SCHEDULE
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is pleased to announce the 2026 commencement schedule. We invite you to join us as we celebrate the class of 2026.
Call for Student Speaker Proposals and 21st Century Leader Award Nominations
Deadline Extended: 21st Century Leader Award Nominations Due January 9, 2026
Each year during commencement season, the University of Massachusetts Amherst recognizes our graduates' exceptional contributions through various ceremonies and traditions.
Attention graduates: If your UMass Amherst experience exemplifies what it means to be a member of the Class of 2026, we encourage you to learn more and submit a proposal to be the student speaker for your degree conferral ceremony. Three students will be selected, one each for the doctoral hooding, master's and education specialist, and undergraduate ceremonies.
Attention faculty, staff, and graduate students: Do you know an undergraduate who stands out among their peers and embodies the spirit of a 21st Century Leader? Learn more and consider nominating them for the 21st Century Leader Award.
Class of 2026 Degree Conferral Ceremonies
During the degree conferral ceremonies, we will hear words of inspiration from university leaders, welcome honored guests, applaud the student speakers, and cheer for our graduates as degrees are conferred.
Doctoral Hooding
All doctoral candidates
Mullins Center
Master's and Education Specialist Commencement Ceremony
All master's and education specialist degree candidates
9 a.m.
Mullins Center
This is a ticketed event. This event will also be livestreamed; a link will appear at the top of this website on May 15.
Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony
All bachelor's degree candidates
5 p.m.
McGuirk Alumni Stadium
This event will be livestreamed; a link will appear at the top of this website on May 15.
Stockbridge School of Agriculture Ceremony
Associate degree candidates
3 p.m.
Bowker Auditorium
Senior Recognition Ceremonies (Undergraduate Only)
Throughout the commencement weekends, schools and colleges also celebrate their graduates at senior recognition ceremonies where undergraduates have their names read aloud as they cross the stage. All senior recognition ceremonies will be ticketed events. Information about guest tickets will be available soon.
Commonwealth Honors College Celebration of Excellence
2:30 p.m.
Mullins Center
Manning College of Information & Computer Sciences
2 p.m.
Mullins Center
University Without Walls
2 p.m.
Bromery Center for the Arts
Isenberg School of Management
9 a.m.
Mullins Center
Bachelor’s Degree with Individual Concentration
10 a.m.
Campus Center Auditorium
College of Humanities & Fine Arts
10 a.m.
Recreation Center
Marieb College of Nursing
10 a.m.
Bromery Center for the Arts
College of Education
1 p.m.
Bromery Center for the Arts
Riccio College of Engineering
1 p.m.
Mullins Center
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
5 p.m.
Mullins Center
School of Public Health & Health Sciences
9 a.m.
Mullins Center
College of Natural Sciences
1 p.m.
Mullins Center
Demystifying Commencement at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
Please bookmark this page and make it a habit to check back once a month for updates. We'll continue adding information as details are confirmed, including a complete “Frequently Asked Questions” section. That said, here are the answers to the three questions we're asked most often after “When is Commencement?“
1. Is commencement the graduation ceremony at UMass Amherst?
Yes! Graduation is the fulfillment of your degree requirements, while commencement is the ceremony that honors that achievement. Degrees are conferred and graduates are celebrated at the:
Doctoral Hooding, Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 10 a.m., Mullins Center
Master's and Education Specialist Commencement Ceremony, Friday, May 15, 2026, at 9 a.m., Mullins Center
Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony, Friday, May 15, 2026, at 5 p.m., McGuirk Alumni Stadium
Stockbridge School of Agriculture Ceremony (Associate Degree), Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 3 p.m., Bowker Auditorium
2. I'm an undergraduate—which ceremonies should I attend?
For the full experience, we encourage undergraduates and families to attend both the main commencement ceremony on Friday, May 15, at 5 p.m. at McGuirk Alumni Stadium, and their individual senior recognition ceremony (see the senior recognition schedule above). The commencement ceremony at McGuirk Alumni Stadium is a fun and celebratory event held outdoors, where degrees are conferred, the UMass Wind Ensemble plays, and the chancellor, student speaker, and keynote speakers present their remarks. Meanwhile, the senior recognition ceremonies are smaller, more intimate events where each undergraduate's name is called.
3. Are tickets required to attend the ceremonies? What is the cost?
All events are free of charge.
The Doctoral Hooding on May 9 at the Mullins Center
The Commonwealth Honors College Celebration of Excellence on May 9 at the Mullins Center
The main Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony on May 15 at McGuirk Stadium
The Stockbridge School of Agriculture Ceremony (Associate Degree) on May 16 at Bowker Auditorium.
Guest tickets are required and guest names must be registered at the following ceremonies:
Master's and Education Specialist Commencement Ceremony on May 15 at the Mullins Center
All other Senior Recognition Ceremonies (see the full schedule above)
Graduates participating in the ceremonies must be registered for every ceremony they attend, but they do not need tickets.
Details about ticket allocation and distribution are forthcoming and will be posted on the page as they are confirmed.