17 publishers · first seen Mon, 02 Nov 2026 17:00 UTC · updated Wed, 04 Nov 2026 23:00 UTC
The 2026 Kennedy Center Honors will take place on December 7 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., due to renovations at the Kennedy Center. The honorees are singer-songwriter Paul Anka, composer and record producer David Foster, actor Andy Garcia, playwright and director David Mamet, and country singer Barbara Mandrell. The ceremony will be the first to be held off-site since the Kennedy Center Honors began in 1978. President Trump, who has been involved with the Kennedy Center since his return to the White House, announced the honorees. The event will be hosted by an unnamed individual, as viewership declined significantly when Trump hosted in 2025.
The honorees have varying degrees of association with President Trump. David Mamet is a vocal supporter of Trump's politics, while Paul Anka is a longtime friend of Trump. Andy Garcia and Barbara Mandrell have not publicly disclosed their political affiliations. David Foster has performed at Trump's fundraisers. The Kennedy Center has been closed for renovations amid Trump's legal battle over adding his name to the building.
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