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Program Registration FAQs

Program Registration

Smithsonian Associates reserves the right to cancel, substitute individual speakers and/or session topics within a course, reschedule or relocate any course or program because of insufficient enrollments, unanticipated scheduling conflicts or emergency situations.

The Smithsonian Institution also reserves the right to refuse to register any individual or to require any participant to withdraw from an activity at any time when such action is determined by the Smithsonian staff to be in the best interests of the health, safety, or general welfare of the entire group or the participant.

Save your order receipt!— Your order receipt will be your proof of purchase. For in-person programs, your name will also be on the roster at the door.
  1. How to register for a program or class
    Online
    Browse our programs
    1. Your membership level will determine how many registrations you may purchase at the membership rate.
    2. Making a purchase will require you to create an account.
    3. When you add your program registrations to your cart, your spot in the program will be locked/reserved for you for approximately 20 minutes. If you do not complete your order by then, your spot will be released.
    4. An online receipt page will be displayed upon completion and you will also be sent a confirmation email.
    By Phone
    Call our Customer Service team to place your order by phone to register with your Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover Card.
    At the Door
    Registration at the door may be available on a first-come, first-served basis for some in-person programs. Check the program page or contact us to check door sales availability
  2. Registration fees

    All program registrations are subject to a 10% processing fee to defray administrative costs. Registrants will see this fee applied during the checkout process. Registrations for Discovery Theater, Smithsonian Summer Camp, Studio Arts, and Study Tours are excluded from this fee.

    There is an additional $3.00 nonrefundable handling fee per order for orders placed over the phone.

  3. How do I use a promotion discount code?
    To receive a promotion code discount for a program, enter the promotion code when you log in. If the promotion code is still valid, it will display a promotion price on the program description page.
  4. What happens if an program is sold out?
    A sold-out message will display on the program description page. Simply indicate your waitlist interest online or call our Customer Service team to be added to the waitlist. If additional seats or further date options become available, people on this wait list are notified typically by phone (sometimes email) to register for the program. If a filled program is later rescheduled, waitlisted patrons may be notified if further seats become available.
  5. What happens when a program's date, time, or location changes?
    Participants are notified of program changes by phone and by email.
  6. What is the photography/filming policy?