Kennedy Center Closed After Board Vote Amid Legal Dispute

The Kennedy Center's main building was closed to the public and surrounded by fencing on Wednesday, September 17, 2026, following a vote by its board of trustees to indefinitely shut down the performing arts complex. The board, which includes several allies of President Donald Trump, cited safety concerns and a recent ceiling collapse as reasons for the closure. The closure came a day after U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper blocked the board's latest attempt to add Trump's name to the building's facade or grounds. The judge ruled on Tuesday, September 16, that such changes require congressional approval, a decision that has been contested by the board. Attorneys for Representative Joyce Beatty, an ex officio board member who has challenged the closure, filed a motion for an emergency court hearing. They argue that the shutdown violates Judge Cooper's prior order, which prohibited a closure until he lifted a preliminary injunction. The judge has given the Kennedy Center until Thursday morning to respond to the motion.