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.
• See the full Commencement calendar. 

Please note these events are open to all members of the Class of 2026, regardless of "Senior" designation.

Jump to Main Ceremony

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 (Open to all members of the Class of 2026)
  11 a.m.–4 p.m.
  Location: Alumni House

Thursday, April 23

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

Thursday, April 30

• Senior Signing Day (Open to all members of the Class of 2026)
  1–3 p.m.
  Location: Sadler Center, Chesapeake Rooms

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: 9-11 a.m.
  Location: Alan B. Miller Hall, Brinkley Commons

Wednesday, May 13

• Senior Class Dance (Open to all members of the Class of 2026)
  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 Theatre
• 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: Sadler Center, Commonwealth Auditorium
  
• ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
  5–7 p.m.
  Location: Alan B. Miller Hall, Brinkley Commons
• Khatalampay Celebration
  6:30–8:30 p.m.
  Location: Sunken Garden Tent
  Weather Location: Sadler Center, Chesapeake Rooms
• Candlelight Ceremony (Open to all members of the Class of 2026)
  9:30–10:30 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
• Ceremonia Raíces
  2–3:30 p.m.
  Location: Sadler Center, Commonwealth Auditorium
• Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Reception
  2–4 p.m.
  Location: Muscarelle Museum of Art, Event Hall
• School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics Graduate Student Reception
  2-4 p.m.
  Location: Integrated Science Center (ISC4), Atrium & Room 1360
• St Andrews Joint Degree Programme Reception
  2–4 p.m.
  Location: Phi Beta Kappa Hall, Glenn Close Theatre
• 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 Theatre

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: Bee McLeod Recreation Center, Gymnasium

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
• Physics
  Location: Sadler Center, Chesapeake Rooms
• Public Policy
  Location: Wren Yard (CW Side)
  Weather Location: Swem Library, Read & Relax
• Religious Studies
  Location: Tucker Hall, Room 127A
• 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

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: Integrated Science Center (ISC3), Room 1221

5–7 p.m.

• Chemistry
  Location: Phi Beta Kappa Hall, Glenn Close Theatre
• 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