The Kennedy Center Honors is getting a major makeover, literally. The iconic rainbow ribbon has been ditched in favor of a sleek, deep blue medallion adorned with gold details. For the first time since its inception nearly five decades ago, the medal is undergoing a significant redesign.
According to sources close to the White House and Kennedy Center leadership, the overhaul was the result of an extensive collaboration between officials, design experts, and Tiffany & Co., who were tasked with giving the Honors a fresh new look. The updated medallion boasts a circular design at its center, accompanied by a simplified ribbon loop that breaks away from the traditional multicolored aesthetic.
The change has been met with both excitement and controversy online, as some have expressed nostalgia for the rainbow design, which had become synonymous with the awards since 1978. However, Kennedy Center officials insist that the redesign is part of a broader branding update aimed at unifying the visual identity of the ceremony across all platforms, including the stage production, broadcast elements, and printed materials.
The updated medal will make its debut this year's Honors ceremony, which promises to be more visually stunning than ever. According to Chairman Donald Trump, the event will be "the highest-rated show that they've ever done." The ceremony's new staging, lighting, and presentation segments are designed to match the revised aesthetic, while production staff assure that the updated ribbon and medallion will be prominently featured in the televised broadcast.
This year's Honors will also see a series of honorees receive their first-ever gold medals, featuring an etching of the Kennedy Center with a hint of rainbow colors at the top and bottom. The list of recipients includes KISS, Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait, and Sylvester Stallone.
The changes come just days after Trump hosted the FIFA World Cup Draw, where he presented himself with a newly created "FIFA Peace Prize," which has now been incorporated into the Honors ceremony decor. As the stage is set for this year's Kennedy Center Honors, fans are eagerly anticipating what the new look and feel will bring to the beloved awards ceremony.
According to sources close to the White House and Kennedy Center leadership, the overhaul was the result of an extensive collaboration between officials, design experts, and Tiffany & Co., who were tasked with giving the Honors a fresh new look. The updated medallion boasts a circular design at its center, accompanied by a simplified ribbon loop that breaks away from the traditional multicolored aesthetic.
The change has been met with both excitement and controversy online, as some have expressed nostalgia for the rainbow design, which had become synonymous with the awards since 1978. However, Kennedy Center officials insist that the redesign is part of a broader branding update aimed at unifying the visual identity of the ceremony across all platforms, including the stage production, broadcast elements, and printed materials.
The updated medal will make its debut this year's Honors ceremony, which promises to be more visually stunning than ever. According to Chairman Donald Trump, the event will be "the highest-rated show that they've ever done." The ceremony's new staging, lighting, and presentation segments are designed to match the revised aesthetic, while production staff assure that the updated ribbon and medallion will be prominently featured in the televised broadcast.
This year's Honors will also see a series of honorees receive their first-ever gold medals, featuring an etching of the Kennedy Center with a hint of rainbow colors at the top and bottom. The list of recipients includes KISS, Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait, and Sylvester Stallone.
The changes come just days after Trump hosted the FIFA World Cup Draw, where he presented himself with a newly created "FIFA Peace Prize," which has now been incorporated into the Honors ceremony decor. As the stage is set for this year's Kennedy Center Honors, fans are eagerly anticipating what the new look and feel will bring to the beloved awards ceremony.
This change is just so...underwhelming. I mean, who thought deep blue was a good idea? The rainbow ribbon was perfect! It was iconic and made you feel all those happy feelings 
. Now it's just some boring, generic design that doesn't even match the personality of the Kennedy Center. And what's with the gold details? It feels like they're trying too hard to be fancy 
. I'm not hating on the honorees this year, but the ceremony is going to feel so...different 
. Can we just stick with what worked in the first place? 
it's so sleek and modern! I mean, I get why some people might miss the rainbow ribbon but for me, change is good 
. The fact that Tiffany & Co. got involved in the redesign makes sense - they're basically the experts on all things sparkle and shine 
. I'm curious to see how the rest of the ceremony comes together with this new look... maybe it'll be even more amazing than usual 
. And yay for KISS, Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait, and Sylvester Stallone receiving their gold medals - those are some iconic names in music 
!
the rainbow was iconic but this deep blue medallion is giving me LIFE 
i just made a quick stat that like 70% of ppl on twitter r supporting the change 
while 30% are still rocking with the old rainbow ribbon 
anyway according to Tiffany & co they wanted 2 give it a fresh new look 4 all platforms from stage production 2 print materials 
and i got a pic of the updated medallion and let me tell u its giving me LIFE 
btw did u know that michael crawford is one of the honorees this year? 
Still, I'm excited for this year's ceremony - KISS, Michael Crawford, and Gloria Gaynor are some amazing honorees 
This new design just looks kinda boring, you know? Like they took all the excitement and personality out of it. And don't even get me started on the Tiffany & Co. thing... that just feels like a fancy way of saying "we're losing our individuality". The Kennedy Center Honors has always been about celebrating the arts, not just rebranding ourselves to fit some new trend. Let's keep it real and colorful! 
i mean i get it they wanna modernize the vibe but the rainbow ribbon was literally iconic 
i remember my grandma used to wear those rainbow slippers and we'd watch the kennedy center honors together every year it was just such a special part of our fam traditions 
cant wait for this years ceremony!
it was such a iconic part of the Kennedy Center Honors, but at the same time i get why they wanna give it a fresh new look 
gotta say tho, the fact that Tiffany & Co. was involved is giving me all the luxury feels 
the honorees are so talented too, i'm excited to see KISS, Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait, and Sylvester Stallone get their gold medals 
the deep blue medallion with gold details is actually kinda fire 
. But at the same time, I think it's awesome that they're giving it a fresh new look 
. The updated medallion does look sleek and sophisticated, and I love how Tiffany & Co. got involved in the design process 
And hey, who knows, maybe this is just the start of something new and amazing