We look forward to welcoming the University community, candidates, and their guests to the University-wide ceremony on Saturday, June 6.
Learn more about the University-wide Convocation CeremonyThe University of Chicago Convocation
The 540th Convocation, during which degrees are officially conferred to all graduates, will be held on the Main Quadrangle on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 9:15 a.m. CDT.
This is a University-wide ceremony involving degree candidates from all divisions and schools. It will include the presentation of honorary degrees and an address from the Convocation speaker. Convocation Addresses consistently focus on the pursuit of knowledge and the power of ideas. The University president, A. Paul Alivisatos, will verbally confer degrees to candidates by division and school.
Each division and school will host a separate ceremony where degree candidates will be honored individually through the presentation of diplomas or hoods.
Location and Ticket Information
The 540th Convocation will take place on the Main Quadrangle at the University of Chicago campus. The main entrance is located at 5801 South Ellis Avenue. Tickets are not required for the University-wide Convocation Ceremony or the College diploma ceremonies, although they may be required for the division and school ceremonies. The Main Quadrangle will open to general seating at 7:00 a.m. Seating is first-come, first-served, and the ceremony will take place rain or shine.
Following the University-wide Convocation ceremony, graduates of the College and their guests break off to attend a lunch distribution and diploma ceremony, that is pre-assigned by their second-year residence hall. These lunch distributions and ceremonies take place simultaneously in various locations throughout campus.
Each division and school will hold their own ceremony. Select ceremonies will take place on Thursday, May 22, 2026, with the majority occurring Thursday, June 4, 2026, through Sunday, June 7, 2026.