The Kennedy Center Honors are the Capital One Arena Honors this year
The prestigious event will happen off-site for the first time in its history.
This year, the Kennedy Center Honors will be held at the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, DC, marking a departure from the traditional site at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. The ceremony is scheduled for December 7, with the broadcast network yet to be revealed by the center. The shift in location stems from a contentious dispute surrounding the center, which began when Donald Trump threatened to destroy the building unless his name was engraved on its exterior.
After a legal battle, Trump's name was added to the building in December 2025, but the dispute continued, leading to the closure of the main building due to alleged structural damage and safety concerns. The 2025 event, hosted by Trump, featured the likes of George Strait, KISS, Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor, and Sylvester Stallone being recognized for their lifetime contributions to the arts.
The ratings for this year's broadcast are anticipated to be lower than the previous year's event, according to TheWrap. Notably, Tom Cruise, who opted out last year due to scheduling conflicts, may be invited back for this year's ceremony.
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