Commencement and Alumni Weekend: May 15-17, 2026
Details are continually being added. Check back regularly for the most up to date information.
Coming soon.
Coming soon.
For Alumni Weekend schedule of events, please see this page.
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – President’s Brunch for the Class of 2026: Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering Graduate Programs, and The Fletcher School
- What: President Kumar will host a brunch to celebrate the Class of 2026 graduates of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering Graduate Programs, and The Fletcher School. The brunch will be held on Wednesday, May 13 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Joyce Cummings Center. Please complete this short form to RSVP. Questions can be emailed to president@tufts.edu.
- Where: Joyce Cummings Center
Friday, May 15, 2026
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. – Honos Civicus Induction Ceremony
- Where: Medford Campus – location TBD
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. – Rehearsal for Students
- What: Rehearsal for the Graduating Class with Ice Cream
- Where: Fletcher Field
- Who: Graduating Class of 2026
4:00 - 5:00 p.m. – Light Refreshments Available
- What: Light refreshments and drinks available.
- Where: Hall of Flags, Cabot Intercultural Center
- Who: All members of the Fletcher Community and guests
5:45 - 10:00 p.m. – Welcome Reception and Fletcher Alumni Weekend Celebration
- Where: Reception Tent on Fletcher Field
- Who: All members of the Fletcher Community and guests who have purchased tickets.
Saturday, May 16, 2026
12:30 - 1:45 p.m. – Dean’s Welcome and State of the School Address
- What: Dean Kelly Sims Gallagher F00, FG03, will speak about The Fletcher School’s highlights over the past year, and the school’s future direction.
- Where: ASEAN Auditorium, Cabot Intercultural Center
- Who: All members of the Fletcher Community and guests
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. – Refreshments and Snacks Available
- What: Refreshments and Snacks Available
- Where: Mezzanine, Cabot Intercultural Center
- Who: All members of the Fletcher Community and guests
2:00 - 2:45 p.m. – Fletcher Women’s Leadership Award (FWLA) Ceremony with Q&A
- What: Honor the 2026 Fletcher Women’s Leadership Award recipients with Dean Kelly Sims Gallagher, F00, FG03 and members of the FWLA Committee. This annual ceremony is held to honor outstanding women graduates who are making a meaningful impact in the private and public sectors.
- Where: ASEAN Auditorium, Cabot Intercultural Center
- Who: All members of the Fletcher community and guests
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. – Coffee Break and Networking
- What: Refreshments and snacks available.
- Where: Mezzanine, Cabot Intercultural Center
- Who: All members of the Fletcher community and guests
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. – Tufts and Fletcher Women’s Network Reception
- What: Refreshments and snacks available post awards ceremony.
- Where: 10 Murrow Room, Goddard Hall
- Who: All members of the Fletcher community and guests
4:00 - 4:15 p.m. – 7x7: Current Affairs Unpacked with Fletcher Faculty
- What: Seven faculty members have seven minutes each to answer the same question.
- Where: ASEAN Auditorium - In person only. No live stream or Zoom option.
- Who: All members of the Fletcher Community and guests
5:15 - 6:00 p.m. – Alumni Weekend Closing Reception
- What: End Alumni Weekend with toasts to your Fletcher classmates, to those celebrating their 50th and 25th Reunions, and to the newest group of alumni - the Class of 2026.
- Where: Hall of Flags, Cabot Intercultural Center
- Who: All members of the Fletcher Community and guests
5:30 - 7:00 p.m. – PhD, GMAP and GBA Commencement Reception
- What: Reception for all PhD, GMAP, GBA and families.
- Where: Reading Room at Ginn Library
- Who: PhD, GBA and GMAP students with their families
Sunday, May 17, 2026
7:30 a.m. – Class of 2026 Champagne Breakfast and Toasts
- What: Continental Breakfast and Champagne Toasts offered by four members of the Class of 2026.
- Where: Reading Room at Ginn Library
- Who: All members of the Class of 2026 who will be marching.
9:00 a.m. – Phase I, 170th All-University Commencement Ceremony*
- What: This ceremony includes the academic processional, the awarding of honorary degrees, the all-University Commencement address, the awarding of degrees by Schools, including the official award of the Fletcher degree by Dean Gallagher. Live-streamed for family/guests in ASEAN.
- Where: Academic Quad (the Lawn between Ballou and Bendetson Halls)
- Who: All members of the Fletcher Community and guests.
10:30 a.m. – Class of 2026 Student Check-in
- What: Students check in and Academic procession for Phase II.
- Where: MODS
- Who: Class of 2026 who will be marching.
11:40 a.m. – Phase II, 93rd Fletcher School Commencement Ceremony*
- What: The highlight of Fletcher’s Commencement Weekend is the individual presentation of degrees to students and hooding of PhD recipients. The event will not be livestreamed.
- Where: Ceremony Tent – Fletcher field.
- Who: All members of the Fletcher Community and guests.
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. – Cheers to the Graduating Class of 2026
- What: A celebratory conclusion to the weekend. Toast to Graduates
- Where: Reception Tent - Fletcher Field.
- Who: All members of the Fletcher Community and guests.
* The Class of 2026 includes August 2025, February 2026, and May 2026 graduates and masters' students on approved extension or continuation. The Class of 2026 are expected to participate in Phase I, the all- University Commencement on Sunday morning and Phase II, Fletcher School Commencement 11:30 am on Sunday.
Academic Regalia for Commencement
Academic regalia is required to participate in both:
- Phase I: University-wide Commencement
- Phase II: The Fletcher School Commencement ceremony
On-campus students (student local to campus)
- Regalia will be available for purchase or pickup at the Tufts Bookstore beginning April 8 through Commencement weekend, while supplies last.
- Availability of sizes may be limited closer to the ceremony.
Online/remote students
- Students who are not local to campus may contact the bookstore after April 8 to order regalia and arrange to pick it up during Commencement weekend. For assistance, please email: bmclaughlin@bncollege.com
Regalia Loan Program (OSE)
The Office of Student Experience offers a limited regalia loan program for students who may need assistance obtaining commencement attire. Information about the regalia loaner program will be shared over email the first week of April. Please note:
- Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis
- Inventory is limited by item type and size
Faculty Regalia Rentals
Faculty may rent regalia and do so through a dedicated faculty rentals section on the vendor’s website by April 10.
- Faculty place rental orders online
- Payment is made in-store at pickup
Faculty Rental Pricing
- Master’s gown: $48.98
- Master’s hood: $47.98
- Doctoral gown: $55.98
- Doctoral hood: $55.98
- Tassel: $8.98
- Surefit cap: $12.98
- Surefit doctoral tam: $39.98
If you have guests who will require special accommodations for the Fletcher Commencement Ceremony (e.g., use of wheelchairs), please contact Jennifer Saphier Whitman at Jennifer.Whitman@Tufts.edu. Information regarding special accommodations for the Tufts campus and for the University Commencement Ceremony may be found here.
Because accommodation space in the area is at a premium this time of year, we urge you to make your reservations as soon as possible. A list of Tufts University area hotels is available here. Please inquire with the hotels to see if they offer special Tufts rates. The Fletcher Office of Development and Alumni Engagement also has secured limited room blocks at local hotels, listed here.
Additionally, the University’s Conference Bureau provides on-campus dormitory housing. On campus housing includes a complimentary full menu breakfast in the dining halls following each night of your stay. Please visit the On-campus Housing website for more details.
Given the large number of visitors to campus on Commencement Day, please expect that parking will be scarce. Parking in all university lots will be on a first come, first serve basis so early arrival is recommended. Parking information is available on Tufts Commencement Parking website. Please also visit the Tufts Commencement Shuttle Map for information on shuttle service to Packard Avenue.
Fletcher Alumni Weekend runs in parallel with the Commencement events. For more information about Alumni Weekend, please see Fletcher Alumni Weekend.
This is an in-person event only, there will be no livestream of Phase II of The Fletcher School Commencement 2026.
We recognize that many students hope to welcome family members and friends from outside the United States to attend Commencement. Visitors who plan to travel internationally may need to apply for a visitor (B-2) visa or take other immigration-related steps in advance.
The Tufts International Center provides detailed guidance for inviting family and friends, including information specific to travel and visitor visas.
What you’ll find on the Tufts International Center site:
- Visitor visa (B-2) guidance for family and friends
- Tips on preparing for visa interviews
- Sample invitation language and supporting documentation
- Important reminders about travel timelines and planning ahead
Visit the Tufts International Center’s page on inviting family and friends:
https://icenter.tufts.edu/immigration/inviting-family/
Important: Visa processing times can vary significantly by country. Students are strongly encouraged to review this information and advise their guests to begin planning as early as possible.
For immigration- or visa-specific questions, the Tufts International Center is the best point of contact.
If you have any questions about Commencement Weekend logistics please contact Jennifer Saphier Whitman at Jennifer.Whitman@Tufts.edu. We look forward to seeing you and your family and guests during the weekend.