How to Watch The Kennedy Center Honors Online in 2024

The Annual Kennedy Center Honors streams on Paramount+ in the US in December. It’s available live on streaming platforms that offer CBS, such as Sling TV, YouTube TV, fuboTV, and Hulu + Live TV. But these platforms are exclusive to the US, so you can’t watch their content outside the country because they check your IP to see your actual location.

In theory, you could use a VPN to get a US IP address and watch The Kennedy Center Honors from abroad. However, doing so would constitute copyright infringement, as well as negating the terms of use of the respective broadcast platform. Please use your VPN responsibly.

If you’re in the US and want to safeguard your streaming connections, a VPN is ideal. And ExpressVPN is the best for watching The Kennedy Center Honors in HD. It has 24 speedy locations in the US, and every server supports streaming. You can try it risk-free since it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream in HD With ExpressVPN

Best VPNs to Watch the Annual Kennedy Center Honors in 2024

1. ExpressVPN — Super-Fast Speeds for Watching the Kennedy Center Honors

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Tested April 2024

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Netflix Disney+ APV HBO Max

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I was extremely impressed with its connection speeds. When I tested ExpressVPN’s server speeds, they averaged around 81 Mbps. To put things into perspective, my starting speed without a VPN was 89.69 Mbps. Considering I was using servers on the other side of the US, the 10% speed loss was impressive.

ExpressVPN’s speeds were great for streaming in HD

I had no issues watching Paramount+ and other US streaming platforms from my state in the country while using ExpressVPN. You can rest assured that once The Kennedy Center Honors airs, you’ll be able to stream it from the US without any problems.

Setting up and using ExpressVPN is exceptionally straightforward — in less than 5 minutes, I was able to download its application and connect to a nearby US server. Moreover, it can be installed on routers, allowing for the connection of all your household devices. Consequently, you'll have the ability to watch The Kennedy Center Honors on your smart TV or any other device typically not compatible with VPNs.

The only downside to ExpressVPN is its pricing, starting at $6.67/month, which is on the expensive side. Still, depending on its active offers, you can even save up to 49% on your subscription fees.

It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try ExpressVPN out completely risk-free. If it’s not the right fit for you for whatever reason, you can get a full refund, no questions asked. I asked for a refund using its live chat feature. In less than 4 days, the money was back on my credit card.

2. CyberGhost — Streaming-Optimized Servers for Smooth Viewing of the Kennedy Center Honors

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV HBO Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try CyberGhost VPN >

www.cyberghostvpn.com

CyberGhost has a great selection of reliable streaming-optimized servers. These are specially designed to give you fast and stable connections for streaming platforms. There are dedicated servers for YouTube TV, Sling TV, fuboTV, Hulu, and Prime Video. These platforms all offer CBS in the US, so you shouldn’t have issues streaming the Kennedy Center Honors from within the country.

Its speeds are solid and reliable as well, but not as fast as ExpressVPN’s. When I tested CyberGhost’s US servers from Orlando, FL, my speed was 60.09 Mbps (33% decrease). However, the speed loss was imperceptible, so you needn’t worry about buffering when watching the Kennedy Center Honors on Paramount+. Your distance to the server is important because it determines whether your speed loss will be higher or lower.

CyberGhost's user interface is easy to navigate, even for beginners. You can easily find the streaming-optimized servers, as they are neatly grouped under the “For streaming” category. After selecting your desired server, all you need to do is click the big on/off button. Then, log into your Paramount+ account and start watching the Annual Kennedy Center Honors. It’s that easy. You can even save servers as favorites so you need not look for them the next time you watch the ceremony.

The cost of CyberGhost’s monthly subscription plan is on the higher end of the spectrum. However, the prices drop if you opt for one of the long-term plans. In that case, the prices start at $2.03/month.

CyberGhost is also one of the few VPNs that offer a 45-day money-back guarantee for its long-term plans — one of the longest in the industry. I wanted to test out its guarantee, so I contacted its support team through chat. The whole process was super easy, and I received my refund after only 3 days. You can try it out for yourself without worrying that there are any strings attached.

3. Private Internet Access — Plenty of US Servers to Watch The Kennedy Center Honors

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV HBO Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try Private Internet Access >

www.PrivateInternetAccess.com

Private Internet Access boasts a large network of over 53 server locations in the US. That gives you a great choice of server options for watching Paramount+ from within the US. So if one is slow or unreliable, you have alternatives.

It also offers up to Unlimited simultaneous device connections, which is especially great if you have a large household. Also, PIA is compatible with all major operating systems, so you can stream the Kennedy Awards on any device. I used it to stream content on my laptop, iPhone, and PC with no issues.

Its connection speeds are slightly slower than ExpressVPN’s and CyberGhost’s. When I tested PIA's server in New York, the speed loss was around 35%. However, it didn’t affect the quality of my video as you only need 5 Mbps to stream in HD. Plus, New York is thousands of miles away from where I was testing in Orlando, FL.

PIA’s subscription plans are inexpensive, and its long-term plan starts from $2.03/month. In addition to that, PIA regularly offers discounts on its long-term subscription plans.

You can test PIA with zero risk, and if you're not satisfied with it within 30 days, you can get your money back. All you need to do is contact its support team through the Help Center on its website or write to them on the 24/7 live chat. I got my refund in less than a week.

Where Can I Watch the Annual Kennedy Center Honors Online?

The Kennedy Center Honors airs on CBS every year around Christmas. If you don’t have traditional cable television, there are several ways you can stream it online. The easiest way is to subscribe to CBS’s exclusive streaming platform, Paramount+ (previously CBS All Access).

With a Paramount+ subscription, you can watch The Kennedy Center Honors both live on CBS and on-demand. However, keep in mind that the on-demand recording of the event is only available for 30 days after it airs.

Also, Paramount+ is only available in the US, so if you try to watch it from any other location, you’ll be denied service. Paramount+ can determine your location based on your IP address, and you’ll see an error screen like the following:

If you try to watch Paramount+ from a region where it’s unavailable, you’ll see an error screen

You can also watch The Kennedy Center Honors on any streaming platform that has CBS included in their bundle deal. That includes Sling TV, YouTube TV, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and DirectTV Stream. Some of these platforms have a DVR service available for you to record the event for later viewing, but you won’t find an on-demand video of it there. If you’re interested in rewatching the previous year’s Kennedy Center Honors, you can watch the episodes on Amazon Prime Video.

FAQs on Watching the Kennedy Center Honors With a VPN

Can I watch the Annual Kennedy Center Honors for free?

Technically, yes. Since the Kennedy Center Honors airs on CBS, you can watch it on any streaming platform and online cable service that has a live stream of CBS included in their offer. However, not all of them will have a free trial available.

That’s why I’ve put together a list of streaming platforms — that come with a free trial — where you can stream your local CBS live, as long as you’re in the US:

• Paramount+ — CBS’s own streaming service has a 7-day free trial
• fuboTV — 7-day free trial
• YouTube TV — 14-day free trial
• Paramount+ through Amazon Prime Video — 7-day free trial

On which devices can I watch the Annual Kennedy Center Honors?

You can stream the Kennedy Center Honors on almost any device in the US — including your smart TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, or Apple TV, to name a few. However, that depends if the platforms that carry a live stream of CBS support the device. These platforms include Paramount+, YouTube TV, Sling TV, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and DirecTV Stream. All of the VPNs listed in this article (ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access) work with these devices.

How can I watch The Kennedy Center Honors in 2024?

If you don’t have traditional cable television, you can watch it online. The best place to watch the annual Kennedy Center Honors is Paramount+, CBS’ exclusive streaming service. Simply subscribe to the streaming platform or online cable providers that carry a live CBS stream.

You can watch it both on-demand (for 30 days) and live when it airs there. There are also other streaming platforms (like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, fuboTV, and DirecTV Stream) that have CBS included in their offer. These platforms are mostly exclusive to the US and many offer free trials.

Start Watching the Annual Kennedy Center Honors Now

You can watch The Kennedy Center Honors on various platforms, most of which are exclusive to the US. So you need to be within the country to be able to watch their content. Whichever platform you prefer, a VPN can keep your connections private and secure by encrypting your data without sacrificing your speeds.

I recommend ExpressVPN for streaming the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony in HD from the US, as it has a large network of high-speed US servers. It’s also backed by a money-back guarantee, so you can try it our risk-free for 30 days.

To summarize, the best VPNs for watching the Kennedy Center Honors are…

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1

9.9 /10

9.9 Our Score

Save 49%!

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2

9.7 /10

9.7 Our Score

Save 83%!

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3

9.5 /10

9.5 Our Score

Save 82%!

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