General Information

What is the Understory festival?

The Understory festival is a three-day festival presented by Comment magazine. The program includes keynote conversations, panels, workshops, artistic presentations, and shared meals. It is Comment’s inaugural national gathering, and hopefully not the last!

When and where is the festival?

The festival will take place May 28–30, 2026, at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC. The Washington National Cathedral’s address is 3101 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20016.

Where can I find the full schedule?

Registered attendees will receive schedule updates by email as the event approaches. The most up-to-date schedule can be found here.

Who is invited to attend?

Early registration was extended to Comment partners, and public registration is now open to anyone. It does not require affiliation with a specific institution. The festival is designed for writers, clergy, nonprofit and business leaders, community weavers, scholars, artists, students, and general readers interested in faith and public life.

Registration & Tickets

What does my ticket include?

All tickets include access to the full three-day program. Certain passes may include additional receptions or benefits. Please refer to your confirmation email for details specific to your registration pass.

Are single-day passes available?

Currently, only full-festival registrations are available. Festival attendees are encouraged to participate in the full schedule of events, from Thursday evening to Saturday early afternoon, as the program arc is designed intentionally for engagement across the full festival timeframe.

What is the difference between the Understory festival and the Understory Uprising?

The Understory Uprising event is part of the Cathedral’s 2026 A Better Way series. Curated by Comment, this public concert will occur on Friday night, May 29, and is open to the public. Festival attendees are automatically ticketed for this high point of the festival experience; however, the opposite is not true. Those who purchase the stand-alone Friday-night public event ticket are not ticketed for the full festival.

Will the festival be livestreamed and/or recorded to allow for watching at a later date?

The Understory festival will not be livestreamed, but it will be recorded and released by Comment in the days and weeks following the event. To learn more about releases and stay updated, sign up for Comment’s newsletter here.

Are there early-bird rates?

The early-bird window closed on March 23, 2026, and is no longer available.

Can I bring a guest?

Each attendee must be registered individually. Add-on guest passes are not available.

I haven’t received a confirmation email. What should I do?

Please check your spam or promotions folders. If you still do not see a confirmation email, please contact the festival team for assistance. The support email address is commentfestival@linderglobal.com—please make sure to include “the Understory festival” in the subject line.

Changes, Cancellations, and Substitutions

What is the cancellation policy?

• Cancellations submitted on or before April 3, 2026: Full refund
• Cancellations submitted April 4 through April 16, 2026: 50 percent refund
• Cancellations submitted after April 17, 2026: No refund

All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing via email (commentfestival@linderglobal.com) with “the Understory festival” included in the subject line.

Can I transfer my registration to someone else?

Yes, you may transfer your registration to another person. Written notification must be submitted via email (commentfestival@linderglobal.com with “the Understory festival” included in the subject line) to the festival team. The deadline to transfer registration is Tuesday, May 19.

Travel and Accommodations

Are travel and lodging included in my registration?

Travel and hotel accommodation are not included in festival registration. 

Is there a host hotel?

Recommended hotel options and booking information are available on the festival website.

What is the closest airport to the venue?

The closest airport is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), approximately 20 to 25 minutes from the Washington National Cathedral by car (depending on traffic). Other airports include Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore/Washington International (BWI).

Is parking available?

On-site parking is available in the Washington National Cathedral’s parking garage (3101 Wisconsin Ave NW). The parking garage rates are as follows:

• Weekday (Monday through Friday)
  • First Hour: $6.00
  • Second Hour: $11.00
  • Third Hour: $15.00
  • Daily Maximum: $22.00
• Weekend (Saturday)
  • Daily Rate: $9.00

Please note that the parking garage does have a capacity limit and the garage is known to reach near capacity during the weekday due to neighboring businesses and establishments. We strongly encourage carpooling or using rideshare when possible or as alternative options.

If using rideshare, when selecting the National Cathedral, the rideshare apps should automatically set the drop-off point to “North Circle.” This location is in front of the Garth.

Is the venue accessible?

The Washington National Cathedral is accessible. If you require specific accommodations (mobility, seating, hearing assistance, etc.), please contact the event team via email (commentfestival@linderglobal.com) in advance so we can assist you. Please note that if requests are received after April 30 (less than a month from the event), every effort will be made to provide the accommodation(s) but can’t be guaranteed.

Will there be a security screening at the venue?

There will be a mandatory security screening for the Friday-evening public program. All guests are expected to complete the standard security process upon entry to the Cathedral. 

The following items are prohibited at the Washington National Cathedral: weapons (including mace/pepper spray) and hazardous materials. Food and drink are generally restricted, except for water and spillproof and shatterproof containers or bottles. Pets are not allowed; only service animals are permitted.

The Washington National Cathedral’s bag policy permits handbags, purses, and backpacks not exceeding 11” x 17” x 6” in size. Diaper bags, medical supply bags, camera equipment (with advance approval), and items carried by clergy, staff, and vendors as part of their duties are permitted and subject to inspection.

On-site Experience

What should I wear?

Business casual attire is appropriate. Comfortable shoes are recommended, as the Cathedral campus requires walking between spaces and also has grassy and other outdoor areas that attendees may wish to explore. As late May in Washington, DC, can be warm, and temperatures inside large event spaces can vary, we encourage dressing in layers to adjust throughout the day. To make the event as comfortable as possible for guests with sensitivity to strong scents, we encourage attendees to avoid using scented perfumes and lotions during the festival.

Will food be provided?

Yes. Your festival registration includes the following meals:

• Opening reception (Thursday evening; cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres provided)
• Lunch (Friday)
• Optional dinner at local-area restaurants (Friday; as capacity here is limited, pre-registration is required through the event app)
• Closing brunch (Saturday)
• Scheduled coffee and snack breaks (Friday and Saturday)

Do I need to select sessions in advance?

Yes, advance session selection is required due to space limitations for some workshop rooms. Once the agenda and session selection is available, all registered attendees will be notified via email and will be directed to select sessions in the event app.

Is there a code of conduct?

The Understory is committed to providing an uncommonly hospitable, respectful, and safe environment for all participants. Attendees are expected to engage thoughtfully and courteously with speakers and fellow guests. The event staff reserve the right to revoke the registration, without refund, of attendees who do not maintain respectful conduct during the festival.

Will weather affect the festival?

All core programming takes place indoors at the Washington National Cathedral, so we do not anticipate weather-related concerns. If weather-related adjustments are required, registered attendees will be notified in advance. 

Will Wi-Fi be available?

The Washington National Cathedral does offer visitors complimentary Wi-Fi, although it is not available throughout the entire campus and the strength/speed varies. We encourage guests to plan accordingly if they will need reliable internet access at some point during the event.

Press and Media

I am a member of the press. How do I inquire about media access?

Please contact the media relations representative (understorymedia@cardus.ca) for media credentials and press inquiries.

Will photography take place during the festival?

Yes. Photography and video recording will be taking place throughout the event. By attending, you consent to being photographed or recorded for use in future promotional or editorial materials.

Have additional questions?

For additional assistance, please contact the festival team (commentfestival@linderglobal.com) with “the Understory festival” included in the subject line).