Hilary Duff, multiplatinum global superstar, is Northeastern’s undergraduate commencement speaker

Hilary Duff, who rose to prominence as a teen idol with TV series “Lizzie McGuire” and a series of hit pop songs in the 2000s, has a career that spans industries and decades.

Hilary Duff, who rose to prominence with TV series “Lizzie McGuire” and a series of hit pop songs in the 2000s, has a career that spans industries and decades. Photo by Alfred Marroquin

For Northeastern University, commencement 2026 is “what dreams are made of.” 

Multiplatinum global superstar Hilary Duff will be the speaker at Northeastern’s 2026 undergraduate commencement.

The ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. on April 29 at Fenway Park in Boston.

One of the defining stars of her generation, Duff recently made a triumphant return to music with her boldest and most self-assured album yet, “luck… or something,” debuting at #3 on the Billboard 200. This milestone marks Duff’s highest chart position since 2007 and stands as the second-largest debut for a female artist this year. Her first studio effort since 2015’s “Breathe In. Breathe Out.,” the project became Duff’s sixth career top five entry while simultaneously landing at #2 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales Chart. Internationally, “luck… or something” soared to the top of the charts with Top 5 debuts in six countries, including #1 in Canada and Australia. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Northeastern University (@northeastern)

Duff will celebrate “luck… or something” with the lucky me tour, her first full-scale global headline run in almost two decades. Spanning seven countries, with dates across the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, the world tour begins with a two-night run in West Palm Beach, Flordia, June 21 and 22, and travels into February 2027. For complete details and ticket information, please visit www.hilaryduff.com/live.

After rising to fame as the titular star of the Disney Channel blockbuster, “Lizzie McGuire,” Duff first kicked off her music career with 2003’s four times platinum “Metamorphosis” (featuring the Top 40-charting “So Yesterday” and “Come Clean”), then released her platinum-selling 2004 self-titled LP and 2007 autobiographical dance-pop collection “Dignity.” With those three albums alone selling a collective 15 million copies worldwide, she also established herself as a producer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and New York Times-bestselling author, all while continuing to deliver standout performances in TV and film, including her award-nominated turn on Darren Star’s “Younger.” 

Northeastern University President Joseph E. Aoun said Duff was an ideal choice for commencement speaker because of her entrepreneurial drive and creative talent across multiple industries—attributes that resonate with Northeastern students.

“Hilary Duff is an icon whose artistry spans the worlds of music, acting and philanthropy,” Aoun said. “She has a remarkable ability to evolve, innovate and lead across creative fields. Her entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to reinvention embody the kind of agility and vision Northeastern graduates possess.”

Duff joins the lineup of distinguished Northeastern undergraduate commencement speakers from recent years, such as CEO of Atlantic Music Group Elliot Grainge, Morehouse College President David A. Thomas, Mariam Naficy, founder of online marketplace Minted, best-selling author Tara Westover, paralympian Aimée Mullins and former Secretary of State John Kerry.