National Symphony Orchestra
Music Director Gianandrea Noseda leads a season that includes world premieres, immortal masterworks and exciting new music, distinguished guest artists and conductors, and more.
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The Kennedy Center 50th Anniversary Season
For the past 50 years, we’ve carried President Kennedy’s call to action forward as the nation’s cultural center. In change and challenge, there has never been a greater need for the arts. As we look to the next 50, we’re asking: what can WE do… together?
The Wait Is Over! New Genre Seasons Available
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Fortas Chamber Music
Helmed by artistic director and pianist Joseph Kalichstein, the coming season offers a variety of ensembles of different generations that demonstrate a continuing commitment to programming the widest range of music in this genre from both the past and present.
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Washington National Opera
The captivating new season features Come Home: A Celebration of Return and Carmen, plus a world premiere commission celebrating the Kennedy Center’s 50th Anniversary.
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Ballet & Dance
Be there for perennial favorites like New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, plus exciting works from Mariinsky Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and Dorrance Dance.
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Theater
Be a part of Kennedy Center history -- join our biggest season yet! Enjoy award-winning Broadway musicals with new voices for the songs you love, exciting approaches to storytelling, and more.
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Upcoming In-Person Events
Outdoor Events Summer at the Kennedy Center
Live performance returns! Experience free live music, film screening, dance lessons, yoga sessions, arts markets, and more from our Millennium Stage, Sound Health and Dance Sanctuaries programs.
Patton Oswalt Live: Who’s Ready to Laugh?
Fri. Sep. 17, 2021 7p.m.
Patton Oswalt returns to the Kennedy Center with his new show Patton Oswalt Live: Who’s Ready to Laugh?
Hasan Minhaj: The King’s Jester
Oct. 21 - 23, 2021
The comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host makes his Kennedy Center debut.
Justin Willman: Magic for Humans in Person
Nov. 6, 2021
Prolific magician/comedian Justin Willman will “amaze, delight, and shock you in a way that’s sure to have your face sore from smiling” (Decider). As USA Today says, he’s “like a magician, but cooler.”
A limited number of VIP Meet-and-Greet tickets are available for both performances.
Get the Full Experience
Experience the 43rd Kennedy Center Honors
Celebrate honorees Dick Van Dyke, Midori, Joan Baez, Garth Brooks, and Debbie Allen.
See Exclusive Performances and Interviews
Purchased the Beyond the Broadcast experience? Log In Now to Access.
Experience the 43rd Kennedy Center Honors
Celebrate honorees Dick Van Dyke, Midori, Joan Baez, Garth Brooks, and Debbie Allen.
See Exclusive Performances and Interviews
Purchased the Beyond the Broadcast experience? Log In Now to Access.
Featured Digital Events
Performances for Young Audiences Digital Subscription
Six Events Available to Watch Now Through June 27
We’re bringing the fun, whimsy, and adventure of our Young Audiences season directly to you! This subscription gives you EXCLUSIVE access to digital performances of theater, dance, music, and more—featuring a cast of unforgettable characters and talented artists found nowhere else.
An Evening of Jazz & Dance
Available Through August 1
Enjoy an extraordinary fusion of dance and jazz featuring award–winning Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet and Broadway actress Tiler Peck, visionary choreographer and founder/artistic director of LINES Ballet Alonzo King, Kennedy Center Artistic Director for Jazz Jason Moran, Grammy Award®–winning jazz artist Gregory Porter, and more.
Active Hope Podcast
Join us for Episode 4 of the Active Hope Podcast where artists and arts leaders will discuss Futurism. How can we reimagine a collective future? How does futurism intersect with art and culture? What do we know about the future for sure, and what is there for us to create, together?
Arts Across America
Our free, online performance series focuses on Cultural Leadership and public healing. This week's episode features Olympian Guor Mading Maker whose inspiring film, tells the story of perseverance and a desire to represent his people of South Sudan. Get an in-depth look into Mading’s story; running as a refugee, running in America, and running to support South Sudan.
The Kennedy Center’s Social Credo
As the Nation’s Cultural Center, the Kennedy Center’s objective is to invite art into the lives of all Americans and ensure it represents the cultural diversity of America.
Enter Our Art Competition!
As part of our If These Halls Could Talk exhibit, the Kennedy Center invites young artists ages 14-26 living in the United States to reflect on the legacy of John F. Kennedy by submitting all-original, creative portraits of our namesake. We ask artists to use one of President Kennedy’s ideals of Service, Justice, Freedom, Courage, and Gratitude as inspiration for their portrait of JFK.
Artwork will be judged by a panel of art experts from across the country looking for a high level of skill, expression of creativity, and reflection of President Kennedy’s legacy and ideals. Ten portraits will be selected by the panel and displayed in a digital gallery on this website. One of those ten artworks will be chosen by a team of Kennedy Center representatives to be displayed in the Hall of States from September 2021 through June 2022 and the selected artist will receive a $500 prize.
Enter Our Art Competition!
As part of our If These Halls Could Talk exhibit, the Kennedy Center invites young artists ages 14-26 living in the United States to reflect on the legacy of John F. Kennedy by submitting all-original, creative portraits of our namesake. We ask artists to use one of President Kennedy’s ideals of Service, Justice, Freedom, Courage, and Gratitude as inspiration for their portrait of JFK.
Artwork will be judged by a panel of art experts from across the country looking for a high level of skill, expression of creativity, and reflection of President Kennedy’s legacy and ideals. Ten portraits will be selected by the panel and displayed in a digital gallery on this website. One of those ten artworks will be chosen by a team of Kennedy Center representatives to be displayed in the Hall of States from September 2021 through June 2022 and the selected artist will receive a $500 prize.
See Our Latest Video Releases
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The Meaning of Buck Dance - Millennium Stage (September 20, 2013)
Directed by D.C. choreographer Emily Oleson, this work features Urban Artistry with Good Foot Dance Company and Baakari Wilder.
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Queen Cora’s #LifeIn5
Drummer, author, and producer Queen Cora joins #KenCenHipHop to present her #LifeIn5.
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Washington National Opera Beethoven’s Fidelio — retold as a musical graphic novel!
Experience Beethoven’s Fidelio reimagined in a musical graphic novel format, just in time for his 250th anniversary.
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Kennedy Center Education This Is Your Space
The NSO Young People's Concert takes you on a tour of the Kennedy Center with award-winning children's author Kwame Alexander and an inspiring collection of great classical works.
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Digital Stage+ Premium Content
National Symphony Orchestra
NSO Pops - American Strings
Pops Conductor Steven Reinecke leads the NSO string section in an all-American program of folk songs, fiddle tunes, novelty pieces, and film scores.
Washington National Opera
American Opera Initiative 2021 - Three 20-Minute Operas
Watch three short, original operas based on American themes and stories and using a chamber ensemble drawn from the WNO orchestra and singers from the Cafritz Young Artists.
Kennedy Center Education
Super Cello: Hero Practice
Watch NSO cellist turn into a superhero! Part of our Performances for Young Audiences series.
Kennedy Center Honors Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald (1979)
The legendary Count Basie performs a toe-tapping tribute to the great Ella Fitzgerald from the Kennedy Center Opera House stage during the 1979 Kennedy Center Honors.
Help Inspire Others
Our world may have changed, but our commitment to share the arts has not! Your gift today will provide vital support for our artistic and educational programming as we invite audiences and artists back to our stages.
Kennedy Center Education
Arts education as a mechanism for change.
At the Kennedy Center, we strive to engage and uplift all learners through quality arts education—in ways that spark curiosity, build empathy, and embolden citizen artistry.
During this unprecedented year of learning, the Kennedy Center is focusing on developing digital education resources to ensure that students continue to have access to high quality arts education.
Kennedy Center Education
Arts education as a mechanism for change.
At the Kennedy Center, we strive to engage and uplift all learners through quality arts education—in ways that spark curiosity, build empathy, and embolden citizen artistry.
During this unprecedented year of learning, the Kennedy Center is focusing on developing digital education resources to ensure that students continue to have access to high quality arts education.
As we continue to prioritize the health and well-being of our patrons, artists, volunteers, staff, and community-at-large amidst the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have canceled all previously scheduled full-capacity programs through the summer.
Explore
What’s On
Explore our rich variety of performances, events, series, and festivals.
Visit
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Digital Stage
Discover and experience world class performances curated from our vast media library.
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Education
Explore the education offerings at the Kennedy Center and find the right programs or resources.
Our Story
Learn about our history and the role the Kennedy Center plays in American arts and education.
JFK Memorial
See how the living memorial explores, challenges, and reflects the contemporary spirit of America.
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