Changes and Challenges at the Kennedy Center

Richard Grenell attended the opening night of Les Misérables at The Kennedy Center on June 11, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

Since 1978, the Kennedy Center Honors has been an important event on D.C.’s social calendar. Attendees of the annual December gala have included notable figures like Fred Astaire, Ella Fitzgerald, and Queen Latifah. High-level donors often have priority for tickets, which are typically made available in early summer.

This year’s Kennedy Center Honors will take place on December 7 at Washington’s Capital One Arena. The event will feature honorees such as songwriter Paul Anka, music producer David Foster, actor Andy Garcia, playwright David Mamet, and country singer Barbara Mandrell. As of November 11, ticket purchase information remains uncertain, with only a submission form available for inquiries. The delay in ticket sales is attributed to a shift in ticketing platforms, a decision made by the center according to current and former staff who requested anonymity.

The Kennedy Center traditionally used a not-for-profit platform, Tessitura, for ticketing. The center plans to switch to Ticketmaster, a change made while Richard Grenell was president of the Kennedy Center. Concurrently, Grenell was a board member at Live Nation, Ticketmaster’s parent company. This raised ethical concerns, as Grenell earned significantly more from Live Nation than from the Kennedy Center, where his most recent tax filings indicated zero pay.

Richard Briffault, a government ethics professor at Columbia Law School, notes how Grenell’s dual roles pose conflict of interest problems. Despite this, the Kennedy Center has defended its decision, citing evaluations of Ticketmaster that began in the spring of 2024.

Internally, the change has been contentious. Some Kennedy Center staff argue Ticketmaster was not seriously considered in 2024. Ticketmaster has not commented on these claims. Steve Jacobson, from JCA consulting, explains the implications of using different ticketing systems. He highlights that while Ticketmaster suits high-volume events, Tessitura offers comprehensive solutions for nonprofits, integrating ticket sales, fundraising, and membership management.

Leadership changes at the Kennedy Center further impact operations. Matt Floca, with limited experience in arts administration, replaced Grenell in March. Rick Canny, appointed as the new artistic director, has been steering artistic and operational strategies, including the ticketing shift. According to internal communications, Canny influenced negotiations with Ticketmaster, even though president-level decisions were traditionally involved.

Canny’s emails indicated challenges with unionized box office staff, who were laid off after the main building closed for renovations led by Trump. The transition to Ticketmaster is also complicated by Ticketmaster’s notorious reputation. They face criticism for high fees and dominant market control, issues heightened by a federal lawsuit settled for $280 million, which claimed monopolistic practices harmful to consumers.