Brief
Kennedy Center Honors to be held at Capital One Arena after venue dispute
The annual awards shift to a downtown arena amid a legal fight over renaming the historic center.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The Kennedy Center announced that the 49th annual Honors will be staged at Washington's Capital One Arena, not the riverfront building that has been the focus of a legal battle over adding President Donald Trump’s name, the centre said on Friday.
The board voted last month to close the iconic performing‑arts venue after a federal judge blocked the plan to rename it. Trump has claimed the centre needs safety repairs, but a judge said any name change requires congressional approval, and Congress has earmarked $257 million for repairs.
The 2025 ceremony was hosted by Trump, who said he would rename the facility the “Trump Kennedy Center” and the board of trustees, appointed by him, voted unanimously for the change, a move that has been challenged in court.
Key facts
- The 49th Kennedy Center Honors will be held at Capital One Arena. (independent.co.uk)
- A federal judge blocked adding Donald Trump's name to the Kennedy Center building. (independent.co.uk)
- Congress has allocated $257 million for repairs to the Kennedy Center. (independent.co.uk)
- President Trump said the centre needed safety repairs that would only proceed if his name could be added. (independent.co.uk)
- The board of trustees, named by Trump, voted unanimously to rename the venue. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Kennedy Center Honors to be held at Capital One Arena amid fight over adding Trump's name”
