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American College Theatre Festival Suspends Kennedy Center Affiliation After 58 Years

ACTF cites recent Kennedy Center decisions as incompatible with its values.

Overview

  • The ACTF National Committee voted to suspend the affiliation, calling the partnership "no longer viable" in an official statement.
  • ACTF confirmed its eight regional conferences will proceed in 2026 and said the festival will continue independently.
  • Operations will transition through ACTF Management, Ltd., which has been preparing a new structure and seeking national partnerships.
  • The move follows a Trump-appointed board’s vote to rename the venue, with the website header now reading "The Trump Kennedy Center."
  • Recent leadership changes at the Center have prompted cancellations by major artists, including the Hamilton tour, and weaker ticket sales.