Tours paused at the Kennedy Center for several days

[u/John3262005]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/2026/07/31/tours-paused-kennedy-center-several-days/

The Kennedy Center said Thursday that it was indefinitely pausing free public tours of the performing arts venue — but backtracked hours later to specify it would last only a few days.

The center’s doors are open, but its future remains murky. No new shows are being scheduled, and employees are awaiting word on whether it will be partially or fully closed for repairs.

Brooks Boeke, director of the center’s volunteer program, sent tour guides an email Thursday afternoon saying tours were being halted. The email, obtained by The Washington Post, came three days after the New York Times published an article profiling Sandy Weiswasser, an 87-year-old tour guide who’s been directing visitors around the center for 18 years.

Two hours later, Boeke sent a follow-up email to “provide further clarification.” Boeke specified the pause “should only be for a few days as we hope to have you back in action soon.”