Formal Graduation Events
Columbia Engineering Class Day — Monday, May 18, 2026
Ceremony begins at 1:00 p.m.
Columbia University Morningside Campus, South Lawns
A celebration of the accomplishments of bachelor’s degree candidates of the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Tickets are required.At the end of March, ticketing information will be emailed to graduating seniors as they are responsible for securing all tickets for their guests. They can claim up to eight guest tickets via Tassel and request additional tickets through a webform.
Columbia College Class Day — Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m.
Columbia University Morningside Campus, South Lawns
A celebration of the accomplishments of all bachelor’s degree candidates of Columbia College.
Tickets are required. At the end of March, ticketing information will be emailed to graduating seniors as they are responsible for securing all tickets for their guests. They can claim up to eight guest tickets via Tassel and request additional tickets through a webform.
Columbia University Commencement — Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Tickets are limited, and required. Undergraduates can reserve up to four guest tickets for this longstanding Columbia tradition. Registration will open on Wednesday, April 15.
Please visit the University Commencement website for details.
Community Celebrations and Services
Complementing school Class Day and University Commencement exercises, these celebrations provide a smaller setting for community members and their families to reflect on the personal growth and experiences that have had an impact on their time as students — from Convocation to Commencement.
Leadership and Excellence Awards
Thursday, April 23, 2026, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Faculty House, 3rd Floor
Columbia University Morningside Campus
At the end of each academic year, Undergraduate Student Life and its partner offices recognize students with awards and honors for leadership, co-curricular accomplishments, and noteworthy contributions to the Columbia community.
Baccalaureate Service
Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 11:00 a.m.
Columbia University Morningside Campus, St. Paul’s Chapel
The Baccalaureate Service is a multifaith celebration of undergraduate commencement. Service highlights include musical performances, reflections, and readings by students from diverse faith traditions. The ceremony features a procession that includes undergraduate degree candidates from Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School of General Studies, and Barnard College.
All undergraduate degree candidates and their guests are invited to attend. Learn more about the history of the Baccalaureate Service and this year's student participants.
Departmental Receptions
From toasts and salutes to award presentations and fond farewells, almost every Columbia College and Columbia Engineering department hosts its own, unique end-of-year celebration to recognize its graduating seniors. Departmental Receptions will be added below on a rolling basis.
Students must follow instructions from their department for registering themselves and their guests for any of these receptions.
Architecture
Wednesday, May 20, 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
McCagg Gallery, The Diana Center
Barnard College
Applied Physics & Applied Mathematics
Wednesday, May 20, 12:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Location TBA
Art History and Archaeology
Wednesday, May 20, 12:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Stronach Center, Schermerhorn Hall (8th floor)
Astronomy (joint with Physics)
Tuesday, May 19, 1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
800 Pupin Hall (Theory Center)
Biology (joint with Chemistry)
Tuesday, May 19, 1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Havemeyer Hall, 7th floor lounge
Biomedical Engineering
Wednesday, May 20, 12:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Location TBA
Chemical Engineering
Wednesday, May 20, 12:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Location TBA
Chemistry (joint with Biology)
Tuesday, May 19, 1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Havemeyer Hall, 7th floor lounge
Civil Engineering & Engineering Mechanics
Wednesday, May 20, 12:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Location TBA
Classics and Hellenic Studies
Wednesday, May 20, 12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
618 Hamilton Hall
Comparative Literature and Society (and Medical Humanities)
Tuesday, May 19, 12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Ellington in the Park
W. 105th Street inside Riverside Park, lower level
(enter through the stairs at W. 103rd Street and Riverside Drive)
Computer Science
Wednesday, May 20, 12:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Location TBA
Earth & Environmental Engineering
Wednesday, May 20, 12:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Location TBA
Earth and Environmental Sciences (DEES)
Tuesday, May 19, 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Serafina
2737 Broadway (W. 105th Street)
Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology (E3B)
Wednesday, May 20, 12:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Schermerhorn Ext, 10th floor
Economics
Monday, May 18, 3:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
1101/1120 International Affairs Building (IAB)
Electrical Engineering
Wednesday, May 20, 12:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Location TBA
English and Comparative Literature
Tuesday, May 19, 2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Ellington in the Park
W. 105th Street inside Riverside Park, lower level
(enter through the stairs at W. 103rd Street and Riverside Drive)
Film and Media Studies
Thursday, May 14, 2:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
507 Dodge Hall
Industrial Engineering & Operations Research
Wednesday, May 20, 12:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Location TBA
Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR)
Monday, May 4, 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Avenue, 10th floor
Institute of Latin American Studies
Wednesday, May 20, 12:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
802 International Affairs Building (IAB)
Latin American and Iberian Cultures (LAIC)
Monday, May 18, 12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Casa Hispánica, 2nd floor
612 W. 116th Street
Mathematics
Tuesday, May 19, 2:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
Mathematics Hall, Cantor Lounge (Room 508)
Mechanical Engineering
Wednesday, May 20, 12:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Location TBA
Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies (MESAAS)
Wednesday, May 20, 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Knox Hall, 4th floor
Physics (joint with Astronomy)
Tuesday, May 19, 1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
800 Pupin Hall (Theory Center)
Psychology
Tuesday, May 19, 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Uris Hall, 7th floor
Religion
Wednesday, May 20, 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
80 Claremont Avenue (Religion Dept Building)
Statistics
Wednesday, May 20, 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
School of Social Work Building (SSW), Department Lounge, 10th floor
Sustainable Development
Wednesday, May 20, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Columns Wine Bar
2756 Broadway
Visual Arts
Thursday, May 7, 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
Prentis Hall
632 W. 125th Street
(west of Broadway)
Multicultural Celebrations
Multicultural Affairs – in collaboration with student organizations, alumni groups and campus partners – annually hosts Multicultural Celebrations to honor the graduating class. Complementing Class Days and Commencement, these long-standing campus traditions provide a more intimate setting for graduates to gather together to reflect on their personal journeys, invaluable community connections, and shared experiences that have impacted their time as students.
Participation is open to all graduating students in eligible schools.
Multicultural Affairs Cord Ceremony
Tuesday, April 28, 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Multicultural Affairs Graduation Cords are given to graduating seniors in Columbia College, the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science and the School of General Studies who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to community and coalition building, global diversity, justice and multiculturalism (e.g. leading cultural organizations, facilitating campus dialogue efforts, supporting community spaces and events, connecting peers to resources, etc.) through Multicultural Affairs, campus leadership, activism, community involvement, academic endeavors and/or personal dedication.
Nominations were due on Sunday, March 22, and are now closed.
Asian Affinity Groups Celebration: Honoring the Class of 2026
Thursday, May 7, 7:30–9:00 p.m.
Black Affinity Groups Celebration: Honoring the Class of 2026
Sunday, May 17, 2:00–4:00 p.m.
FLI Celebration: Honoring the Class of 2026
Tuesday, May 19, 2:30–4:00 p.m.
International Celebration: Honoring the Class of 2026
Wednesday, May 6, 2:00–4:00 p.m.
Graduate registration | Guest registration for online livestream (Zoom)
Latine Affinity Groups Celebration: Honoring the Class of 2026
Sunday, May 17, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Lavender Celebration: Honoring the Class of 2026
Thursday, May 7, 4:00–6:00 p.m.
Native & Indigenous Affinity Groups Celebration: Honoring the Class of 2026
Monday, May 18, 4:00–6:00 p.m.
Columbia/Barnard Hillel Commencement Lunch
Wednesday, May 20th, 1:00–4:00p.m.
The Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life
Columbia/Barnard Hillel will celebrate the Class of 2026 at this annual Commencement Lunch. Family, friends, and loved ones are welcome. Jewish dietary laws will be observed.
Disability Affinity Celebration
Sunday, May 3, 2026, 11:00 a.m.
Low Library, Faculty Room
Columbia University Morningside Campus
The Disability Affinity Celebration, hosted by the Columbia Student Disability Network, honors and uplifts Columbia’s graduating disabled students. Graduating students will receive disability-affirming stoles, a disabled Columbia alum will give a keynote, and outstanding graduating activists will be given awards. Register via Google Form.
Muslim Student Association Undergraduate Celebration
Monday, May 4, 6:00 p.m.
Lerner Hall, Jed D. Satow Room
Columbia University Morningside Campus
Join the Columbia Muslim Students Association for a celebration honoring graduating seniors. The evening will include food, dessert, and reflections as we come together to recognize your achievements and the journey that brought you here. All graduating seniors from Columbia College, Columbia Engineering, General Studies, and Barnard College are welcome to participate in this celebration.