Stories of US
Stories of US will tell the multifaceted story of Americans through visual arts, theater, and interactive experiences, echoing the overarching theme’s encouragement to shape the narrative of our nation. Our dance season will uplift American choreographers, our theater season will celebrate the American musical theater tradition, and Washington National Opera will produce a cycle of works from across the centuries exploring American stories, ideals, conflicts, and compositions.
Additional programs will include
Our Nation on the Millennium Stage
In 2026, the Kennedy Center’s series of free performances on the Millennium Stage will feature artists, companies, independent filmmakers, and writers from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories throughout the year. In a national outreach, Millennium Stage will also tour, presenting six onsite activations across the country to showcase community stages and spaces across the country.
Our Nation on the Millennium Stage
In 2026, the Kennedy Center’s series of free performances on the Millennium Stage will feature artists, companies, independent filmmakers, and writers from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories throughout the year. In a national outreach, Millennium Stage will also tour, presenting six onsite activations across the country to showcase community stages and spaces across the country.
National Scrollathon® Exhibition
Bringing together the communal art-making effort of more than 250,000 participants from all over the United States, artists Steven and William Ladd will assemble an encompassing visual art installation, the National Scrollathon®. The artwork will reveal the American story in all its beautiful complexity, documenting where we are as Americans right now. In collaboration with museums, art centers, and service organizations in all 50 states, five territories, Washington, D.C., and Native Community Regional Centers, the public will create a spectacular, multidimensional manifestation of American hopes, dreams, and aspirations. The public can also participate via the project website by sharing one word that expresses their hopes and dreams for America. Those words will be brought together into a text-based artwork that will be exhibited on the Kennedy Center campus along with over 56 large scale textile artworks and the photographic portraits of the thousands that helped to create them. The National Scrollathon® project will be on view May 26–September 7, 2026.
National Scrollathon® Exhibition
Bringing together the communal art-making effort of more than 250,000 participants from all over the United States, artists Steven and William Ladd will assemble an encompassing visual art installation, the National Scrollathon®. The artwork will reveal the American story in all its beautiful complexity, documenting where we are as Americans right now. In collaboration with museums, art centers, and service organizations in all 50 states, five territories, Washington, D.C., and Native Community Regional Centers, the public will create a spectacular, multidimensional manifestation of American hopes, dreams, and aspirations. The public can also participate via the project website by sharing one word that expresses their hopes and dreams for America. Those words will be brought together into a text-based artwork that will be exhibited on the Kennedy Center campus along with over 56 large scale textile artworks and the photographic portraits of the thousands that helped to create them. The National Scrollathon® project will be on view May 26–September 7, 2026.
More programs to be announced in 2025.
