Kennedy Center on the Brink of Bankruptcy: Could Close as Early as Tuesday, Washington Post Reports

WASHINGTON, September 13, 2026 – Leaders of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington say the institution is on the brink of bankruptcy and could close as early as Tuesday, September 15. The news was reported on Sunday by the Washington Post, based on documents obtained by the newspaper itself.

According to the documents, the leaders – appointed by President Donald Trump – argue that placing the president’s name on the building’s facade may be the only way to avoid what they describe as a “certain fiscal collapse.”

The Kennedy Center is the national cultural center of the United States and a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. President Trump has been actively involved in changes to the institution’s leadership since his return to the White House, turning its management into a highly politically charged issue.

Reuters, which relayed the news, notes that it has not independently verified the Washington Post’s reporting.

Source: Reuters