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.
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
4:30 - 5:45 p.m. – GMAP Panel: "Security in Transition: Global Power Dynamics, Diplomacy, and the Future of Borders, Alliances, and Sovereignty"
- What: Panel with Fletcher alumni and Ian Johnstone, Professor of International Law
- Where: ASEAN Auditorium
- Who: All members of the Fletcher Community and guests
6:00 - 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. Registration will be available soon.
Saturday, May 16, 2026
9:00 - 9:30 a.m. – Coffee and Pastries
- What: Coffee and pastries available to start off Saturday events
- Where: Hall of Flags, Cabot Intercultural Center
- Who: All members of the Fletcher Community and guests
9:30 - 10:45 a.m. – 50th Anniversary of The Fletcher Forum: "Interdependence without Trust: What Diplomatic History—and Fletcher’s Legacy—Can Teach Us"
- What: Join us for an insightful panel to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The Fletcher Forum
- Where: ASEAN Auditorium, Cabot Intercultural Center
- Who: All members of the Fletcher Community and guests
10:45 a.m. -12:15 p.m. – Fletcher Community Brunch
- What: Enjoy a breakfast buffet with the Fletcher alumni, students, staff, faculty, and guests communities.
- Where: Reception Tent on Fletcher Field
- Who: All members of the Fletcher Community and guests
12:30 - 1:45 p.m. – Dean’s State of the School
- 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
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 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 and Conversation Break
- 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. – Networking Reception for Tufts and Fletcher Alumnae
- 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 - 5:15 p.m. – Research Center Updates from Fletcher Faculty
- What: Five faculty members will have eight minutes each to provide an update on their research center.
- Where: ASEAN Auditorium, Cabot Intercultural Center
- Who: All members of the Fletcher Community and guests
5:15 - 6:15 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
6:30 p.m. – GMAP 25th Anniversary Celebration
- What: Enjoy a reception and dinner for Fletcher GMAP alumni, graduating students, and families
- Where: Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston.
- Who: All members of the Fletcher Community and guests who have purchased tickets. Registration will be available soon.
5:30 - 7:00 p.m. – PhD and GBA Commencement Reception
- What: Reception for all PhD and GBA and families.
- Where: TBD
- Who: PhD and GBA 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 is required to participate in both:
- Phase I: University-wide Commencement
- Phase II: The Fletcher School Commencement ceremony
How to Obtain Regalia
Option 1: Purchase through the Tufts Bookstore (most common)
On-campus students (local to campus):
Regalia is available for in-person purchase at the Tufts Bookstore through Commencement weekend, while supplies last.
Graduation hood colors are as follows:
- Business (GBA, MIB, MIB: QM): Brown
- Law (LLM): Purple
- All other degrees (MALD, MALD: IDE, MATA, MA, MGA, GMAP): White
Please note: availability of sizes may be limited closer to the ceremony.
Online/remote students:
Students who are not local to campus may contact the bookstore to order regalia and arrange for pickup during Commencement weekend.
📧 bmclaughlin@bncollege.com
📞 617-627-2060 (ask for Brian McLaughlin)
For general inquiries: bookstore@tufts.edu
Option 2: Fletcher Regalia Borrowing Program (OSE)
The Office of Student Experience offers a limited regalia borrowing program for students who may need financial assistance obtaining commencement attire.
We ask that students please use this option only if purchasing regalia would pose a financial challenge, as inventory is limited and intended to support those with demonstrated need.
Important details:
- Borrow a gown, hood, and/or cap (tassels must be purchased separately)
- Availability is first-come, first-served
- Inventory is limited by item type and size
- Requests close when inventory is depleted or by the posted deadline
👉 Sign up here: Grad Regalia Borrowing, May 2026
Pickup & Return:
- Pickup will take place in Student Experience: May 4 – May 8
- Borrowed items must be returned following the ceremony
💛 If you purchase regalia, please consider donating it afterward to support future Fletcher students.
Faculty Regalia Rentals
Faculty may rent regalia through the vendor’s website by April 10.
- Orders are placed online
- Payment is made in-store at pickup
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.