If you’re looking for something a little different to do in Washington, D.C. this September, the Smithsonian’s annual Craft2Wear show is returning to the National Mall.
The three-day event brings together artists from across the country to showcase and sell contemporary wearable art, including jewelry, clothing and accessories.
This year’s show will also feature a special cultural exhibition highlighting wearable crafts from South Korea.
Best of all for shoppers, the event offers an opportunity to meet artists and purchase unique, handcrafted pieces directly at the show.
When and where is the Smithsonian Craft2Wear show taking place?
Craft2Wear 2026 will take place Friday, September 25 through Sunday, September 27 at the historic Smithsonian Arts & Industries Building, located at 900 Jefferson Drive SW in Washington, D.C.
The show will be open from 10 am to 5 pm on Friday and Saturday, followed by a shorter 10 am to 4 pm schedule on Sunday.
The Arts & Industries Building sits on the National Mall between the Smithsonian Castle and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, making Craft2Wear particularly easy to combine with other downtown D.C. activities over the weekend.
The event is billed as a show and sale of contemporary wearable art, with the 2026 edition featuring more than 75 artists from around the United States.
Visitors can browse pieces spanning categories including jewelry, clothing and accessories, with individual artists represented at their own booths.
There will also be more than shopping to see.
The 2026 program includes Korean Craftsmanship: Living Crafts of Gyeongsangbuk-do, a cultural exhibition featuring work from 12 South Korean artisans. These pieces are being displayed as an exhibition rather than offered for sale at Craft2Wear.
What to expect if you’re thinking about attending
Craft2Wear is probably best approached less like a traditional museum exhibition and more like an upscale, highly curated art market.
The show brings together a relatively focused group of artists whose work is specifically designed to be worn or used, so expect to see plenty of jewelry, handbags, hats, scarves, clothing and other accessories rather than conventional paintings or sculptures.
Past attendees have described the artists and makers as one of the highlights of the experience, with opportunities to talk with exhibitors about their work and materials.
That price point is worth keeping in mind if you’re visiting primarily to shop.
You don’t necessarily have to spend hundreds of dollars to enjoy the show, however, and past attendees reported finding smaller pieces at more approachable prices.
How much are tickets?
General admission costs $20 for a single day, according to the official 2026 ticketing page. A single-day ticket can be used on any one day of the three-day show.
For visitors who want more time to browse, the multi-day ticket costs $45. That option can make sense for serious shoppers or anyone interested in returning to see the artists and exhibition across multiple days.
The Smithsonian also says tickets are available in advance online and at the door, while its 2026 announcement notes that students with identification and groups of 10 or more can receive discounted admission of $15 each.
Because Craft2Wear is also a shopping event, the admission price is only part of what visitors may spend. The artwork and wearable pieces are individually priced by the artists, so there isn’t one standard price range for items at the show.
Past attendees have reported seeing plenty of higher-priced work while still finding some smaller pieces at lower price points.
The show is produced by the Smithsonian Women’s Committee, with proceeds supporting grants and endowments for Smithsonian museums, research and education programs and the National Zoo.
The committee says it has awarded more than $15 million in grants and endowments since 1966.
