Paul Anka, David Foster, Andy Garcia, David Mamet, and Barbara Mandrell have been named as the 2026 Kennedy Center Honorees. The 49th annual lifetime achievement celebration is scheduled for December 7 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., marking an off-site move amid ongoing legal battles over the center’s closure and leadership.
Paul Anka, David Foster, and Three More Artists Named 2026 Honorees
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Board of Trustees and President Donald J. Trump named the lifetime achievement Honorees who will be recognized for the 49th Kennedy Center Honors. The newly unveiled class spans multiple disciplines, bringing together singer and songwriter Paul Anka, composer David Foster, actor Andy Garcia, playwright and director David Mamet, and musician Barbara Mandrell.
Embroiled Kennedy Center will honor Paul Anka, David Foster and Andy Garcia https://t.co/VZrcm9pubA
The recipients were chosen following recommendations from the Kennedy Center’s Special Honors Advisory Committee, which includes former honorees, distinguished artists, and trustees under the leadership of Chairman President Donald J. Trump. In a statement, Trump praised the contributions of the incoming class.
We are recognizing amazing artists whose lifelong work has shaped American culture and inspired generations of audiences. We are proud to honor this year’s class and to continue a tradition that has defined the Center for nearly 50 years.
Several of this year’s honorees share documented connections to Trump. Anka has maintained a longtime friendship with Trump and recorded a custom version of My Way
posted to Truth Social in 2025. Mamet previously told The Guardian that Trump did a great job as a president
during his first term. Foster performed at a Mar-a-Lago fundraising gala in 2017. Meanwhile, Garcia and Mandrell have not publicly disclosed whether they support Trump.
Paul Anka’s career spans nearly seven decades, beginning when he achieved stardom at age 15 with the chart-topping single Diana. Throughout his career in music, he has created hit songs for a diverse array of prominent artists. Among the acts who have recorded his compositions are Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Andrea Bocelli, Chicago, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, Toni Braxton, Natalie Cole, Michael Bolton, Seal, Chaka Khan, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Hall & Oates, Brandy, ‘N Sync, Boz Scaggs, and Gloria Estefan. He also penned the English-language lyrics for Frank Sinatra’s signature rendition of My Way.
Andy Garcia received recognition for his career spanning film and television work as an actor. His performance in The Godfather: Part III garnered him Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. He earned an Emmy nomination and a second Golden Globe nod for portraying the legendary Cuban trumpeter Arturo Sandoval in the HBO production For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story, on which he also served as an executive producer. More recently, Garcia premiered his film Diamond at the Cannes Film Festival.
David Mamet’s theatrical portfolio includes plays such as American Buffalo and Glengarry Glen Ross. In addition to his stage work, he penned the screenplays for major motion pictures.
Barbara Mandrell’s career in country music earned her historic milestones. In 2009, she became the only woman ever inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame, alongside her induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Capital One Arena Hosts the December 7 Ceremony
For the first time, the honors gala will take place away from the institution’s permanent home. Organizers have scheduled the event for December 7 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Rather than taking place at the Kennedy Center, the gathering is scheduled to unfold at the Capital One Arena located in Washington.
The off-site venue change stems from the closure of the Kennedy Center’s main building. In February 2026, Trump announced a two-year closure for renovations, followed by a board vote the following month. The closure and subsequent overhaul have sparked controversy, protests, and federal court battles.
Federal judge Christopher Cooper previously issued an injunction blocking the board’s closure attempt. Despite the legal pushback, the board voted on September 15 to close the venue, and the building has since been blocked off. Court filings indicate that venue officials recommended the shutdown to stem the lack of revenue from plummeting ticket sales.
Disputes Over Building Control and Federal Funding
The administrative overhaul at the cultural institution followed Trump taking over as chair of the board, which voted to rename the institution the Trump-Kennedy Center. Judge Cooper subsequently ruled that only Congress possesses the authority to alter the building’s official name.
In response to the naming dispute, Trump warned that unless his name is added to the building, he will block the $257 million allocated by Congress for venue renovations and threatened to demolish the structure entirely. Following reports that Trump was spotted inspecting a placard reading Kennedy Center Demolished,
Judge Cooper ruled that leadership must provide 30 days of advance notice before executing any structural changes or demolition.
As the legal fallout continues, questions remain surrounding the broadcast and hosting duties for the December gala. Trump hosted the December 2025 ceremony, marking the first time a president emceed the event. That broadcast, aired on CBS and Paramount+, experienced a decline in viewership, leaving organizers to decide whether a different host will step in for the 49th installment.