According to reporting from The New York Times, the Washington National Opera (WNO) has approved a resolution to end its relationship with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where it has performed for over five decades.
According to the Times’ report, the WNO’s board of trustees approved a resolution on January 9, 2026, “to seek an amicable early termination of its affiliation agreement with the Kennedy Center and resume operations as a fully independent nonprofit entity.”
The WNO, which DC Theater Arts has covered extensively, is reportedly exploring new performance venues but declined to list potential future locations.
The WNO’s departure from the Kennedy Center comes just weeks after the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees voted to rename the Center after President Donald J. Trump. The WNO’s departure is the most high-profile to date of a string of artists, including Grammy Award winner Béla Fleck and Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz, who cancelled scheduled appearances at the Center following the December 18, 2025, name change.
