Who sits where for the State of the Union? See the seating chart for the 2026 address

Washington — The saying about real estate — location, location, location — has some truth for the annual State of the Union address, too, in describing who sits where. The most coveted spots are those close to the president in the House chamber during the speech. In:

Washington — The saying about real estate — location, location, location — has some truth for the annual State of the Union address, too, in describing who sits where. The most coveted spots are those close to the president in the House chamber during the speech.

On Tuesday night, President Trump will deliver the first official State of the Union address of his second term, since last year's was technically a joint address to Congress. Washington's most important political officials will be there — with the exception of the designated survivor. Cabinet members, members of Congress and the Supreme Court justices, representing all three branches of government, are expected to attend. Generally, the most powerful officials sit closest to the president. The House gallery accommodates hundreds of seats beyond the member seats on the chamber floor. 

Here's who sits where. 

The vice president and speaker of the House, the two leaders next in line for the presidency, sit directly behind the president. In this case, that's Vice President JD Vance and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson. From the viewers' perspective, the vice president sits to the left, while the speaker sits to the right.

When Washington has a divided government, that seating arrangement has occasionally led to awkward moments, such as when former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ripped up pages of the president's speech after he concluded in 2020.