Donald J. Trump announced plans to close the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for two years beginning in July 2026. The closing will allow for extensive renovations on the venue.

The announcement comes in the wake of several cancellations from high-profile artists, including Stephen Schwartz, Béla Fleck, and Philip Glass, who have voiced differences with the administration's political values. In addition, the Washington National Opera announced its departure from the Center after more than fifty years in residence at the venue.

"I have determined that the fastest way to bring The Trump Kennedy Center to the highest level of Success, Beauty, and Grandeur, is to cease Entertainment Operations for an approximately two year period of time, with a scheduled Grand Reopening that will rival and surpass anything that has taken place with respect to such a Facility before," wrote President Trump in his social media post announcing the closing.

The announcement is a reversal of President Trump's previous statement that the Center would remain open throughout the process of the planned renovations. The many cancelled performances received no mention in Trump's most recent announcement.

“Our goal has always been to not only save and permanently preserve the Center, but to make it the finest Arts Institution in the world," said Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell in a social media post. "It desperately needs this renovation and temporarily closing the Center just makes sense–it will enable us to better invest our resources, think bigger and make the historic renovations more comprehensive."

The Center is slated to close on July 4th, 2026. This news comes shortly after Kevin Couch resigned from the role of Senior Vice President of Artistic Program at the venue, less than two weeks after his appointment.