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Home » Recent News » Washington National Opera Leaves Kennedy Center


Washington National Opera Leaves Kennedy Center

January 9, 2026

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In a significant shift for the D.C. arts landscape, the Washington National Opera (WNO) has voted to end its affiliation with the Kennedy Center. Transitioning back to a fully independent nonprofit, the company is departing the venue it has called home since 1971. The decision follows prolonged organizational friction and a new business model at the center—now rebranded as the Trump Kennedy Center—that WNO leadership deemed incompatible with the unique financial and logistical demands of grand opera.

To ensure fiscal prudence during this transition, the WNO has announced it will reduce its spring season and relocate performances. Key productions previously scheduled for the Opera House are on the move: Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha and Robert Ward’s The Crucible will now be held at alternative venues, including George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium.

The labor community is watching closely to ensure that this restructuring does not undermine the stability of the performers. While this marks a new chapter for the WNO, the AFM remains steadfast in ensuring that administrative independence never compromises worker protections or contractual integrity. AFM International President Tino Gagliardi made it clear that the union will ensure the orchestra remains protected during this overhaul.

“As the WNO Board has voted to end its affiliation with the Kennedy Center, my focus is on supporting the Washington National Opera Orchestra,” Gagliardi states. “I fully expect the WNO to honor its contract with these world-class musicians without disruption. The American Federation of Musicians stands with our members to ensure their livelihood and their art are protected.”






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