Watch Kennedy Center Honors for Free: Chloe Bailey & More Perform

Watch the Kennedy Center Honors live for free and see Queen Latifah, Dionne Warwick, and Barry Gibb honored for their impact.

The Kennedy Center Honors is an annual ceremony that celebrates the lifetime achievements of individuals in the performing arts. This year's honorees include Queen Latifah, Dionne Warwick, and Barry Gibb, among others. The event, which is typically held in December at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington D.C., is known for its star-studded attendees. While the awards show isn't broadcast live, an edited version of the event typically airs on CBS around Christmas.

The honorees are selected based on recommendations from the general public, former honorees, and the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees. The recipients are individuals who have had an impact on American life and culture through the performing arts. Over the years, artists like Cher, The Eagles, Al Pacino, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Carole King, and Tom Hanks have been honored at the Kennedy Center.

This year's ceremony will air at 8 p.m. ET on December 27, 2021 on CBS. If you're looking to watch the Kennedy Center Honors live for free, there are several streaming platforms that offer free trials, including DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Paramount Plus, and Hulu+ With Live TV. Each of these platforms has different plans and features, so you'll want to choose the one that best fits your needs.

In addition to the honorees, the Kennedy Center Honors promises a stellar lineup of performers paying tribute to the honorees. Former Kennedy Center Honoree Gloria Estefan is returning as host for the 2023 Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, marking her third time hosting the special. With so many talented individuals being recognized and celebrated, this year's Kennedy Center Honors is sure to be a memorable event.