# Kennedy Center Sets 2026 Honorees: David Mamet, Paul Anka, Andy Garcia and More

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/kennedy-center-sets-2026-honorees-david-mamet-paul-anka-andy-garcia-and-more/
- Published: 2026-11-02T19:15:51+00:00
- Original publisher: Variety
- Original article: https://variety.com/2026/music/news/kennedy-center-2026-honorees-1236937610/
- Topics: Americas, Art, Culture, Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- The honours move to Capital One Arena on 7 December.
- Five artists from music, film and theatre will be recognised.
- The host and broadcast partner have not been announced.

## Summary

New details confirm the 49th Kennedy Center Honors will take place at Capital One Arena on 7 December, the first time the ceremony has used that venue. Paul Anka, David Foster, Andy Garcia, David Mamet and Barbara Mandrell will be honoured for work across music, film and theatre, amid continuing political disputes over the Kennedy Center.

The honorees were announced later than usual, and organisers have yet to name a host or broadcast partner. CBS aired the event from its launch in 1978, but its rights expired in 2025; that year’s gala, hosted by Donald Trump, had a steep drop in viewership. The honorees include 16-time Grammy-winning composer Foster, Oscar-nominated actor Garcia and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Mamet.

## Coverage

- [Variety: Kennedy Center Sets 2026 Honorees: David Mamet, Paul Anka, Andy Garcia and More](https://variety.com/2026/music/news/kennedy-center-2026-honorees-1236937610/)
- [Rolling Stone: Andy Garcia, David Foster, Paul Anka Lead Kennedy Center Honors](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/andy-garcia-david-foster-paul-anka-kennedy-center-honors-1235651317/)
- [Billboard: Paul Anka, David Foster & Barbara Mandrell Are Among 2026 Kennedy Center Honorees: Complete List](https://www.billboard.com/lists/2026-kennedy-center-honorees-list/)
- [Stereogum: Kennedy Center 2026 Honorees Include Paul Anka, Barbara Mandrell, David Foster](https://stereogum.com/2516347/kennedy-center-2026-honorees-include-paul-anka-barbara-mandrell-david-foster/news/)
- [Consequence: David Mamet, Andy Garcia, Paul Anka Consent to Receive 2026 Kennedy Center Honors](https://consequence.net/2026/11/2026-kennedy-center-honors-david-mamet-andy-garcia/)
- [Deadline: Kennedy Center Honorees Class Of 2026: Paul Anka, David Foster, Andy Garcia, David Mamet & Barbara Mandrell](https://deadline.com/2026/11/kennedy-center-honorees-2026-recipients-1237211423/)
- [The Hill: Kennedy Center to recognize Paul Anka, Andy Garcia, Barbara Mandrell at off-site Honors ceremony](https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/6189586-kennedy-center-honorees-paul-anka-andy-garcia-barbara-mandrell-david-mamet/)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.