National Symphony Orchestra will play at 6 DC-area venues

Key Points:

• The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) will split its 2026-27 season across six venues in Washington, D.C., and nearby suburbs due to the Kennedy Center's planned two-year closure for renovation under a board aligned with former President Donald Trump.
• The Kennedy Center, renamed controversially to include Trump’s name before a federal judge ordered its removal, will undergo reconstruction that displaces the NSO from its primary performance hall, which seats 2,465, to smaller venues with capacities ranging from 900 to 1,925 seats.
• NSO music director Gianandrea Noseda expressed hope that performing outside the Kennedy Center might attract new audiences and described the season as a form of regional touring, bringing music closer to varied communities.
• The NSO's ticket sales have declined significantly over recent years, dropping from 72% capacity in 2024 to 41% last season, though the orchestra did not confirm these figures; tickets for the upcoming season go on sale August 28, offering limited time to rebuild audience numbers.
• Despite the venue changes, the NSO plans to continue rehearsing and maintaining its offices and music library at the Kennedy Center during renovations, with Noseda conducting 20 concerts locally and leading a U.S. tour in April 2027.