Commencement 2026
Schedule
The Class Day Program recognizes the achievements of the graduating class through class photos, rehearsals for the upcoming Commencement ceremony, the GSD Awards Ceremony, and a Class Day Address. The day culminates in a reception for graduates and their guests.
During Commencement Day, the University Morning Exercises include addresses by the Harvard President and the University’s Commencement Speaker, as well as the conferral of degrees by the President.
Following this, the Graduate School of Design provides lunch for graduates and up to three of their guests, and hosts its own Diploma Ceremony, where the GSD Dean personally presents diplomas to graduates.
Please note specifics are subject to change and many of these events are restricted to ticketed or pre-registered guests.
Information for Guests
Tickets are required and must be reserved in advance to ensure all graduates can bring loved ones. Registration details have been emailed to graduating students.
For the University-wide ceremony, a guest ticket guarantees entry to Harvard Yard but does not guarantee a seat. There is no tented seating or covered standing area for guests at this event. For the GSD Class Day and Diploma ceremonies on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, a tent ticket guarantees a seat under the tent, provided the guest arrives before those holding standby tickets. A standby ticket does not guarantee a seat or space under the tent.
Guest Tickets for Class Day
GSD Awards Ceremony & Class Day Address
Class Day:
Graduates sit with their loved ones in the audience; as a result, ticket availability for this event is more limited than for the Diploma Ceremony.
Each graduate is eligible to receive up to 2 tent tickets. Graduates will be provided with a Graduate Credential for access to the ceremony and do not require a ticket.
Guest Tickets for Commencement Day
Morning Exercises in Harvard Yard
Each graduate is eligible to receive up to 2 guest tickets. Graduates will be provided with a Graduate Credential for access to the ceremony and do not require a ticket.
Commencement in Tercentenary Theatre is celebratory, but may not be comfortable for all. The outdoor venue has limited seating, and bathrooms and water stations may be difficult to reach in large crowds. All persons, bags, and items are searched. Backpacks are not permitted, and anything over 12″ x 12″ x 12″ is not allowed. Strollers may be used only in Old Yard, not the Tercentenary Theatre.
GSD Lunch
Available by advance registration to graduating students and up to 3 guests.
GSD Diploma Ceremony
Each graduate is eligible to receive up to 3 tent tickets. Graduates will receive a Graduate Credential for access to the ceremony and do not require a ticket.
Additional Ticketing Options
Standby Tickets
Offered for the GSD Diploma Ceremony and GSD Class Day ceremonies. Standby ticket holders will wait in a separate line and are seated if space is available after all regular tent ticket holders have entered. Seats and tent access are not guaranteed for standby ticket holders.
Wait List
As part of the registration process for Commencement you will indicate your number of guests. If this number is greater than the number of tickets allotted to each graduate, you will automatically be added to a wait list for GSD tent tickets and for Harvard Yard guest tickets and you will be notified if space becomes available. Please note that additional tent tickets aren’t guaranteed and waitlist tickets are rarely available for the University Ceremony in Harvard Yard.
Piper Auditorium Webcast Viewing
GSD Class Day and Commencement, and the Harvard Yard ceremony will be livestreamed in Piper Auditorium at Gund Hall. Guests should bring their tent or standby ticket, which may be required for entry. GSD ceremony tickets also serve as admission to the viewing.
Live Webcasts and Language Options
The GSD’s Diploma Ceremony, Awards Ceremony, and Class Day Address, and the Harvard Yard university-wide ceremony, will be livestreamed. This includes live English captions. Translated captions will be available on separate links in multiple languages, including Chinese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified), Hindi, Korean, and Spanish. With advanced notice, additional languages may be available on request.
Guests can find instructions for accessing Harvard’s wireless internet on the guest wifi information page.
Commencement Guest Policy and Guidelines
All guests must present a ticket for entry.
Attendees and their belongings are subject to inspection before entering events. Banners, posters, and luggage are not permitted.
In compliance with Massachusetts state law, weapons of any kind are strictly prohibited.
To ensure a safe and comfortable experience for all, aisles must remain clear at all times.
Guests may take photos from their seats but cannot block the view of others. Professional photographers will capture each student as they cross the stage.
Policies for Morning Exercises in Harvard Yard can be viewed on the University’s Important Guest Information page, in the tab labeled Yard Policies.
Information for Graduates
By registering to participate in Commencement, graduates and their guests agree to abide by all state, local, Harvard University, and Harvard GSD public health guidelines and protocols that may be in place at the time you come to campus.
Visa Support Letters for Guests
Please send an email to [email protected] if your international guests need visa support letters to attend Commencement.
Review Harvard International Office advice and the US consulate’s site, and book visa appointments early. If scheduled after Commencement, keep the slot in case earlier times open.
A GSD letter is not an official invitation and does not guarantee entry.
Regalia
Official regalia is required for all graduates at Commencement. Place your order via the Harvard COOP and Herff Jones and collect it at the Harvard Square Coop in May.
If you later decide not to attend, you may cancel for a full refund up to the day before. Regalia Order Form.
Graduates may only wear official Harvard accessories (pins, tassels, cords) with their regalia. Signs, flags, and large items are not permitted in Harvard Yard or the GSD Diploma Ceremony. Graduates may be asked to remove unapproved items.
✓
Download the GSD Graduation Checklist to stay on track by ensuring you complete all required tasks and close any remaining loops. Review the list carefully and take note of any deadlines that are relevant to you.
Accessibility
Harvard University (HU) provides several options for guest accessibility and accommodations—including accessible parking information, shuttle and van services, HU ceremony accommodations, and wheelchair rental information. Please refer to the University’s “Guests with Disabilities” online resource if you and/or your guest have specific needs. Listed below are resources specific to the Graduate School of Design (GSD) campus.
Accessible Seating
Accessible seating tickets are available for guests with disabilities, medical conditions, or limited mobility for the GSD Class Day and Commencement ceremonies. Individuals requiring accessible seating will be permitted to have one companion accompany them into the accessible seating section. The companion must also have an accessible seating ticket. Space is limited, and advance planning and registration is strongly encouraged. Graduates may reserve accessible seating by contacting [email protected].
Shuttle Service Map
Accessible and available for all guests. Includes stops and information for the GSD campus.
Harvard University Online Campus Map
Interactive map with information on accessible pathways and building entrances.
Service Animals
Whether you are a student or a guest, service animals—as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)—are allowed at Commencement ceremonies. Pet dogs and all other animals are prohibited from University and GSD Commencement ceremonies.
Planning Your Trip
Lodgings/Hotels
Hotels in Cambridge and the surrounding area fill up well before Commencement, as many other area universities and colleges hold graduations at the same time. We strongly recommend reserving early and, when possible, choosing options with flexible cancellation. Harvard Square hotels may be limited or expensive, so consider properties along the MBTA system in Boston, Somerville, Medford, Arlington, or Watertown. Harvard is easily reached via the MBTA Red Line, major bus routes, taxis, and ride-share.
Parking
Traffic to and from Harvard Square will be very congested during Commencement, so please plan extra travel time. Visitors should use commercial parking facilities listed on the Harvard Square website and avoid parking on residential streets. Additional information and maps are available from Harvard University Transportation & Parking and the Harvard Parking Map.
Public Transportation
The Harvard Square stop on the MBTA’s Red Line subway is directly across the street from Harvard Yard.
From South of Boston: Drive to Braintree MBTA station parking garage (Braintree exit 17 off of Route 3 coming from Cape Cod or the South Shore). Take the Red Line toward Alewife to “Harvard.” Allow about 45 minutes on the subway.
From the North of Boston: Drive to Alewife MBTA garage. Take the Red Line and get off at the third stop, “Harvard.” Allow 15 minutes on the subway.
From the West of Boston: Drive to Riverside MBTA station in Newton (Green Line terminus, Exit 22A off Route 128, open-air lot). Take the Green Line to “Park Street,” then follow signs for “Red Line to Alewife” and ride four stops to “Harvard.” Allow about one hour on the subway.
Shuttle & Van Services
Fixed Route Service: Continuous shuttles run between Business School parking and Harvard Square, and between the Radcliffe Quad and Harvard Square near the Yard. Buses operate 6:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. on May 28 and 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. on May 27, and are fully accessible for wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
Day Time Van Service: Fully accessible vans are available for people who, due to a disability or medical condition, cannot use the fixed-route shuttles. Use is limited to those preapproved by Harvard Disability Services. Email [email protected]. Once approved, ride reservations will be booked.
Evening Van Service: Operates 7 p.m. – 3 a.m. (last call 2:30 a.m.) for the entire Harvard community, including visitors. Offers point‑to‑point rides within service boundaries in Cambridge and Allston. No advance reservations. Request rides at 617‑495‑0400.
Rideshare
Harvard Square is extremely populated on Commencement Morning and traffic can be very dense. When using a Rideshare application, you can enter the address:
1350 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02138.
FAQs
TICKETING
Yes.
Ticket pickup information will be shared with graduating students. Before picking up tickets, students must first:
- Complete the Graduating Student Survey
- Return all materials borrowed from the Library
- Bring your HUID.
For both the GSD ceremonies and the University-wide ceremony, all children over 2 years old will need their own ticket; children 2 years old or younger do not. Please note that graduates and guests sit in separate sections, so we’re not able to coordinate children crossing the stage with you. However, for doctoral graduates being hooded, doctoral program staff may be able to help arrange for children to stand with you during the hooding.
To ensure the safety and security of all attendees, all individuals, bags, and personal items are subject to inspection before entering the GSD Class Day and Diploma Day ceremonies. If you are attending the morning exercises in Harvard Yard, please review their bag policy, as it differs from the GSD’s policy.
While we welcome families with young children, please ensure that strollers do not block the aisles. We encourage guests with strollers to sit along the outer aisles or in the back row so they can move more freely if needed during the ceremony.
No. You can bring different guests to different events. If you want to celebrate your graduation with more than two guests, this can be a nice way to allow all your loved ones to experience some portion of the day. Ultimately, how you distribute the guest tickets you ordered is at your discretion.
Tickets are not automatically guaranteed and handed out to every graduating student. To receive tickets, you must register for Commencement and pick up your tickets in person. The purchase and sale of Commencement tickets is strictly prohibited.
To ensure a comfortable guest experience while balancing the expected number of graduating students and their guests with the venue’s capacity, we must maintain a ticket limit.
Tickets cannot be mailed or sent electronically. If you’re unable to attend designated pickup times, there will be a process in place to authorize someone else to collect your tickets for you.
You can arrange to pick up your diploma at the Registrar’s Office.
REGALIA
Order before the deadline anyway. You can cancel later for a full refund. If you miss the deadline, prices increase and gown availability is not guaranteed.
Herff Jones sells regalia and extras such as class rings, announcements, diploma frames, and souvenir tassels. To rent the basic package (gown, cap with tassel, hood), select your school and degree on the Herff Jones site, then go directly to the Rental Cap and Gown tab.
Yes, but it is expensive. We generally recommend purchasing only if you plan an academic teaching career.
Yes, but you cannot keep the hood from your rental set. The rental is a full package (gown, cap with tassel, hood). You may add a purchased hood for an extra cost. The COOP may have a limited number of hoods for sale at pickup; if available, you may swap and pay only the price difference.
Note: Even with rental regalia, you keep your cap and tassel as a souvenir.
We strongly recommend shipping to the COOP for reliable, on-time delivery and lower cost. Do not select “mail to home” and enter the GSD address; the package will be returned, and GSD/Herff Jones are not responsible for lost mail.
Consider home delivery only if you have left the GSD campus, no longer live locally, and may not have time to visit the COOP in May. The COOP opens early on Commencement morning, so same-day pickup is possible even if you arrive the night before.
On the Herff Jones site, choose Dual Degrees Cap and Gown, then Master Dual Degrees. Your degree combination should appear under “area of study.” Your regalia will include insignia for both the GSD and your other Harvard school (SEAS, HKS, or HLS).
Email: [email protected].
Questions about Commencement?
For further information, please contact us at [email protected].