Commencement 2026: dates, tickets and what families should know
From ceremony dates to guest tickets and accessibility, here’s what graduates and families need to know as the deadline to apply for graduation approaches.
With Commencement 2026 on the horizon, Northeastern University is rolling out essential details families need to know about ceremony schedules, guest tickets and venues.
The office of academic ceremonies created a Commencement 2026 website with comprehensive information for all Northeastern degree candidates, colleges and campuses.
Undergraduate students graduating this spring and summer are required to apply to graduate by Feb. 14. They can order their regalia and college flags through this registration.
Information about graduation ceremonies on other campuses can be found on the commencement website under “Events.”
In Boston, many of the events will take place for the first time in Leader Bank Pavilion, located in the Seaport neighborhood, instead of the Matthews Arena.
Northeastern Global News spoke to Chelsea Kryspin, associate director of academic ceremonies, about the questions families most frequently ask. The conversation has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Where can parents find the latest information about Northeastern Commencement 2026 and college celebrations?
Our commencement website is the key resource of information about all ceremonies and celebrations. We update the website the minute we are able to release information. We also have a lot of information about logistics such as parking, hotels, travel information, prohibited items at ceremonies and so on. For privacy reasons and logistical reasons, everything is communicated to graduating students via their Northeastern email. They will receive all of the information they need to know via email by the end of February.
But they need to make sure they apply to graduate on or before Feb. 14.
Students are eligible to attend the spring commencement if they completed their degree in December or will complete it in spring 2026 or summer 2026
When are graduation events taking place in Boston?
Doctor of Philosophy Commencement in the morning and the School of Law Commencement in the afternoon. College celebrations run from April 25 through April 30 with a pause on April 29 for the commencement at Fenway Park. Graduations in Boston conclude on May 1 with the College of Professional Studies Commencement.
How many tickets do students receive for their guests?
The number of tickets a graduate can get for their guests depends on the ceremony. For the Fenway Park undergraduate ceremony, we’re able to provide five tickets. Students have an option to request one additional ticket for a total of six (this number doesn’t include the student) when they go through the ticket request process.
For the college celebrations at Leader Bank Pavilion, students can get up to four tickets. For the college celebrations at Blackman Auditorium, nursing students can get four tickets, while Bouve doctoral students can get three tickets.
The request process for additional tickets for college celebrations is different at each college. This week, we are launching the registration process for all of the college celebrations. Through that process, there will be an indication about how to request additional tickets if they need them.
Editor’s Picks
Is parking available for ceremonies at Leader Bank Pavilion?
Leader Bank Pavilion is located in the Seaport and is not on Northeastern’s campus. Free parking will be available on Northeastern’s Boston campus, but there is no free parking on site at Leader Bank Pavilion. There are a number of parking garages around. Families should plan transportation based on their preferences. The venue is a covered, open-air space, and ceremonies will take place rain or shine. Guests should dress for the weather.
What should students with combined majors know about college celebrations?
Undergraduate students with combined majors are invited to attend both college celebrations. They’ll receive two invitations — one from each college — and must accept or decline each separately. We recommend that they attend their primary college celebration. Both celebrations will be very similar.
Are invitation letters available to support international travel or visa applications?
We do get a lot of questions about visas and travel that generally come from our graduate student populations. The office of academic ceremonies doesn’t offer specific invitation letters to support the visa process. They should use their invitation to graduate and direct any visa-related or travel questions to the Office of Global Services.
What accessibility accommodations are available for commencement and college celebrations?
All our venues are fully ADA accessible. During the registration process for Fenway Park, Leader Bank Pavilion and Blackman Auditorium, students can indicate any accessibility needs for themselves or their guests. They can also e-mail us for information. We will have almost everything a person could need, including wheelchairs. We provide assistance from the gate to their seat for people who need mobility assistance. We provide ASL interpretation upon request. Families are encouraged to consider what is best for their guests, knowing that Fenway is a very old ballpark, and it’s going to be a loud, long day.
