Kennedy Center Ticket Sales Plunge Nearly 50% Since Trump Leadership Change

Since President Donald Trump took control of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in early 2025, ticket sales have drastically declined to their lowest levels since the pandemic. Data shows that from September to mid-October 2025, only about 57% of tickets were sold, compared to 93% during the same period in 2024, with tens of thousands of seats going unsold across the three largest venues. Revenue from ticket sales also fell by more than half, marking the sharpest downturn since 2018 aside from pandemic closures. The decline follows Trump's appointment of Richard Grenell to lead the center, the firing of longtime staffers, and a shift toward free Christian programming, which has alienated some artists and audiences. The Kennedy Center's brand has become polarized, with some performers and patrons choosing to avoid the venue due to its new leadership and political climate. Experts warn that the drop in ticket sales will not only reduce immediate revenue but also harm future fundraising efforts for the institution.