The acclaimed musical Hamilton has canceled its scheduled 2026 performances at Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center, citing concerns over recent changes under President Trump’s administration.
The decision follows Trump’s takeover of the arts institution, which included a sweeping replacement of staff and programming.
Producer Jeffrey Seller announced the cancellation in a statement on X, calling the administrative shakeup a direct contradiction of the Kennedy Center’s mission. He emphasized the move was made to protect the show’s team from potential financial and professional fallout should the new leadership alter or cancel the engagement.
In response, newly appointed Kennedy Center president Richard Grenell dismissed the cancellation as a “publicity stunt,” accusing Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and Seller of political intolerance. He claimed they simply “don’t want Republicans going to their shows.”
Hamilton joins a growing number of artists—including Issa Rae, Rhiannon Giddens, and the band Low Cut Connie—who have withdrawn from Kennedy Center events in protest.
However, others like conductor Marin Alsop and comedian W. Kamau Bell have chosen to continue performing, emphasizing that art should remain nonpartisan and accessible to all.
