The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is produced by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and in partnership with the National Park Service.

The Festival is supported by federally appropriated funds; Smithsonian trust funds; contributions from governments, businesses, foundations, and individuals; in-kind assistance; and food, recording, and craft sales. Additional support provided by the Timashev Family Foundation.

Promotional support is provided by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Destination DC, and Events DC.

In-kind program and technical support comes from Amicus Green Building Center (Kensington, MD), Costco (Sterling, VA), Ernest Maier Block Company (Bladensburg, MD), Fabric Place Basement (Alexandria, VA), Home Depot (Oxon Hill, MD), IKEA (College Park, MD & Woodbridge, VA), Meadow Farms, and MOM’s Organic Market.

Earth Optimism × Folklife: Inspiring Conservation Communities sponsoring partners include the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, Amtrak, Ford Motor Company, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, Roger W. Sant and the Honorable Doris Matsui, and United Airlines. Additional support is provided by the Smithsonian Women’s Committee and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative, Anela Kolohe Foundation, Anne Keiser and Doug Lapp, Re:wild, Sacharuna Foundation, and the Shared Earth Foundation. The program received federal support from the Asian Pacific American Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.

United Arab Emirates: Living Landscape | Living Memory sponsoring partners include the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth, and the UAE Embassy in Washington, D.C. Additional support is provided by Etihad Airways.