This year’s Kennedy Center Honors ceremony will be held at Washington’s Capital One Arena rather than at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, according to a statement from the Kennedy Center on Friday. The event is scheduled for December 7, though further details have not yet been disclosed.

The decision comes amid ongoing controversy and legal disputes surrounding efforts to rename the Kennedy Center after former President Donald Trump. Last month, the center’s board voted to close the performing arts venue located on the Potomac River waterfront, following a federal judge’s ruling that barred the institution from restoring Trump’s name to the building.

Trump had publicly linked the planned renovations to restoring his name, stating on social media that the center required safety repairs but that those repairs would proceed only if the board was allowed to move ahead with plans to add his name to the facility. However, a federal judge has twice ruled that any such renaming cannot occur without congressional approval. Congress has previously allocated $257 million for repairs but has maintained the center’s status as a memorial dedicated solely to John F. Kennedy.

The legal challenge stems from legislation enacted in 1964, which established the Kennedy Center as a living memorial to the late president. The law explicitly prohibits the board of trustees from converting the memorial to honor any other individual or from placing another person’s name on the building’s exterior.

The controversy began after Trump hosted the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, which recognized figures such as Sylvester Stallone and George Strait. At that time, he announced plans to rename the facility the “Trump Kennedy Center,” and the board of trustees—many appointed during his administration—unanimously approved adding his name to the building. This move has faced immediate opposition and has been challenged in court.

The Kennedy Center Honors, established in 1978, annually recognize individuals for their lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts. The 2026 honorees have not yet been announced, according to a spokesperson for the center.