Overview
- From Sept. 3 to Oct. 19, roughly 43% of seats in the Opera House, Concert Hall and Eisenhower Theater went unsold, with some of the 57% counted as sold likely distributed as complimentary tickets.
- Consumer transaction data show spending on Kennedy Center tickets fell by more than half versus 2024 for September and early October, marking the sharpest downturn since 2018 outside the 2020 shutdown.
- Leadership installed after President Trump’s takeover defends the programming shift, with Richard Grenell saying audiences want “common-sense” shows, while the Center declined substantive on‑the‑record comment to multiple outlets.
- Grenell separately claimed on social media a “record‑breaking” $58 million raised in the past 30 days and a balanced budget, assertions that followed reports of empty seats and reduced sales.
- Artist and patron backlash has included cancellations such as the Hamilton tour, venue downsizing for productions, staff exits, and increased free or faith‑oriented events, with former president Michael Kaiser warning that depressed sales foreshadow weaker fundraising; subscriptions were reportedly down 36% by early summer.