Calendar of Events for 2026

Monday, May 11, 2026

Senior Week begins. For information and updates about Senior Week activities call the Office for Campus Life at 617-627-3212.

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Master's Graduation Celebration, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Further details coming soon.

Friday, May 15, 2026

Tufts Night at Pops, Boston Pops Concert, Symphony Hall, Boston, 8:00 p.m. Don’t miss fellow Tufts families, students, alumni, and Jumbo community members at the 124th Tufts Night at Pops—our longest-running tradition and a special way to celebrate both commencement and reunion weekend. Further details coming soon.

Saturday, May 16, 2026

School of Engineering Graduate Programs Ceremony, Gantcher Center, 9:00 a.m. PhD students will be hooded by their thesis advisor and Master's students will be recognized. PhD hoods will be provided as a gift from the dean. Family and friends are invited to attend. Light reception to follow. For information, please call 617-627-4525.

ROTC Commissioning Ceremony, Eaton Hall, 1:00 p.m. Reception will follow the ceremony.

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Doctoral Hooding Ceremony, Cohen Auditorium, 1:00 p.m. The university is pleased to present a hood to doctor of philosophy candidates who attend either the Ph.D. Hooding Ceremony or Commencement. The hood should be carried on the left arm to the stage, where the hooding ceremony will be performed. At Commencement, the hood should be worn. Academic regalia is required at the ceremony. Further information concerning these arrangements will be provided in an email from the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Questions can be emailed to Angela.Foss@tufts.edu.

Baccalaureate Ceremony, The Green, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. The Baccalaureate Ceremony for the senior class at Tufts is a tradition that began in 1864. Baccalaureate is a cherished moment during Commencement Weekend, and last time for the senior class to be alone together as a class. One senior is selected to give the class speech, called the Wendell Phillips Address, and the president offers his parting words to the class. The context is a multifaith and multicultural celebration honoring the diversity of spiritualities, philosophies, and cultures at Tufts in the form of music, readings, and benedictions. All are welcome, and generally all members of the senior class and their families attend. For more information, please visit the University Chaplaincy website.

Seniors should arrive in cap and gown for the Baccalaureate Ceremony at TBD location before 2:45pm.

Candlelight Procession Up the Hill, Starting at the Mayer Campus Center patio, Further details coming soon.

Illumination Ceremony, Ceremonial welcome to Tufts' newest alumni, the Class of 2026. Call the Office of Alumni Engagement, (617) 627-3526, for information about this event and other Alumni Weekend activities, or visit the Office of Alumni Engagement web site at https://alumniandfriends.tufts.edu/. Further details coming soon.

Sunday, May 17, 2026

Commencement Day

Phase I Ceremony takes place on The Green, between Ballou Hall and Bendetson Hall.

8:30 a.m. Degree candidates should assemble in the appropriate locations according to their alignment areas. Marshals will be available to assist you.

8:45 a.m. The Goddard Chapel bells will begin ringing. This will be your last warning that the Academic Procession will begin promptly at 9 a.m. when the bells stop ringing.

9:00 a.m. Phase I, All-University Academic Procession begins.

9:30 a.m. (approximately) Commencement program begins.

11:00 a.m. (approximately) Recessional. (End of Phase I of Commencement ceremony.)

11:30 a.m. (approximately) Phase II ceremonies begin for individual schools, colleges, and departments. Phase II ceremonies, including luncheons, end at approximately 5 p.m.

Phase II of Commencement at Tufts consists of ceremonies and special activities for the various schools and departments. Immediately following the Phase I all-University Commencement, individual schools will hold ceremonies at locations and times to be announced. Please click on the appropriate school link at the bottom of the page to be directed to further information regarding your specific Phase II ceremony.

Visit the School commencement sites for more information about their Phase II ceremonies: