Kennedy Center Will Close for Two Years as Trump Announces Rebuilding

Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that the John F. Kennedy Center — renamed the Trump‑Kennedy Center — will suspend entertainment operations beginning July 4, 2026 for about two years for a complete rebuilding; the decision follows board changes and multiple artist cancellations.

Donald Trump announced that the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which the board has renamed to include his name, will close for roughly two years for a complete rebuilding. The president posted the announcement on Truth Social and said a one‑year review considered various options before choosing a full closure. The planned shutdown is scheduled to begin on July 4, 2026 and coincide with the nation’s 250th anniversary. The center’s recent leadership and programming changes have been widely reported and have prompted some performances to be canceled. Key points: - The Kennedy Center was renamed by its board to "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts," commonly referred to in coverage as the Trump‑Kennedy Center. - Trump said the center will close for approximately two years starting July 4, 2026 to allow a "complete rebuilding" and the creation of a new entertainment complex. - In February 2025 the previous board of trustees was dismissed, a new board appointed, and the new board elected Trump as chair. - Several artists and organizations canceled scheduled performances after the leadership changes; named examples in reporting include Philip Glass, Renée Fleming, Stephen Schwartz, Lin‑Manuel Miranda, Béla Fleck, The Cookers, and Chuck Redd, and the Washington National Opera announced it would become an independent nonprofit. - Reporting cited an analysis that ticket sales fell by roughly half after the change in governance, and senior artistic programming staff announced departures, including one resignation 12 days after appointment. Summary: The announcement ends public programming at the Kennedy Center for an anticipated two‑year construction period beginning July 4, 2026 and frames the work as a full rebuild and reimagining of the site. The closure follows governance changes, staff turnover, and several high‑profile artist cancellations; reporting also noted a significant drop in ticket sales after the change in leadership. Next steps are the planned shutdown and the start of construction as announced.