Hamilton Cancels Kennedy Center Engagement in 2026: What Fans Need to Know

NEW YORK (AP) — The hit Broadway musical “Hamilton” has decided not to perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., next year. This decision comes in response to changes in the center’s leadership under President Donald Trump.

Producer Jeffrey Seller stated, “Our show cannot, in good conscience, be part of this new culture imposed on the Kennedy Center.”

“Hamilton,” created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, tells the story of the first U.S. treasury secretary, Alexander Hamilton, using a mix of hip-hop and traditional musical styles. The show has received numerous awards, including a Tony Award for Best New Musical, a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and a Grammy. Miranda himself was awarded a MacArthur “genius” grant for his work.

The musical previously performed at the Kennedy Center in 2018 and 2022, during both Trump and Biden’s presidencies. It was set to return from March 3 to April 26, 2026, but those plans have been canceled. Tickets had not yet gone on sale.

Seller emphasized that the move is against the recent shift in the Kennedy Center’s policies rather than a direct opposition to Trump’s administration. He expressed concern over the new partisanship affecting the national treasure that is the Kennedy Center.

Since Trump’s intervention, the Kennedy Center has faced significant changes, including turnover in key leadership positions. This is part of a broader agenda against what Trump calls “woke” culture.

Other artists have also pulled out of events at the Kennedy Center. Notable figures like actor Issa Rae, musician Rhiannon Giddens, and author Louise Penny have canceled their performances. While singer-songwriter Victoria Clark went ahead with her show in February, she made a statement by wearing a T-shirt that read “ANTI TRUMP AF.”

This is not the first time “Hamilton” has taken a political stand. In 2016, the cast made a public appeal to then-Vice President-elect Mike Pence during a curtain call, urging the Trump administration to “uphold our American values.”

The Kennedy Center is a major cultural institution that draws millions of visitors each year. It features a concert hall, opera house, theater, and even a stage for free performances, all supported by government funding and private donations.

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Donald Trump, Joe Biden, John F. Kennedy, Issa Rae, District of Columbia, General news, DC Wire, Alexander Hamilton, Michael Pence, Jeffrey Seller, U.S. news, Louise Penny, Lin Manuel Miranda, Rhiannon Giddens, Politics, Arts and

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