The annual Kennedy Center Honors will be held at a new venue this year as the institution faces closure and legal battles over its name and future.

For the first time since the awards began in 1978, the Kennedy Center Honors will be held away from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. A spokesperson for the institution confirmed that the ceremony will take place on December 7 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The move follows the abrupt closure of the Kennedy Center’s main building and ongoing legal and political conflicts regarding the facility's name and potential demolition.

Legal and Political Disputes

The future of the Kennedy Center remains uncertain as the Trump administration seeks to rename the facility and has threatened its demolition. While the center's board, appointed by the president, previously voted to add his name to the institution, a federal judge ruled in May that the venue must honor President Kennedy alone. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper recently ordered the administration to provide at least 30 days' notice before taking any action toward tearing down the building.

Facility Status and Broadcast Changes

The Kennedy Center is currently closed for what the administration describes as safety assessments, following a period of declining ticket sales. Although Congress appropriated over $250 million for renovations last year, the president has indicated that these projects may not proceed unless courts allow his name to be added to the facade and an outdoor plaza. Additionally, the long-standing broadcast partnership between the Kennedy Center and CBS, which spanned from 1978 to 2025, has concluded, with a new partner expected to be announced later this fall.