Schedule of Events

Class of 2026 Commencement Weekend Events & Traditions

The Class of 2026 Commencement schedule is also available in the following formats:

• Select “W&M Grad” in the W&M mobile app to browse and save events with the latest updates. (Available in May.)
• See the full list of events and traditions held during Commencement Weekend.

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Event details may have changed since your last visit. Please review this page to confirm the latest information before attending.

Sunday, March 29

• Senior Spring Day
  11 a.m.–4 p.m.
  Location: Alumni House

Thursday, April 23

• Grad Student Bell Ringing
  3:30–5 p.m.
  Location: Wren Building

Friday, May 1

• Last Day of Class Bell Ringing
  10 a.m.–4 p.m.
  Location: Wren Building

Tuesday, May 12

• Hail & Farewell Pre-Commencement Celebration
  Time: TBD
  Location: Alan B. Miller Hall, Brinkley Commons

Wednesday, May 13

• Senior Class Dance
  Time: 9 p.m.–midnight
  Location: Sunken Garden Tent
  Weather Location: Sadler Center, Chesapeake Rooms

Thursday, May 14

• Phi Beta Kappa Initiation & Reception
  1–3:30 p.m.
  Location: Phi Beta Kappa Hall, Glenn Close Theater
• Senior Student-Athlete Reception
  3:30–5:30 p.m.
  Location: School of Education, Matoaka Woods Room
• Vanguard Cording Celebration
  4–6 p.m.
  Location: Sadler Center, Chesapeake Rooms
• Neuroscience Pinning and Reception
  4–6 p.m.
  Location: Integrated Science Center (ISC3), Room 1221
• Environment & Sustainability
  5–7 p.m.
  Location: Keck Lab
  Weather Location: Alan B. Miller Hall, Brinkley Commons
• ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
  5–7 p.m.
  Location: Sadler Center, Commonwealth Auditorium & Lobby
• American Studies Reception
  5:30–7:30 p.m.
  Location: Wren Building, The Great Hall
• Khatalampay Celebration
  6:30–8:30 p.m.
  Location: Sunken Garden Tent
  Weather Location: Sadler Center, Chesapeake Rooms
• Candlelight Ceremony
  9:30–11:30 p.m.
  Location: Wren Yard (CW Side)
  Weather Location: Sunken Garden Tent

Friday, May 15

• Lavender Celebration
  8:30–10 a.m.
  Location: Sunken Garden Tent
  Weather Location: Bee McLeod Recreation Center, Gymnasium
• American Studies
  10 a.m.–noon
  Location: Blow Memorial Hall, Grimsley Boardroom
• Computational & Applied Mathematics & Statistics (CAMS)
  10:30 a.m.–noon
  Location: Music Arts Center, Concert Hall, Room 132
• Center for Geospatial Analysis
  11 a.m.–1 p.m.
  Location: Swem Library
• Donning of the Kente Ceremony
  11:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
  Location: Sunken Garden Tent
  Weather Location: Bee McLeod Recreation Center, Gymnasium
• Business Undergraduate Open House
  1–3 p.m.
  Location: Alan B. Miller Hall, Atrium
• Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Reception
  2–4 p.m.
  Location: Muscarelle Museum of Art, Event Hall
• Ceremonia Raíces
  2–4 p.m.
  Location: Sadler Center, Commonwealth Auditorium
• School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics Graduate Student Reception
  2-4 p.m.
  Location: Integrated Science Center (ISC4), Atrium
• St Andrews Joint Degree Programme Reception
  2–4 p.m.
  Location: Phi Beta Kappa Hall, Atrium
• Spiritual Celebration
  2:30–4:30 p.m.
  Location: Music Art Center, Concert Hall, Room 132
• Integrative Conservation
  2:30–4:30 p.m.
  Location: Integrated Science Center (ISC3), Room 1221
• POSSE Celebration
  3–5 p.m.
  Location: Undergraduate Admission, Presentation Room
• School of Education Doctoral Cording Ceremony
  3–5 p.m.
  Location: School of Education, Matoaka Woods Room
• Main Ceremony (All Degrees)
  5:45–8 p.m.
  Gates open at 4 p.m. Graduate Procession begins at 5:45 p.m.
  Location: Zable Stadium
  Weather Location: Kaplan Arena

Saturday, May 16

8–10 a.m.

• History
  Location: Sunken Garden Tent
  Weather Location: Sadler Center, Chesapeake & Tidewater Rooms
• William & Mary Law School
  Location: Kaplan Arena

8:30–10:30 a.m.

• Economics
  Location: Wren Yard (CW Side)
  Weather Location: Bee McLeod Recreation Center, Gymnasium

9–11 a.m.

• Anthropology
  Location: Crim Dell Meadow
  Weather Location: Sadler Center, Commonwealth Auditorium
• Art & Art History
  Location: Andrews Hall, Foyer
• Classical Studies
  Location: Undergraduate Admission, Presentation Room
• Data Science
  Location: Alumni House, Hunter Hall
• Film & Media Studies
  Location: Integrated Science Center (ISC3), Room 1221
• Linguistics
  Location: Jefferson Lawn
  Weather Location: Phi Beta Kappa, Concert Hall

9:30 –11:30 a.m.

• Mathematics
  Location: Phi Beta Kappa Hall, Glenn Close Theater

10 a.m.–Noon

• Batten School of Coastal & Marine Science
  Location: Batten School & VIMS Campus, Watermen’s Hall, McHugh Auditorium

11 a.m.–1 p.m.

• Africana Studies
  Location: Integrated Science Center (ISC4), Room 0350
• Global Studies
  Location: Blow Memorial Hall, Grimsley Boardroom
• Psychological Sciences
  Location: Sunken Garden Tent
  Weather Location: Sadler Center, Chesapeake ABC & Tidewater AB

11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

• Business: Online Programs
  Location: Muscarelle Museum of Art

Noon–2 p.m.

• School of Education 
  Location: Kaplan Arena

1–3 p.m.

• Geology
  Location: Integrated Science Center (ISC3), Room 1221
• Business Graduate Open House
  Location: Alan B. Miller Hall, Atrium
• Music
  Location: Music Arts Center, Comey Recital Hall, Room 142
• Public Policy
  Location: Wren Yard (CW Side)
  Weather Location: Swem Library, Read & Relax
• Religious Studies
  Location: Tucker Hall
• Sociology 
  Location: Sadler Center, Commonwealth Auditorium
• Theatre & Performance
  Location: Phi Beta Kappa Hall, Black Box Theater

1:30–3:30 p.m.

• Computer Science
  Location: Bee McLeod Recreation Center, Gymnasium

2–4 p.m.

• Gender, Sexuality, & Women’s Studies
  Location: Integrated Science Center (ISC4), Room 0350
• Physics
  Location: Sadler Center, Chesapeake Rooms

3–6 p.m.

• Biology
  Location: Sunken Garden Tent
  Weather Location: Kaplan Arena (7 p.m.)

4–6 p.m.

• Mason School of Business Graduation Ceremony
  Location: Kaplan Arena

4:30–6:30 p.m.

• Government
  Location: Wren Yard (CW Side)
  Weather Location: Bee McLeod Recreation Center, Gymnasium
• Modern Languages and Literatures
  Location: Sadler Center, Commonwealth Auditorium

4:30–7 p.m.

• Philosophy
  Location: Blow Memorial Hall, Grimsley Boardroom

5–7 p.m.

• Chemistry
  Location: Phi Beta Kappa Hall, Glenn Close Theater
• English
  Location: Sadler Center, Chesapeake Rooms

7–9 p.m.

• International Relations
  Location: Sunken Garden Tent
  Weather Location: Alumni House, Hunter Hall
• Health Sciences
  Location: Bee McLeod Recreation Center, Gymnasium