The number of performances in Nov/Dec 2025 is down 25% from the same periods in ‘23 and ‘24.
An analysis of programming in the “big 4” performance spaces in the Kennedy Center – Concert Hall, Opera House, Eisenhower Theater, and Terrace Theater – reveals that the number of performances in Nov/Dec ‘25 is down 25% from the same time periods in both 2023 and 2024. Specifically, in 2023, between Nov 1 and Dec 31, there were 113 programmed dates and 118 performances. In 2024, for the same dates, there were 114 programmed dates and 125 performances. In contrast, in 2025, for the same period, there were only 81 programmed dates and 88 scheduled performances.
The number of performances in the Terrace was down from 20 and 21 in ‘23 and ‘24 respectively to 14 shows scheduled in ‘25. (Events in the Terrace are typically single performances and are often booked through the Campus Rentals Office so it’s not easy to determine whether contracts were cancelled or just never booked.) Concert Hall performances were largely intact in ‘25 but a 3-performance subscription series by the NSO on 12/4-6 was postponed until March due to the FIFA Draw event. In the Eis’enhower, the Champions of Magic run was truncated from 7 to 4 performances due to the Saudi Business Forum and the Trisha Brown Dance contract for 4 performances was cancelled completely to make room for the FIFA Draw. The Opera House took the biggest hit, down 50% from 30 performances in ‘23 and ‘24 to just 15 shows in ‘25 largely because there was no major theater event such as “Frozen” in ‘23 and “& Juliet” in ‘24 booked into the Opera House over the ‘25-‘26 holiday season.
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