On November 2 the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced the 49th annual class of Kennedy Center Honors.
Honorees are selected from across the entertainment world for their lifetime body of work in their field and their philanthropic endeavours.
Normally held at the Kennedy Center itself, this year the Kennedy Center Honors will be held at the Capital One Arena on December 7 while the Kennedy Center is closed.
The 2026 Honorees are:
Playwright David Mamet
songwriter and entertainer Paul Anka
composer, pianist, and producer David Foster
actor Andy Garcia
and Country Music artist Barbara Mandrell
The White House spoke on the Honorees saying, “we are recognizing amazing artists whose lifelong work has shaped American culture and inspired generations of audiences. We are proud to honor this year’s class and to continue a tradition that has defined the Center for nearly 50 years.”
Meet the 2026 Kennedy Center Honorees:
Paula Anka:
Paul Anka has been entertaining audiences for over 50 years. He burst on the music scene in 1957 at just 15 years old with his song “Diana”.
Along with his numerous hit songs, Anka has written songs for Frank Sinatra, Connie Francis, Lesley Gore, Buddy Holly, Sir Tom Jones, and Sammy Davis Jr.
Anka has recorded or shared the stage with numerous artists including Peter Cetera from Chicago, Frank Sinatra, Celine Dion, Michael Jackson, Michael Buble, Andrea Bocelli, and Oliva Newton-John.
Anka is a member of the Songwriters and Canadian Music Halls of Fame, has won the Songwriters Hall of Fame Johnny Mercer Award, the BMI Icon Award and National Order of Merit from France.
David Foster:
Winning three Grammy Awards for Producer of the Year; David Foster has a trophy room filled with awards including 16 Grammy, an Emmy, and a Golden Globe Award.
He has helped to launch the careers of Celine Dion, Josh Groban Michael Bublé, and now wife Katherine McPhee.
Foster has shared the stage, written songs, or produced music for a who’s who list of artists including Barbra Streisand; Whitney Houston; Michael Jackson; Madonna; Andrea Bocelli; Chicago; Sir Rod Stewart; Stevie Wonder; Earth, Wind & Fire; Toni Braxton; Natalie Cole; Michael Bolton; Seal; Chaka Khan; Kenny Rogers; Dolly Parton; Hall & Oates; Brandy; NSYNC; Boz Scaggs and Gloria Estefan.
He has appeared in two PBS specials, wrote the music for the Broadway musical “Betty Boop”, and is about the launch a tour around the U.S.
A Canadian born artist, Foster has created The David Foster Foundation to aid Canadian families whose children are in need of life-saving organ transplants.
Andy Garcia:
Andy Garcia is an actor, director, and producer who has appeared in “The Godfather: Part III”, “For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story” – where he was also executive producer, and “Diamond” – a film where he wrote, directed, and starred -, “Eenie Meanie”, the “Oceans” franchise, and “Pain Hustlers”.
His accolades include a Grammy and Latin Grammy production awards, the Crystal Globe from the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and lifetime achievement awards from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors and the Imagen Foundation.
David Mamet:
The Pulitzer Prize winning playwright David Mamet has spent over 50 years writing and directing plays in American theater. His plays include “Oleanna,” “American Buffalo,” “Speed-the-Plow,” “Boston Marriage,” “November,” “Race,” “The Anarchist” and “Glengarry Glen Ross”, “The Verdict,” “The Untouchables,” “Ronin,” “Hoffa,” “The Edge” and “Wag the Dog”.
Beside his numerous plays, Mamet has written and directed a number of films including “Homicide,” “The Spanish Prisoner,” “State and Main,” “House of Games,” “Spartan,” “Redbelt,” “Henry Johnson” and “Speed-the-Plow.” He has also written a number of novels.
Barbara Mandrell:
One of three sisters that made their mark in Country music, Barbara Mandrell was born into a musical family. Reading the notes on the page before she could read the words, Mandrell is a multi-instrumentalist and was a part of the Mandrell Family band into her teens. She was also a part of Joe Maphis show in Las Vegas and later toured with “The Johnny Cash Show”.
A cover of the Otis Redding song “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” began a string of Country music hits that led to a CMA Entertainer of the Year Award in 1980 and a hit television show with her sisters.
Mandrell retires from performing in 1997.
Her accolades include being a member of the Country Gospel Music, Country Music, Musicians, and Steel Guitar Halls of Fame, is a recipient of the ACM Pioneer Award.