The show must go on: Paul Anka, Andy Garcia lead Kennedy Centre Honours as Trump row forces venue change

Paul Anka (pictured) and Andy Garcia will be honoured alongside David Foster, David Mamet and Barbara Mandrell at this year’s Kennedy Centre Honours. — AFP pic

First Published: Tuesday, 03 Nov 2026 8:49 AM MYT

WASHINGTON, Nov 3 — The Kennedy Centre, the famed Washington arts hub that President Donald Trump has sought to overhaul, yesterday named singer Paul Anka and actor Andy Garcia among five honourees recognised for lifetime artist contributions.

Composer and producer David Foster, playwright David Mamet and musician Barbara Mandrell were also listed as recipients of the Kennedy Centre Honours, one of the United States’ highest arts awards.

This year’s ceremony will for the first time be hosted at Washington’s Capital One Arena rather than the Kennedy Centre, which has been shuttered since September amid a legal battle over renovations.

The Kennedy Centre — inaugurated in 1971 following the assassination of US president John F. Kennedy — is also the target of Trump’s contested effort to rename it the Trump-Kennedy Centre.

Trump hosted last year’s awards programme, which included Rocky actor Sylvester Stallone, country singer George Strait, disco legend Gloria Gaynor and rock band KISS.

The Kennedy Centre had long enjoyed bipartisan support before Trump appointed himself board chairman in February 2025, pledging to end “woke political programming” at the site.

A host of artists cancelled concerts at the venue in response to Trump’s takeover, while US media has reported that Kennedy Centre ticket sales have plummeted. — AFP