Paul Anka, Andy Garcia, David Foster, David Mamet and Barbara Mandrell will receive the 2026 Kennedy Center Honors, recognizing lifetime contributions across music, theater, film and television.

The five artists will be celebrated December 7 at a gala held at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. It will be the first time the event has taken place at that venue, with the Kennedy Center closed for potential renovations.

A federal judge ruled on September 17 that the Kennedy Center must provide his court with 30 days’ notice before moving forward with any demolition of the center.

“We are recognizing amazing artists whose lifelong work has shaped American culture and inspired generations of audiences,” President Donald Trump said in a statement. “We are proud to honor this year’s class and to continue a tradition that has defined the Center for nearly 50 years.”

A host for the ceremony has not been announced. Trump hosted last year’s event, which recognized Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor and KISS.

The television home for the 2026 gala is also unsettled. CBS’ rights deal expired last year after the December 2025 telecast drew the ceremony’s lowest viewership on record. No broadcaster has yet been named for this year’s event.

Five Careers Across Music, Film and Theater

Anka’s recording and songwriting career has lasted nearly seven decades. He reached No. 1 with “Diana” in 1957 after becoming a star at 15, then followed with songs including “Puppy Love” and “(You’re) Having My Baby.” His songwriting credits include Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” Tom Jones’ “She’s a Lady” and “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore,” the final song Buddy Holly recorded. Anka also wrote the theme for “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”

A member of both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Anka published the New York Times bestseller “My Way” in 2013. That year’s “Duets” made him the only artist to place an album on the Billboard Top 100 across seven consecutive decades. His latest album, “Inspirations of Life and Love,” arrived in 2026.

Foster enters the class with 16 Grammy Awards, including three Producer of the Year wins, as well as an Emmy, a Golden Globe and three Oscar nominations for best original song. His work has involved artists including Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Andrea Bocelli, Chicago, Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton and Gloria Estefan. He also played a role in the career launches of Celine Dion, Josh Groban and Michael Bublé.

Foster wrote the music for the “Betty Boop” musical that opened on Broadway in 2025 and is preparing for a national U.S. tour. Beyond music, he established the David Foster Foundation in 1986 to assist Canadian families with children who need life-saving organ transplants and to encourage organ-donor registration.

Garcia’s performance in “The Godfather: Part III” brought him Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for supporting actor. He later earned Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for playing Arturo Sandoval in HBO’s “For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story,” which he executive produced.

In 2026, Garcia premiered “Diamond” at the Cannes Film Festival. He wrote, directed and stars in the film with Brendan Fraser, Vicky Krieps, Dustin Hoffman, Bill Murray, Danny Huston and Rosemarie DeWitt, and co-wrote its score with Sandoval. Garcia’s upcoming films include “The Prince” and “Maserati,” while his recent television work includes Season 2 of “Landman.”

Mamet, a playwright, screenwriter, director and author, won the 1984 Pulitzer Prize for drama for “Glengarry Glen Ross.” His stage works also include “Oleanna,” “American Buffalo,” “Speed-the-Plow,” “November” and “Race.” His screenwriting credits include “The Verdict,” “The Untouchables,” “Ronin,” “Hoffa” and “Wag the Dog,” and he has received two Academy Award nominations.

Mamet’s 2013 HBO film “Phil Spector,” starring Al Pacino and Helen Mirren, earned him Emmy nominations for writing and directing. He also co-created and executive produced the CBS series “The Unit,” helped found the Atlantic Theater Company and is preparing a film version of “Speed-the-Plow.”

Mandrell’s career began early: She played accordion and read sheet music before she could read words, became a steel-guitar prodigy by 11 and toured with “The Johnny Cash Show” as a teenager. Her No. 1 songs include “Sleeping Single in a Double Bed,” “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right” and “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool.”

The Country Music Association named Mandrell Entertainer of the Year in both 1980 and 1981. She also starred with sisters Louise and Irlene in NBC’s “Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters.” After retiring with a final concert in 1997, she was inducted into the Country Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Country Music Hall of Fame, Steel Guitar Hall of Fame and Musicians Hall of Fame.

ShowBiz Take

This year’s honorees illustrate the Kennedy Center Honors’ broad remit: Anka and Foster shaped songs and recordings, Garcia built a career across acting, directing and music production, Mamet moved between stage, film and television, and Mandrell combined country hits with a major television presence. The class also arrives during an unusual transition for the ceremony, with a new venue confirmed but its host and broadcaster still unresolved.

What Happens Next?

The five recipients are due to be feted at Capital One Arena on December 7. Attention now turns to who will host the gala and where audiences will be able to watch it, with neither announcement yet made.