We are so excited to celebrate the Class of 2026 with you in just a few short days. Campus is buzzing as we prepare for this special milestone weekend.

Whether you’ll be joining us on campus or tuning in from afar, we wanted to share a few reminders ahead of this exciting celebration:

Friday, May 29

• Cap & Gown Pickup: Students may pick up their regalia at the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ College Store ´Ú°ù´Ç³¾ÌýMay 28–30 from 8 a.m.–4 p.m. No pre-order is required; students simply provide their name, height, and ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ ID at pickup. Standard regalia is provided at no cost, and additional Commencement items will be available for purchase.
• Senior/Parent Events: We hope to see you at the Senior Parent Gift Celebration ´Ú°ù´Ç³¾Ìý8–8:30 p.m. in the Fireplace Lounge of Commons. While we’ll offer a special toast to recognize donors to this year’s Senior Parent Gift, all are welcome to attend. Immediately following, head over to the Senior/Parent Wine and Cheese Tasting ´Ú°ù´Ç³¾Ìý8:30–10:30 p.m. in the Bardwell Field Tent.

Saturday, May 30

• Baccalaureate Ceremony: Baccalaureate will take place at 11 a.m. on the Historic Quad. Planned by members of the Class of 2026 and the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Multifaith Chaplaincy, this reflective ceremony features music, storytelling, and voices from many traditions and backgrounds. 
• ±Ê²¹°ù°ì¾±²Ô²µ:ÌýCampus Avenue will be closed to through traffic throughout the weekend. We recommend parking behind Merrill Gymnasium or in the Bonney Science Center lot for accessible parking. 

Sunday, May 31 — Commencement Day

• Commencement Seating: Seating opens at 7 a.m. on the Historic Quad, and guests are asked to be seated by 9:15 a.m. for the Commencement procession. Families and friends may sit in any non-reserved areas on a first-come, first-served basis. A member of your party must remain with held seats, as unattended seats are not considered held. Families needing accessible seating should look for chairs with blue covers.
• ±Ê³ó´Ç³Ù´Ç²µ°ù²¹±è³ó²â:ÌýProfessional photographers ´Ú°ù´Ç³¾Ìý will photograph each graduate during the ceremony, and graduates who provided a post-ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ email address will receive photo access information approximately two weeks after Commencement. Families are also welcome to take photos throughout the ceremony while keeping aisles, the graduate seating area, and parade path clear. Additionally, please do not move into any of the three main aisles as individual names are being called. We appreciate your help with this!

Inclement Weather: Both Baccalaureate and Commencement take place on the Historic Quad, rain or shine, so we encourage guests to plan for all types of weather and bring rain jackets, hats, and sunscreen.

As a reminder, the Commencement website remains the best resource for weekend details and updates. We can’t wait to celebrate the Class of 2026 with you and your student in just a few short days!

Best from campus,
The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Parent Team

PS: Looking for a past Commencement email update? Find them all here!

With just one month to go until Commencement Weekend, we’re looking forward to celebrating this milestone with you and your student. On Sunday, May 31, the Class of 2026 will gather on the Historic Quad for the Commencement ceremony to mark their graduation.

• Diploma Delivery & Access: Graduates will receive their diploma cover at Commencement, with diplomas mailed no later than June 15, after grades and Latin honors are finalized. A certified electronic diploma will also be available starting June 5.
• Accessibility & Accommodations: ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ strives to make Commencement weekend accessible. Families can find information on accessible drop-off, parking, and seating, and can request accommodations.
• Commencement FAQs: Still have questions about what to expect? Bookmark the Commencement FAQs where you’ll find information on all this, and more!

As you begin making plans for Commencement Weekend, you can view the full schedule for the weekend, with a few highlights below of events for families:

Friday, May 29

• 8–8:30±è³¾ Families of 2026 Senior Parent Gift Celebration Fireplace Lounge
• 8:30–10±è³¾ Senior/Parent Wine and Cheese Tasting Bardwell Field Tent

Saturday, May 30

• 8:30–11²¹³¾ Coffee Service for Families Under Library Arcade
• 11²¹³¾â€“12:30±è³¾ Baccalaureate Service Historic Quad

Sunday, May 31 — Commencement Day

• 7–8:30²¹³¾ Seating on the Quad opens; Coffee Service for Families Library Arcade
• 10²¹³¾â€“12±è³¾ Commencement Ceremony Historic Quad
• 11:30²¹³¾â€“2±è³¾ Commencement Lunch Bardwell Field Tent & Library Quad Tent

We’ll continue sharing details as May 31 approaches, and we’re looking forward to celebrating with you and your graduate very soon!

With best regards,
The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Parent Team

We are excited to let you know that ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ has just announced the !

The following individuals will receive honorary degrees from ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ on Sunday, May 31, at the Class of 2026’s Commencement ceremony:

• , historian and #1 internationally best-selling author of the All Souls series of novels, will receive a Doctor of Letters degree.
• , a leading economist in the study of game theory, president emeritus of Beloit College, and a former member of the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Board of Trustees, will receive a Doctor of Humane Letters degree.
• , a biologist who has led groundbreaking research efforts in cell biology and drug therapies, will receive a Doctor of Science degree.
• , an investment executive at Morgan Stanley and founder of the nonprofit Girls Who Invest, will receive a Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

Deborah Harkness will deliver the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ College Commencement address. The Class of 2026 senior speaker has not yet been announced.

We’ll be sharing additional updates in the coming weeks as we look ahead to celebrating this milestone with your family!

With best regards,
The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Parent Team

With two months to go until Commencement, we wanted to share a few helpful reminders and resources for you and your student.

• Senior Portraits: Senior portrait sessions are available to all seniors at no charge, with the option to purchase photos. These portraits are separate from those taken at Commencement. The final opportunity on campus is April 7. Students can check their ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ email for details and sign-up information.
• The “Name Check” Survey: Please remind your senior to complete the graduation survey sent to their ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ email to confirm their name on their diploma and in the ceremony program. This required step must be completed by April 15 in order for students to pick up their cap and gown.
• Getting the Gear: Caps and gowns will be available at the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ College Store ´Ú°ù´Ç³¾ÌýMay 28–30 during regular business hours. Standard regalia is free, and no pre-order is required. Questions? Contact Gail St. Pierre at gstpierr@bates.edu. For class rings or diploma frames, 

Remember that the Commencement site is an excellent resource and frequently updated. We look forward to sharing more details as Sunday, May 31 approaches, and to celebrating with you and your student!

With best regards,
The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Parent Team

Commencement Weekend is just a few short months away! We’re excited to welcome families to campus May 29-31, 2026 for several meaningful traditions – including the Senior/Parent Wine and Cheese Tasting on Friday and Baccalaureate on Saturday – all leading up to the main event on Sunday, May 31, when the Class of 2026 will gather on the Historic Quad to celebrate the 160th Commencement of ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ College.

We’ll share several updates between now and then. In the meantime, here are three things YOU can do to begin planning for the weekend:

• Bookmark the schedule of events for Commencement Weekend. The schedule will continue to be updated throughout the spring.
• Keep an eye on your mailbox! The Class of 2026 Baccalaureate Committee is sending a letter this month inviting families to contribute to the festivities, and printed announcements for Commencement will be mailed in April.
• If you have a co-parent who did not receive this email, they can update their contact information now to receive the most up-to-date information from our team.

We will provide you with additional Commencement updates over the next few months, and we lookforward to celebrating with you and your grads this spring!

With best regards,
The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Parent Team