RismadarVoice Reporters
September 14, 2026
The John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, is facing a worsening financial crisis that could force the closure of its main building as early as Tuesday, The Washington Post has reported.
According to the newspaper, the centre’s board of trustees is recommending that the main facility be closed immediately because of the rising cost of operating and maintaining the building.
The trustees are expected to consider the recommendation at a special meeting on Tuesday, alongside a 57-page report detailing the institution’s financial difficulties and the need for major renovations.
The report reportedly warned that the Kennedy Centre could soon be unable to meet its payroll and maintenance obligations.
The board, chaired by President Donald Trump, has argued that adding his name to the centre’s facade could help attract the funding needed to prevent a potential financial collapse.
The development follows months of controversy surrounding Trump’s control of the institution.
Trump made himself chairman shortly after returning to the White House for a second term and later installed a board that voted to rename the venue the “Trump-Kennedy Centre”. The renaming has since faced legal opposition and was blocked by a court.
Several prominent artists have cancelled performances at the centre following Trump’s takeover, while reports indicate that ticket sales have dropped to their lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Washington Post reported that the centre had budgeted for about $220 million in revenue but was expected to generate only around $124 million during the last fiscal year. Even after significant spending reductions, the institution was projected to record a deficit of roughly $23 million.
A Kennedy Centre spokesperson attributed the financial problems to alleged mismanagement under previous leadership, while maintaining that Trump’s involvement had helped attract new donors.
The institution, named after former US President John F. Kennedy, is one of the country’s most prominent venues for the performing arts.
