New report links declining attendance and revenue to leadership shake-ups, programming changes, and artist withdrawals.
A new Washington Post investigation reveals that the Kennedy Center is facing a steep collapse in attendance and revenue since President Donald Trump appointed Richard Grenell to lead the institution earlier this year.
According to the report, ticket sales have fallen by 40%, with revenue dropping by 50%, marking one of the sharpest declines the venue has seen outside of the pandemic shutdown.
Between September and mid-October 2025, the Kennedy Center sold only 57% of available tickets — a dramatic decrease from 93% sold during the same period in 2024. Of the 143,000 potential seats, 53,000 remained empty, and insiders note that a portion of the “sold” seats were likely complimentary tickets.
The Post found that spending on tickets during this period was less than half of last year’s levels and lower than any year since 2018, except 2020 when the pandemic halted operations.
Following Trump’s election, major structural changes were made: longtime staff were dismissed, Grenell was installed as president, and programming shifted heavily toward free Christian-themed events.
At least 20 shows were canceled outright, and the venue saw high-profile resignations, including advisory board member and musician Ben Folds. Numerous artists have declined invitations to perform, citing dissatisfaction or discomfort with the new leadership direction.
Former Kennedy Center president Michael Kaiser warned that the plunge in ticket sales has long-term consequences: “Depressed ticket sales not only cause a shortfall in revenue; they also bode unfavorably for future fundraising.
The vast majority of donors are ticket buyers who enhance their relationship with the organization by contributing beyond the cost of their tickets.”
In a pointed cultural critique, the report closes by referencing Trump’s well-known love for Les Misérables, framing the crisis in theatrical terms: the desire to be “Master of the House” has collided with public disapproval.
With approval numbers slipping since April, observers suggest that if the current trajectory continues toward “building the barricade,” the outcome could be politically and culturally damaging for the former president.
