Claremont Graduate University’s 99th Commencement Ceremony
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 9:00 am (Pacific Daylight Time)
Claremont Graduate University is happy to announce CGU’s 99th annual commencement ceremony.
The theme for this year’s ceremony is Lighting the Way: Shaping Our Future Through Transdisciplinary Education. The theme celebrates those who build connections across disciplines to drive meaningful change and advance knowledge that transcends traditional boundaries. Those who embrace collaboration as a catalyst for innovation shape a more inclusive, forward-thinking world.
Ceremony Information
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Time: 9:00 am (PDT)
Location: Honnold Mudd Library, Mudd Quadrangle (north lawn)
Address: 800 N Dartmouth Ave, Claremont, CA 91711
Honorary Degree Recipient and Keynote Speaker
Hon. Adrienne Konigar Macklin (Ret.)
Alumni Speaker
Juanita Dawson, PhD
Student Speaker
MaryAnn Ngozi Obidike
Event Livestream
The CGU ceremony will simulcast in Albrecht Auditorium and livestream online on the day of Commencement. You can access the recorded livestream below.
General Information
CGU will not require tickets for this year’s ceremony. Graduates will be asked to indicate how many guests they anticipate in attendance. Please, check with your graduate to see if they can accommodate you among their guests.
Graduate, rideshare, or general drop-off is available at the CGU turnaround at 900 N. College Ave. (Blaisdell Fountain).
Low-mobility drop-off is available at the McAllister Parking Lot located at 919 Columbia Ave.
Guests may attend at the invitation of the graduates. Graduates will sit in the middle section; guest seating is designated for the east and west sections. Guests are asked to find a seat and keep the aisles clear, enabling the graduates and platform party to proceed to their seats.
Children are to be seated in the audience and not among the candidates. Those guests bringing strollers are asked to park them outside the tent, thus keeping the aisles clear.
We ask that guests refrain from bringing balloons or other items that might obstruct the pathways or other guests’ view of the stage.
For the safety of the graduates and guests, please keep the aisles clear. There will be a designated stroller parking area. GradImages, a professional photography studio, will take photos of all graduates as they ascend the stage and receive their diplomas. The company will make the photographs available to graduates in the days following the ceremony. For this reason, and for the safety of the graduates and all attendees, we ask guests to remain in their seats during the ceremony. Please do not approach the stage to take your own photos. There will be ample opportunity before and after the ceremony to take photos with the graduates on campus.
The ceremony and several of the celebrations take place outdoors and on lawn. Please consider your safety when considering footwear appropriate to the occasion.
We ask that guests refrain from bringing balloons or other items that might obstruct the pathways or other guests’ view of the stage.
CGU follows Los Angeles County COVID-19 guidelines. While L.A. County does not currently require masks, we strongly recommend wearing a mask due to the large number of participants and guests at the ceremony.
GradImages, a professional photography studio, will take photos of all graduates as they ascend the stage and receive their diplomas. The company will make the photographs available to graduates (and their families) in the days following the ceremony. For this reason, and for the safety of the graduates and all attendees, we ask that guests remain in their seats during the ceremony. Please do not approach the stage to take your own photos. Before and after the ceremony, there will be ample opportunity before and after the ceremony to take photos with the graduates on campus.
Flowers, orchid leis, and other gift items will be available for purchase on-site or you can pre-order your gifts in advance here. On the day of Commencement, you may pick up your flowers and other gifts at the welcome area on the corner of North Dartmouth Avenue and East 10th Street.
Order your official CGU invitations and share the celebration with friends and family.
Getting Here
The commencement ceremony site is on the southeast corner of 10th Street and Dartmouth Avenue.
Parking
Campus parking is limited. Plan on parking in the surrounding neighborhoods. Do not block driveways. Call a rideshare service if you need assistance getting from your parking spot to campus. There are special street closures in place for Commencement. View the map for drop-off and parking locations. Limited accessible parking is available at the McAllister Parking Lot, located at 919 N. Columbia Ave., Claremont, CA 91711. A valid disabled persons placard is required.
- Graduate, rideshare, or general drop-off is available at the CGU turnaround at 900 N. College Ave. (Blaisdell Fountain).
- Low-mobility drop-off is available at the McAllister Parking Lot located at 919 Columbia Ave.
- Dartmouth Avenue between 8th Street and 11th Streets.
- 10th Street between College and Columbia Avenues.
Information for Graduates
For information about participation, regalia, deadlines, and more, visit the Graduates Commencement page.
FAQ
There is no dress code, but it is a special day for so many people. We suggest business casual attire.
We are celebrating the Summer/Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 graduates. Summer 2026 degree candidates who have been approved to participate in the Commencement Ceremony will also be celebrated.
CGU follows Los Angeles County COVID-19 guidelines. While L.A. County does not currently require masks, we strongly recommend wearing a mask due to the large number of participants and guests at the ceremony.
Some, but not all, celebrations will be held indoors.
CGU will not require tickets for this year’s ceremony. Graduates will be asked to indicate how many guests they anticipate in attendance.