Berkeley Commencement

The university sponsors the campuswide Commencements in May and December. These ceremonies are open to all undergraduate and graduate students, in every school and college. They include a keynote speaker, student speaker, and the official conferring of degrees by the chancellor. (The spring student speaker is the top graduating senior — the University Medalist — and the winter student speaker is chosen by audition.) Graduate names are not read at the spring campuswide event.

Many departments and student groups hold smaller, more personal graduations during the spring semester only. They typically occur over a two-week period and differ according to each group’s plans. Registration and tickets for these graduations are handled separately through each group. Visit the Department Graduations page to contact your department, school, or college directly.

Whether graduates attend the campuswide Commencement, department graduation, or both is up to them. We encourage them to coordinate with their friends and family.

If you require any accommodation(s) for effective communication (ASL interpreting/CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.), or information about campus mobility access features in order to fully participate in this event, please call 888.UNIV.CAL (888.864.8225) or email commencement@berkeley.edu with as much advance notice as possible and at least 3–5 days in advance of the event.

Closed captions in English will be provided; languages other than English are available upon request. Please email commencement@berkeley.edu at least 3-5 days before the event and specify which language you need.

Yes. Guests who need an ASL interpreter should email commencement@berkeley.edu at least 3-5 days before the ceremony to reserve seats in the interpreter section. When you arrive, let staff know you have reserved ASL seating and they will escort you to the appropriate area. Real-time closed captions will also be available on your phone via QR code.

Commencement follows the same code of conduct as athletic events. Visit calbears.com for info on security screening, clear bags, prohibited items, and other event policies.

What graduates can bring:

— Your phone.

— Your ticket.

— Your regalia or other preferred attire. Prepare for the weather, and wear flat shoes.

— An empty soft plastic bottle to refill.

What guests can bring:

— Your tickets.

— Visit calbears.com for info on umbrellas, hard plastic bottles, and other prohibited items, as well as info on security.

Students have worked very hard to get to this moment and family members and friends have traveled from afar to celebrate this important milestone. With this spirit in mind, we request that you please silence your cell phones, stay in your seats, and keep the aisles clear. For this event specifically, time, place, and manner policies apply that are aligned with our Berkeley principles of community. You may not engage in any action that disrupts the event or prevents the speakers from being heard during the campuswide Commencement within California Memorial Stadium. This includes, but is not limited to, shouting over speakers, speaking out of turn, blocking others’ view of the event, disrupting official activities, and specifically displaying banners and signs that block others’ view of the event. Guests and graduates are not permitted on the field at any time.

Individuals who are disruptive will be asked to leave. Those individuals may be ejected from the event or have other actions taken, and campus members may be referred to the appropriate disciplinary process.

More information on the university’s policies on expressive activities may be found here.

Commencement follows the same code of conduct as athletic events.

For information on security screening policies, including the clear bag policy and prohibited items, please review the Haas Pavilion Event Policies and California Memorial Stadium Event Policies. Common prohibited items include:

• banners, signs, or flags
• artificial noise-making devices
• balloons
• umbrellas
• hard plastic, glass, or metal bottles or cans
• open containers or alcohol
• professional cameras or cameras with lenses larger than six inches
• video cameras
• monopods or tripods

You will need your phone to present your mobile ticket in order to enter the venue. Make sure your phone is fully charged; chargers will not be available on site.

Professional photographers from Pro Pics will capture photos of graduates at Commencement. You will receive instructions on how to register prior to the ceremony. There is no cost to be photographed and no obligation to purchase.

Yes, registration is required to participate in Commencement, even though it’s free for graduates.

When students meet the minimum requirements to graduate from UC Berkeley, the department relays qualified graduation status to the Office of the Registrar. The Registrar provides the list of eligible graduates to the campuswide Commencement planning team. If you would like to confirm your Commencement eligibility status, please contact your department or the Office of the Registrar. The Commencement planning team does not monitor or control eligibility status or official records.

Students obtaining certificates from UC Berkeley (for example, from UC Berkeley Extension) are not eligible to participate in the campuswide Commencement ceremony.

No. The Office of the Registrar mails diplomas four months after graduation. (Visit their website for information on transcripts, diplomas, and other academic records.) Graduates receive a commemorative certificate at most department graduations.

Graduate names are called during the winter ceremony only.

The spring ceremony is too large to call out every graduate’s name. However, many departments and student groups hold smaller, more personal graduations during the spring semester that may include the calling of names. Visit the Department Graduations page to contact your department, school, or college directly.

You will receive an email reminder about this deadline. Even if you miss the deadline for the program, you can still register and participate in the ceremony, but your name won’t be listed.

Yes. Each graduate will be able to purchase a set number of guest tickets, with the exact limit to be announced closer to the event. Ticket availability is not guaranteed, as they are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to purchase your tickets early.

Please note: Tickets will be emailed from ato@berkeley.edu. If you cannot locate your tickets, log into your calbears.com account from a mobile device, select “My Tickets,” then “Upcoming Events,” from there you can download your ceremony tickets.

You may wear blue or black regalia, business casual, or cocktail attire. We recommend flat shoes, as graduates will be seated in the steep stands.

If you plan to wear rental regalia, more information will be shared in the upcoming semester. Rental regalia is available through the Cal Student Store. Every rental includes a cap and tassel for you to keep.

Please note: Regalia will not be available to rent or purchase on-site during the event.

If you are a current student who plans to participate in an upcoming campuswide Commencement ceremony and would like to receive emails about registration, guest tickets, and more, first check all email inboxes, including your spam and promotions folders, for emails from “commencement@our.berkeley.edu” or “commencement@berkeley.edu.” If you haven’t received an email from this address, fill out this form to make sure you’re included. This email list is for graduates only and will be deleted after each ceremony. Parents and other guests, please contact your student directly for details about the day.

Use #CalGrad in your social media posts, whether you’re a graduate sharing a favorite memory, a proud parent congratulating your child, or an alum offering sage advice. You can also upload photos and videos directly into the Social Media page.

Your connection to UC Berkeley doesn’t end at graduation! Here are some key ways to remain engaged with your Cal community.

1. Visit the My Berkeley Alumni Portal.
2. Become a member of the Cal Alumni Association (CAA). 2026 graduates are eligible for 50% off Life Membership and a free license frame by signing up at alumni.berkeley.edu/2026grad.
3. Learn from Berkeley faculty. You can enroll in free online courses for alums.
4. Sign up for career services. Recent alums receive free access to Berkeley Career Engagement, including one-on-one counseling sessions for the first year.
5. Support your class reunion gift campaign.

Graduating students will be automatically enrolled in the Alumni Email Service, so you can keep using your @berkeley.edu email after graduation. You do not need to opt in or register. 

Berkeley offers a wide range of places to stay, from full-service hotels to cozy inns and bed & breakfasts, many just minutes from campus. You can browse options and start planning your visit through Visit Berkeley’s Where to Stay guide, which includes an interactive map to help you find the right fit by location and price.

We recommend booking early, as rooms fill up quickly around commencement weekend.

Yes. All persons 24 months and older must have a valid ticket to enter the venue. Children under 24 months must be held in a lap to avoid interfering with other guests’ viewing of the ceremony.

Making a gift to the Cal Parents Fund is a meaningful way to celebrate your graduate’s achievement while supporting future Berkeley students. Gifts help sustain vital student services, including the Career Engagement Center, where soon-to-be graduates gain valuable guidance for the road ahead. Learn more and make a gift here.