After Donald Trump added his name to the Kennedy Center, more acts have joined a string of cancellations of upcoming performances at the venue. 

Trump’s name was added to the building’s facade on December 19 after the White House announced that the Kennedy Center board of trustees had decided to rename the venue. The renaming has drawn criticism from scholars and government leaders, who are questioning the action’s legality.  

Stephen Schwartz, the composer of the musical "Wicked," has said he will not appear at the Kennedy Center at a gala in May in honor of the Washington National Opera.

"The Kennedy Center was founded to be an apolitical home for free artistic expression for artists of all nationalities and ideologies," Schwartz said.

"It is no longer apolitical, and appearing there has now become an ideological statement. As long as that remains the case, I will not appear there."

Washington National Opera's artistic director, Francesca Zambello, confirmed that she invited Schwartz to host the event, and according to CNN, he had been listed on the Kennedy Center's website, but this was removed from the website on Friday afternoon.

But Richard Grenell, the center's president, wrote on X that Schwartz had never been signed to attend. "Shame on the woke high school reporters repeating it," he wrote. "He was never signed and I’ve never had a single conversation on him since arriving."

The Cookers, a veteran jazz septet, canceled two New Year’s Eve performances at the center, announcing in a statement that “Jazz was born from struggle and from a relentless insistence on freedom: freedom of thought, of expression, and of the full human voice. Some of us have been making this music for many decades, and that history still shapes us.”

“We are not turning away from our audience, and do want to make sure that when we do return to the bandstand, the room is able to celebrate the full presence of the music and everyone in it,” they added. “Our hope is that this moment will leave space for reflection, not resentment.”

The group’s drummer, Billy Hart, told the New York Times that Trump’s name change “evidently” influenced the Cookers’ decision. 

Additionally, the New York-based Doug Varone and Dancers canceled two of its performances scheduled in April, which were to coincide with the dance company’s 40th anniversary. 

Varone, who told NYT that they were losing $40,000 by dropping out, explained that the decision “is financially devastating but morally exhilarating.”

“I won’t lie to you, canceling shows hurts,” shared folk singer Kristy Lee, who similarly withdrew her free January 14 concert. “This is how I keep the lights on. But losing my integrity would cost me more than any paycheck.”

These cancellations also come as Chuck Redd called off his annual Christmas Eve performance in a move that has the Center's president Richard Grenell seeking $1 million in damages. 

“The artists who are now canceling shows were booked by the previous far left leadership,” Grenell wrote on X. “Their actions prove that the previous team was more concerned about booking far left political activists rather than artists willing to perform for everyone regardless of their political beliefs. Boycotting the Arts to show you support the Arts is a form of derangement syndrome. The arts are for everyone and the left is mad about it.”

“Doug Varone and Dancers has been overwhelmed with an outpouring of support for our decision to cancel our upcoming performances at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on April 24 and 25, 2026,” Varone shared on Facebook. “Many people have asked how they can donate to the company to help offset our financial loss. While we do have a donation page on our website, we've decided to launch a GoFundMe to make it easier to help keep us dancing. Thank you for your belief in the arts and doing the right!”