diff --git a/scripts/harness/run-storybook-a11y.mjs b/scripts/harness/run-storybook-a11y.mjs
index 90c08ff..da32fdb 100644
--- a/scripts/harness/run-storybook-a11y.mjs
+++ b/scripts/harness/run-storybook-a11y.mjs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import path from "node:path";
 import { createRequire } from "node:module";
 
 import { chromium } from "@playwright/test";
+import harnessStoryContract from "../../tests/e2e/support/story-harness-contract.json" with { type: "json" };
 
 import { repoRoot } from "./core.mjs";
 
@@ -16,65 +17,36 @@ const axeSourcePath = require.resolve("axe-core/axe.min.js");
 const reportDir = path.join(repoRoot, ".artifacts", "a11y");
 const reportPath = path.join(reportDir, "storybook-a11y.json");
 
-const stories = [
-  {
-    id: "components-button--playground",
-    label: "Button playground"
+const a11yPrepareHandlers = {
+  "open-date-picker": async (page) => {
+    await page.getByRole("combobox", { name: "Launch date" }).click();
+    await page.getByRole("dialog", { name: "Launch date calendar" }).waitFor({ state: "visible" });
   },
-  {
-    id: "components-combobox--controlled",
-    label: "Combobox controlled"
+  "open-dialog": async (page) => {
+    await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Open approval dialog" }).click();
+    await page.getByRole("dialog", { name: "Launch this release?" }).waitFor({ state: "visible" });
   },
-  {
-    id: "components-data-table--playground",
-    label: "Data table playground"
+  "open-dropdown-menu": async (page) => {
+    await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Review lane menu" }).click();
+    await page.getByRole("menu").waitFor({ state: "visible" });
   },
-  {
-    id: "components-datepicker--playground",
-    label: "Date picker playground",
-    prepare: async (page) => {
-      await page.getByRole("combobox", { name: "Launch date" }).click();
-      await page.getByRole("dialog", { name: "Launch date calendar" }).waitFor({ state: "visible" });
-    }
+  "open-popover": async (page) => {
+    await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Inspect summary" }).click();
+    await page.getByText("Release health").waitFor({ state: "visible" });
   },
-  {
-    id: "components-dialog--playground",
-    label: "Dialog playground",
-    prepare: async (page) => {
-      await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Open approval dialog" }).click();
-      await page.getByRole("dialog", { name: "Launch this release?" }).waitFor({ state: "visible" });
-    }
-  },
-  {
-    id: "components-dropdownmenu--states",
-    label: "Dropdown menu states",
-    prepare: async (page) => {
-      await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Review lane menu" }).click();
-      await page.getByRole("menu").waitFor({ state: "visible" });
-    }
-  },
-  {
-    id: "components-form--launch-settings",
-    label: "Form launch settings",
-    query: "globals=motion:reduced"
-  },
-  {
-    id: "components-popover--playground",
-    label: "Popover playground",
-    prepare: async (page) => {
-      await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Inspect summary" }).click();
-      await page.getByText("Release health").waitFor({ state: "visible" });
-    }
-  },
-  {
-    id: "components-sheet--playground",
-    label: "Sheet playground",
-    prepare: async (page) => {
-      await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Open right sheet" }).click();
-      await page.getByRole("dialog", { name: "Launch settings" }).waitFor({ state: "visible" });
-    }
+  "open-sheet": async (page) => {
+    await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Open right sheet" }).click();
+    await page.getByRole("dialog", { name: "Launch settings" }).waitFor({ state: "visible" });
   }
-];
+};
+
+const stories = harnessStoryContract.stories.filter((story) => story.suites.includes("a11y"));
+
+for (const story of stories) {
+  if (story.a11yPrepare && !(story.a11yPrepare in a11yPrepareHandlers)) {
+    throw new Error(`Unknown a11y prepare handler "${story.a11yPrepare}" for ${story.id}.`);
+  }
+}
 
 function buildStoryUrl(story) {
   const params = new URLSearchParams({
@@ -215,8 +187,8 @@ async function main() {
       try {
         await gotoStory(page, story);
 
-        if (story.prepare) {
-          await story.prepare(page);
+        if (story.a11yPrepare) {
+          await a11yPrepareHandlers[story.a11yPrepare](page);
         }
 
         const result = await runAxe(page);
diff --git a/scripts/harness/story-harness-contract.test.ts b/scripts/harness/story-harness-contract.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3cc7aa3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/harness/story-harness-contract.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+// @vitest-environment node
+
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+import harnessStoryContract from "../../tests/e2e/support/story-harness-contract.json";
+
+describe("story harness contract", () => {
+  it("uses unique story ids", () => {
+    const storyIds = harnessStoryContract.stories.map((story) => story.id);
+
+    expect(new Set(storyIds).size).toBe(storyIds.length);
+  });
+
+  it("requires a reason for every curated story", () => {
+    expect(harnessStoryContract.stories.every((story) => story.reason.trim().length > 0)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("requires smoke scenarios for docs-smoke coverage", () => {
+    expect(
+      harnessStoryContract.stories
+        .filter((story) => story.suites.includes("docs-smoke"))
+        .every((story) => Boolean(story.smokeScenario))
+    ).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("keeps every story on at least one supported suite", () => {
+    const supportedSuites = new Set(["a11y", "docs-smoke"]);
+
+    expect(
+      harnessStoryContract.stories.every(
+        (story) => story.suites.length > 0 && story.suites.every((suite) => supportedSuites.has(suite))
+      )
+    ).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/e2e/storybook-smoke.spec.ts b/tests/e2e/storybook-smoke.spec.ts
index b72d562..6600dcd 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/storybook-smoke.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/e2e/storybook-smoke.spec.ts
@@ -1,76 +1,97 @@
 import { expect, test, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
+import harnessStoryContract from "./support/story-harness-contract.json";
 
-async function gotoStory(page: Page, storyId: string) {
-  await page.goto(`/iframe.html?id=${storyId}&viewMode=story`);
-  await expect(page).toHaveTitle(new RegExp(storyId, "i"), { timeout: 15_000 });
+type StoryHarnessEntry = (typeof harnessStoryContract.stories)[number];
+
+const smokeStories = harnessStoryContract.stories.filter((story) => story.suites.includes("docs-smoke"));
+
+async function gotoStory(page: Page, story: StoryHarnessEntry) {
+  const params = new URLSearchParams({
+    id: story.id,
+    viewMode: "story"
+  });
+
+  if (story.query) {
+    for (const [key, value] of new URLSearchParams(story.query).entries()) {
+      params.set(key, value);
+    }
+  }
+
+  await page.goto(`/iframe.html?${params.toString()}`);
+  await expect(page).toHaveTitle(new RegExp(story.id, "i"), { timeout: 15_000 });
 }
 
-test("storybook button, select, and static-motion form stories stay interactive", async ({
-  page
-}) => {
-  await page.goto("/");
-  await expect(page).toHaveTitle(/storybook/i);
+const smokeScenarios: Record<string, (page: Page) => Promise<void>> = {
+  "button-playground": async (page) => {
+    const button = page.getByRole("button", { name: "Save changes" });
+    await expect(button).toBeVisible();
+    await button.focus();
+    await expect(button).toBeFocused();
+  },
+  "select-playground": async (page) => {
+    const selectTrigger = page.locator('[data-slot="trigger"]').first();
+    await expect(selectTrigger).toBeVisible();
+    await selectTrigger.click();
+    await expect(page.getByRole("option", { name: "Legal review" })).toBeVisible();
+  },
+  "launch-settings-form": async (page) => {
+    await page.getByRole("textbox", { name: "Email address" }).fill("team@cadence.dev");
+    await page.getByRole("combobox", { name: "Review lane" }).click();
+    await page.getByRole("option", { name: "Legal" }).click();
+    await page.getByRole("textbox", { name: "Launch summary" }).fill(
+      "This release coordinates approvals, copy, and rollout risks."
+    );
+    await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Save settings" }).click();
+    await expect(page.locator("pre code").last()).toContainText('"role": "legal"');
+  },
+  "data-table-playground": async (page) => {
+    const table = page.getByRole("table", { name: "Routing lanes" });
+    await expect(table).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.getByRole("searchbox", { name: "Search routing lanes" })).toBeVisible();
 
-  await gotoStory(page, "components-button--playground");
-  const button = page.getByRole("button", { name: "Save changes" });
-  await expect(button).toBeVisible();
-  await button.focus();
-  await expect(button).toBeFocused();
+    const sortableHeader = page.getByRole("columnheader", { name: /owner/i });
+    await sortableHeader.getByRole("button").click();
+    await expect(sortableHeader).toHaveAttribute("aria-sort", "ascending");
 
-  await gotoStory(page, "components-select--playground");
-  const selectTrigger = page.locator('[data-slot="trigger"]').first();
-  await expect(selectTrigger).toBeVisible();
-  await selectTrigger.click();
-  await expect(page.getByRole("option", { name: "Legal review" })).toBeVisible();
+    await page.getByRole("checkbox", { name: /select row/i }).first().click();
+    await expect(page.getByRole("button", { name: "Clear selection" })).toBeVisible();
 
-  await page.goto("/iframe.html?id=components-form--launch-settings&viewMode=story&globals=motion:reduced");
-  await expect(page).toHaveTitle(/components-form--launch-settings/i, { timeout: 15_000 });
-  await page.getByRole("textbox", { name: "Email address" }).fill("team@cadence.dev");
-  await page.getByRole("combobox", { name: "Review lane" }).click();
-  await page.getByRole("option", { name: "Legal" }).click();
-  await page.getByRole("textbox", { name: "Launch summary" }).fill(
-    "This release coordinates approvals, copy, and rollout risks."
-  );
-  await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Save settings" }).click();
-  await expect(page.locator("pre code").last()).toContainText('"role": "legal"');
-});
+    const nextButton = page.getByRole("button", { name: "Next" });
+    await expect(nextButton).toBeEnabled();
+    await nextButton.click();
+    await expect(page.getByRole("button", { name: "Previous" })).toBeEnabled();
+  },
+  "dialog-playground": async (page) => {
+    await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Open approval dialog" }).click();
+    await expect(page.getByRole("dialog", { name: "Launch this release?" })).toBeVisible();
+    await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Close dialog" }).click();
+    await expect(page.getByRole("dialog")).toHaveCount(0);
+  },
+  "popover-playground": async (page) => {
+    await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Inspect summary" }).click();
+    await expect(page.getByText("Release health")).toBeVisible();
+    await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Dismiss" }).click();
+    await expect(page.getByText("Release health")).toHaveCount(0);
+  },
+  "sheet-playground": async (page) => {
+    await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Open right sheet" }).click();
+    await expect(page.getByRole("dialog", { name: "Launch settings" })).toBeVisible();
+    await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Close sheet" }).click();
+    await expect(page.getByRole("dialog")).toHaveCount(0);
+  }
+};
 
-test("storybook data table story stays interactive", async ({ page }) => {
-  await gotoStory(page, "components-data-table--playground");
+for (const story of smokeStories) {
+  const scenario = story.smokeScenario ? smokeScenarios[story.smokeScenario] : null;
 
-  const table = page.getByRole("table", { name: "Routing lanes" });
-  await expect(table).toBeVisible();
-  await expect(page.getByRole("searchbox", { name: "Search routing lanes" })).toBeVisible();
+  if (!scenario) {
+    throw new Error(`Missing smoke scenario "${story.smokeScenario ?? "undefined"}" for ${story.id}.`);
+  }
 
-  const sortableHeader = page.getByRole("columnheader", { name: /owner/i });
-  await sortableHeader.getByRole("button").click();
-  await expect(sortableHeader).toHaveAttribute("aria-sort", "ascending");
-
-  await page.getByRole("checkbox", { name: /select row/i }).first().click();
-  await expect(page.getByRole("button", { name: "Clear selection" })).toBeVisible();
-
-  const nextButton = page.getByRole("button", { name: "Next" });
-  await expect(nextButton).toBeEnabled();
-  await nextButton.click();
-  await expect(page.getByRole("button", { name: "Previous" })).toBeEnabled();
-});
-
-test("storybook overlay stories stay interactive", async ({ page }) => {
-  await gotoStory(page, "components-dialog--playground");
-  await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Open approval dialog" }).click();
-  await expect(page.getByRole("dialog", { name: "Launch this release?" })).toBeVisible();
-  await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Close dialog" }).click();
-  await expect(page.getByRole("dialog")).toHaveCount(0);
-
-  await gotoStory(page, "components-popover--playground");
-  await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Inspect summary" }).click();
-  await expect(page.getByText("Release health")).toBeVisible();
-  await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Dismiss" }).click();
-  await expect(page.getByText("Release health")).toHaveCount(0);
-
-  await gotoStory(page, "components-sheet--playground");
-  await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Open right sheet" }).click();
-  await expect(page.getByRole("dialog", { name: "Launch settings" })).toBeVisible();
-  await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Close sheet" }).click();
-  await expect(page.getByRole("dialog")).toHaveCount(0);
-});
+  test(`storybook ${story.label} stays interactive`, async ({ page }) => {
+    await page.goto("/");
+    await expect(page).toHaveTitle(/storybook/i);
+    await gotoStory(page, story);
+    await scenario(page);
+  });
+}
diff --git a/tests/e2e/support/story-harness-contract.json b/tests/e2e/support/story-harness-contract.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c8527d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/e2e/support/story-harness-contract.json
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+{
+  "stories": [
+    {
+      "id": "components-button--playground",
+      "label": "Button playground",
+      "reason": "Covers the default trigger and focusable control contract.",
+      "smokeScenario": "button-playground",
+      "suites": ["a11y", "docs-smoke"]
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "components-select--playground",
+      "label": "Select playground",
+      "reason": "Covers a representative composed trigger and option list flow.",
+      "smokeScenario": "select-playground",
+      "suites": ["docs-smoke"]
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "components-combobox--controlled",
+      "label": "Combobox controlled",
+      "reason": "Covers the searchable command-driven picker surface.",
+      "suites": ["a11y"]
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "components-data-table--playground",
+      "label": "Data table playground",
+      "reason": "Covers sorting, selection, pagination, and search on a dense composite surface.",
+      "smokeScenario": "data-table-playground",
+      "suites": ["a11y", "docs-smoke"]
+    },
+    {
+      "a11yPrepare": "open-date-picker",
+      "id": "components-datepicker--playground",
+      "label": "Date picker playground",
+      "reason": "Covers the calendar overlay and day-grid interaction surface.",
+      "suites": ["a11y"]
+    },
+    {
+      "a11yPrepare": "open-dialog",
+      "id": "components-dialog--playground",
+      "label": "Dialog playground",
+      "reason": "Covers modal focus management and close behavior.",
+      "smokeScenario": "dialog-playground",
+      "suites": ["a11y", "docs-smoke"]
+    },
+    {
+      "a11yPrepare": "open-dropdown-menu",
+      "id": "components-dropdownmenu--states",
+      "label": "Dropdown menu states",
+      "reason": "Covers menu semantics on the current review surface.",
+      "suites": ["a11y"]
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "components-form--launch-settings",
+      "label": "Form launch settings",
+      "query": "globals=motion:reduced",
+      "reason": "Covers a representative reduced-motion form flow with validation and submission state.",
+      "smokeScenario": "launch-settings-form",
+      "suites": ["a11y", "docs-smoke"]
+    },
+    {
+      "a11yPrepare": "open-popover",
+      "id": "components-popover--playground",
+      "label": "Popover playground",
+      "reason": "Covers anchored disclosure content and dismiss behavior.",
+      "smokeScenario": "popover-playground",
+      "suites": ["a11y", "docs-smoke"]
+    },
+    {
+      "a11yPrepare": "open-sheet",
+      "id": "components-sheet--playground",
+      "label": "Sheet playground",
+      "reason": "Covers drawer-style overlay semantics and close behavior.",
+      "smokeScenario": "sheet-playground",
+      "suites": ["a11y", "docs-smoke"]
+    }
+  ]
+}