Press
The Festival is presented on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, in association with the National Park Service. Admission is always free.
In 2026, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, the Festival will go on the road to communities across the country and three U.S. territories. Of the People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals is a collaboration with approximately forty festivals around the country, ranging from one-day events to weeklong gatherings.
Media contact:
folklife@si.edu
2026 Media Kit
- Smithsonian Folklife Festival Goes National for America’s Birthday (March 31, 2026)
Staff Bios
- Sabrina Lynn Motley, Festival director
Past Media Kits
- Smithsonian Folklife Festival Returns to the National Mall With Stories of Land, Sea and Sky
- Conservation Successes Featured at the 2022 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
- UAE Cultural Traditions Explored at the 2022 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
- Smithsonian Folklife Festival Returns to the National Mall with Free Evening Concerts
- Souk-Inspired Smithsonian Folklife Festival Marketplace to Feature Craft, Fine Art, Food and More
- Media Image Kit
For more information, visit the Smithsonian Newsdesk and join our mailing list.
Evening concert at the 2016 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Photo by JB Weilepp, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
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