast partner for the 2026 program later this fall, as confirmed by a Kennedy Center spokesperson. The honorees for the 2025 event include actor Sylvester Stallone and country music artist George Strait.