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Kennedy Center names 2026 honorees including David Mamet and Paul Anka

Variety reports that Paul Anka, David Foster, Andy Garcia, David Mamet and Barbara Mandrell will be honored Dec. 7 at Capital One Arena, with no host or broadcast partner yet announced.

Published Nov 2, 2026 · 21:46 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • The Kennedy Center and President Donald Trump announced five 2026 honorees, including David Mamet and Andy Garcia.[Variety]
  • The 49th Kennedy Center Honors are set for Dec. 7 at Capital One Arena, the first time the event will be held there.[Variety]
  • The center's board voted to close the building, citing structural deterioration, after a judge blocked an attempt to restore Trump's name to it.[Variety]
  • CBS aired the event every year since 1978, but its broadcast rights expired in 2025, and no host or broadcast partner has been announced for this year's ceremony.[Variety]

Key facts

  • The 2026 Kennedy Center honorees are Paul Anka, David Foster, Andy Garcia, David Mamet and Barbara Mandrell.[Variety]
  • The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and President Donald Trump announced the 2026 honorees.[Variety]
  • The 49th Kennedy Center Honors are set for Dec. 7 at Capital One Arena, the first time the event will be held there.[Variety]
  • The board voted to close the Kennedy Center, citing structural deterioration, after a judge blocked another attempt to put the President's name on the building.[Variety]
  • CBS aired the Kennedy Center Honors every year since its inception in 1978, but its broadcast rights expired in 2025.[Variety]
  • No host or broadcast partner has been announced for this year's ceremony.[Variety]

What remains uncertain

  • The board's stated reason for closing the building, structural deterioration, rests on a single outlet's account and has not been independently confirmed.[Variety]
  • The broadcast arrangement for the ceremony is unresolved because no host or broadcast partner has been announced.[Variety]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.