Commencement 2026
Schedule
The Class Day program recognizes the achievements of the graduating class at the GSD Awards Ceremony and Class Day Address, followed by a reception for graduates and their guests. Earlier in the day, graduates take class photos and participate in a rehearsal for the next day’s Diploma Ceremony.
3:30pm GSD Awards Ceremony and Class Day Address
5:00pm Reception
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 guests, then holds its own Diploma Ceremony, where the GSD Dean presents diplomas.
9:30 am University Commencement Morning Exercises in Harvard Yard
12:15 pm Lunch at the GSD
2:00 pm GSD Diploma Ceremony
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 area for guests at the University-wide ceremony. 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.
Class Day Tickets
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.
Commencement Day Tickets
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 & GSD Diploma Ceremony
Available by advance registration to graduating students and up to 3 guests. 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 Class Day. Standby ticket holders line up separately and enter after Tent Ticket holders, but before the ceremonies begin. If seats remain, they will be seated under the tent. While tent seating is not guaranteed, there is space outside the tent, including uncovered chairs and a backyard standing area where guests may observe the ceremonies. Standby ticket holders may also choose to view the ceremonies from Piper Auditorium, especially in inclement weather.
Wait List Tickets
As part of Commencement registration, you will indicate how many guests you plan to bring. If your guest count exceeds the number of tickets allotted to each graduate, you will automatically be placed on a waitlist for both GSD tent tickets and Harvard Yard guest tickets and notified if space becomes available. Please note additional tent tickets are not guaranteed, and waitlist tickets for the University Ceremony in Harvard Yard are rarely available.
Piper Auditorium Webcast Viewing
GSD Class Day, the GSD Commencement ceremony, and the Harvard Yard university-wide ceremony will all be livestreamed in Piper Auditorium at Gund Hall. Guests should bring their tent or standby ticket, as it may be required for entry. GSD ceremony tickets will also provide admission to the Piper Auditorium viewing.
Live Webcasts and Language Options
All livestreams will include live English captions. Translated captions will be available via separate links in multiple languages, including Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified), Hindi, Korean, and Spanish. With advance notice, additional languages may be made available upon request.
Guests can find instructions for Harvard’s wireless internet on the guest wifi information page.
Commencement Guest Policy and Guidelines
All guests must present a ticket for entry.
Morning Exercises in Tercentenary Theatre, utilize strict security measures, including walk-through metal detectors and bag searches for all guests at entrances. Attendees are strongly advised to avoid bringing bags to speed up entry. 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.
Student Life has sent Outlook calendar invitations for Class Day and Commencement events to all graduating students. These invitations include specific locations and detailed instructions. Please accept the invitations and make sure you have alerts enabled so you receive reminders as the events take place.
Policies & Degree Conferral
Commencement and related ceremonies are governed by the University-Wide Statement on Rights and Responsibilities, along with other applicable University and School policies.
Students remain subject to University and School-based rules, policies, and procedures, until the time their degree is officially conferred, which is 11:59 p.m. on the day of Commencement for students who remain in good standing and eligible to graduate.
Visa Support Letters
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 become available.
A GSD letter is not an official invitation and does not guarantee entry.
Ticket Policy
Tickets are not automatically guaranteed. To receive tickets, graduating students must register for Commencement and pick up their tickets in person.
The purchase and sale of Commencement tickets is strictly prohibited.
Attempting to do so may jeopardize your ability to participate in Commencement.
Regalia
The deadline for reserving regalia was April 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. If you have questions, see the Regalia FAQ. Graduates who ordered regalia through the Harvard COOP can pick it up at the COOP (1400 Massachusetts Ave) starting May 21 for GSD students and May 25 for dual-degree students. Rental regalia may be returned May 28 – June 4, or ship it to Herff Jones via the Return Portal. If you decide not to attend, you may cancel for a full refund up to the day before. Regalia Order Form.
Official regalia is required. 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.
GSD Campus Map
A map of the GSD campus indicating designated entrances for guests with Accessible Seating, Tent, or Standby tickets.
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 including emotional support animals are prohibited from University and GSD Commencement ceremonies.
For more information on Accessibility at Commencement, please view the Accessibility FAQs section below.
Planning Your Trip
Lodgings/Hotels
Hotels in Cambridge and nearby areas fill up well before Commencement, as many area colleges and universities hold commencement around the same time. Reserve early and, when possible, choose options with flexible cancellation. Because Harvard Square hotels may be limited or expensive, consider MBTA-accessible options.
Parking
Traffic through Harvard Square is extremely congested during Commencement, so please plan ahead. Visitors should use commercial parking facilities listed on the Harvard Square website and avoid parking on residential streets. 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 is directly across the street from Harvard Yard.
From South of Boston: Drive to Braintree MBTA garage (Braintree exit 17 off of Route 3 coming from Cape Cod or the South Shore). Take the Red Line toward Alewife to “Harvard.”
From the North of Boston: Drive to Alewife MBTA garage. Take the Red Line and get off at the third stop, “Harvard.”
From the West of Boston: Drive to Riverside MBTA station in Newton (Green Line terminus, Exit 22A off Route 128). Take the Green Line to “Park Street,”, follow signs for “Red Line to Alewife” and ride four stops to “Harvard.”
Shuttle & Van Services
Fixed Route: Shuttles run between Business School parking and Harvard Square, and between the Radcliffe Quad and Harvard Square near the Yard. Buses operate 6:30a.m. – 9p.m. on May 28 and 8:00a.m. – 9:00p.m. on May 27, and are accessible for wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
Day Time Van: 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 can be booked.
Evening Van: Operates 7p.m. – 3a.m. (last call 2:30a.m.) for the 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 will be crowded and traffic heavy, so consider being dropped off a short walk away. For rideshare apps, you can use these addresses:
Harvard Yard:
1350 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02138.
Graduate School of Design, Gund Hall:
48 Quincy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138.
GSD Campus Map
Entrance for ACCESSIBLE TICKET holders
Cambridge Street
Walk through the entrance of the CGIS building and out the back door. Then you will be in the Gund Backyard.
Entrance for TENT TICKET holders
Cambridge Street
Walk around the CGIS building and into the Gund Backyard.
Entrance for STANDBY TICKET holders
Sumner Road or Kirkland Street
Enter on either side of 38 Kirkland Street and make your way to the Gund Backyard.
FAQs
TICKETING
Yes.
Ticket pickup will take place the week before Commencement and at the beginning of Commencement week. Dates, times, and pickup location have been shared with graduating students via email. In order to pick up tickets, students must first:
- Complete the Graduating Student Survey
- Return all materials borrowed from the Library
- Bring your HUID
You will NOT be able to pick up your tickets if you have not completed these to-dos.
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.
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.
You may bring different guests to different events. If you want to celebrate with more than two people, this lets more loved ones share part 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 safe and comfortable experience, the University limits the number of tickets per student based on venue capacity and fire-safety regulations. A fixed number of tickets also promotes fairness so all graduates can invite at least a small group. In addition, a predictable headcount helps the University plan parking, security, seating, accessibility, and crowd flow, while reserving space for guests with special needs, such as wheelchair users or those requiring ASL interpreters.
No, you cannot buy Harvard Commencement tickets. The sale of Commencement tickets is strictly prohibited. Tickets are provided for free exclusively to degree candidates, who must register for them and pick them up in person.
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 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.
Regalia pickup for GSD graduates who ordered through the Harvard COOP will be at the COOP Brattle location (1400 Massachusetts Ave.). Pickup starts May 21 for GSD students and May 25 for dual-degree students.
Please note for pickup:
- There will be no cap and gown pickup available Saturday 5/23 or Sunday 5/24
- The COOP will be open for Regalia pickup on Memorial Day (5/25) from 10am-6pm
- The COOP will be open at 6am on Commencement Day 5/28
Students may return rental regalia to the COOP (1400 Massachusetts Ave.) between May 28–June 4, or ship it to Herff Jones via the Herff Jones | Return Portal.
Yes, you can have someone else pick up your regalia for you.
We ask graduates that would like someone else to pick up their regalia to provide the person picking up an email or text showing the customer’s name and the approval for us to give their order to that person. (It is best to have a copy of the order.)
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].
Accessibility
Graduates whose loved ones require accessible seating may contact [email protected].
- GSD Class Day: The person with the disability does not have to sit alone. All graduates get the same Tent Tickets (2), which can be used for accessible seating.
- Morning Exercises in the Yard: Each graduate gets 2 tickets. The guest using accessible seating may have one companion seated with them in the accessible seating area.
- GSD Diploma Ceremony: The person with the disability does not sit alone. All graduates get the same Tent Tickets (3), which can be used for accessible seating.
Standing is not permitted in the accessibility seating sections, as it can block the view of guests who are unable to stand. Please take this into careful consideration when deciding whether accessibility seating is the best option for your family.
Yes. Service animals trained to perform tasks for individuals with disabilities are welcome at all Commencement events. If you are requesting tickets for the accessibility seating sections, it is helpful—though not required—to let us know if your family will be accompanied by a service dog.
These terms refer to animals that provide comfort by being present with a person. Because they are not trained to perform a specific job or task, they are not considered service animals under the he Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) . Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are generally not permitted in public places in Massachusetts. Under both the ADA and MA state law, (ESAs) are not classified as service animals and therefore do not have the same access.
The GSD Campus Map indicates designated entrances for guests with Accessible Seating, Tent, or Standby tickets.
The University interactive maps provide information on accessible pathways and building entrances around the larger campus.
Yes. Gund Hall has wheelchair-accessible restrooms, including a single-user, gender-neutral, accessible restroom on the first floor off the info-commons L20 as well as and additional restrooms on other floor levels.
There is a ramped entrance at the Quincy Street entry to Gund Hall, and the Cambridge Street entrance is level with the sidewalk and does not require stairs. Two elevators can be found in Gund Hall with access to all floors. If you need assistance with the doors to Gund Hall, please use the Quincy Street entrance and the on-site Security guard will assist you.
The GSD will have ambassadors and a limited number of wheelchairs available to assist guests who need help traveling from the drop-off area to their seats.
For those attending the Yard Ceremony there will be staff at the gates to Tercentenary Theatre on Commencement. These staff will be providing wheelchair assistance (rides) from the gate to the guest’s seat in Tercentenary Theater, either to general seating or accessible seating. No reservation is needed for the wheelchair runner service.
Please note: these wheelchairs are for transport only and will be used solely to escort guests to and from seating sections. If you think your family member will need a wheelchair for the entire day, we recommend that you rent one ahead of time.
- Taxis: We recommend first calling the accessible Cambridge Taxi program at 866-654-1003. Other companies include:
- Metro Cab: 617-782-5500
- Boston Cab: 617-536-5010
- Independent Taxis Operators Association: 617-268-1313
- Checker Cab of Cambridge: 617-497-9000
- Top/City Cab of Boston: 617-536-5100
- Uber offers wheelchair-accessible vehicles in Boston through its Uber WAV (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle) service.
- Lyft provides wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAV) in Boston/Cambridge. You must enable “Wheelchair access” in your app settings first to request these vehicles.
Guests may be dropped off at the Quincy Street entry to Gund Hall, and the Cambridge Street entrance is level with the sidewalk (no stairs).
Handicap parking for Gund Hall (48 Quincy St) near Cambridge St is available via Harvard University parking garages, including 52 Oxford Street and 10 Everett Street. On-street, metered accessible spots are limited and visitors with disabilities should use the Harvard Transportation disability parking resources for authorized access.
- Broadway Garage (7 Felton St): Located nearby but it does not have an elevator. This garage is accessible with a few spaces on the first floor that can be used for accessible parking. There are curb cuts at all crosswalks between the garage and Gund Hall.
- 52 Oxford Street Garage: Located near the Peabody Museum and Science Center.
- 10 Everett Street Garage: Serves the Harvard Law School area and is a short distance from Gund Hall.
- Permits: Valid disability plates or placards are required for all accessible spots.
- Visitor Parking: Visitors can find information on accessible parking through Harvard Disability Resources.
- City of Cambridge: For on-street spots, you can look for designated spaces using the City of Cambridge parking map.
Questions about Commencement?
For further information, please contact us at [email protected].