WASHINGTON — The Smithsonian Institution is bringing its longest-running public program, the annual Folklife Festival, to communities across the United States and territories in 2026 to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The initiative, titled “Of the People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals,” partners the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage with more than 30 local events from March through November. These collaborations highlight how festivals foster community engagement and cultural exchange during the semiquincentennial commemoration.
A full schedule and interactive map are available on the Folklife Festival website at festival.si.edu. The program extends the spirit of the traditional National Mall event by joining millions of Americans in their own hometowns to celebrate, reflect and contemplate the shared milestone.
Through November, the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage will work with local organizations to integrate activities that reflect each community’s voices, stories and aspirations. Events range from single-day gatherings to weeklong festivals.
Featured participating festivals include the Baltimore Irish Trad Fest in Maryland from April 9-12, the Living Traditions Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah, May 15-17, the Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle May 22-25, the Blackfoot Ranch Rodeo & Indian Relay Races in Idaho June 25-27, the G.O.A.T. Picnic in Coldwater, Mississippi, Aug. 28-29, the Mid-Autumn Festival in Philadelphia on Sept. 26, the Zion Church Blues Festival in Talbotton, Georgia, on Oct. 24, and Día de los Muertos by Self Help Graphics in East Los Angeles on Nov. 7.
In Washington, D.C., the center will present spotlight programs in June and July at the Arts and Industries Building on the National Mall. Visitors can explore the Folklife Marketplace with handcrafted items from American artisans and an exhibit featuring objects and stories from past Folklife Festivals. The building will also host “For the Common Good: Smithsonian Voices on Our Shared Future 250,” a series of conversations with Smithsonian staff, community partners and thought leaders.
Clifford Murphy, director of the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, described the 250th anniversary as a moment to celebrate cultural democracy.
“The 250th anniversary is a time to celebrate our extraordinary cultural democracy, to visit with the people, places and traditions within it, and to contemplate our shared future,” Murphy said. “By taking the Folklife Festival beyond Washington, we recommit to our original purpose to take the Smithsonian beyond objects and buildings; we also carry out our mission to connect communities across cultures—cultivating curiosity, understanding and belonging for all people.”
Festival Director Sabrina Lynn Motley noted the shift from the 1976 bicentennial approach.
“To mark the bicentennial in 1976, the Smithsonian invited the country to the National Mall for a three-month Festival of American Folklife beginning a 50-year tradition,” Motley said. “For the 250th, we’re going to communities to celebrate the nation’s remarkable cultural landscape, as well as the creativity of everyday life. Doing so allows us to carry the Folklife Festival’s legacy forward as we approach our own 60th anniversary in 2027.”
Two events have already taken place: the Fort Worth African American Roots Music Festival on March 20-21 in Texas and the Commonwealth Jubilee in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, on March 22-24.
The full list of 2026 collaborating festivals includes events in Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and multiple states, covering traditions from Irish music and bluegrass to Indigenous relay races, jazz, blues, Día de los Muertos and more.
“Of the People” is supported by the Smithsonian’s “Our Shared Future: 250” initiative. Major funding comes from Lilly Endowment Inc., with additional contributions from Target.
The program builds on the Folklife Festival’s history since 1967 of showcasing living cultural traditions. By partnering with existing community events, the Smithsonian aims to amplify local creativity while advancing national reflection on democracy and shared future.
Southern Maryland residents can participate by attending the Baltimore Irish Trad Fest, just a short drive north, or by exploring the interactive map for other nearby events. The initiative encourages communities to engage with the cultural landscape that defines American life.
Additional programs will be announced as planning progresses. Details on all events and the story map are posted at festival.si.edu.
