Kennedy Center names five 2026 honorees for arena ceremony

The Kennedy Center has named Paul Anka, David Foster, Andy Garcia, David Mamet and Barbara Mandrell as recipients of its 2026 Kennedy Center Honors, with the ceremony scheduled for December 7 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The event will be held outside the Kennedy Center for the first time since the honors began in 1978. The center said the arena would host the celebration, which traditionally takes place at its opera house. The change comes as the performing arts institution faces renovations and legal proceedings over its future. The five honorees represent music, film and theater. Anka is a singer and songwriter; Foster is a composer and music producer; Garcia is an actor; Mamet is a playwright and screenwriter; and Mandrell is a country music performer. The Kennedy Center’s Special Honors Advisory Committee selected the recipients, according to the center. The center’s announcement described the honors as recognition of artists whose work has shaped American culture. Mandrell said publicly that receiving the honor was among the greatest honors of her life and that she was humbled by the recognition. The move to Capital One Arena follows plans for a major...