All ceremonies at the University of Vermont's 225th Commencement are physically accessible and include use of CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) at all venues. Additional accommodations, including interpreting services, are available upon request by completing the 2026 Commencement: ADA Accommodations & Accessible Parking Request Form.

We make every effort to fulfill all requests. To help us plan and prepare please submit your requests as soon as possible, and no later than Thursday, May 14, 2026.

University Commencement Ceremony:

Graduates & Faculty 

Graduating students and faculty should arrive at the Andrew Harris Commons/Davis Center Green by 8:00 a.m. for line-up wearing their cap and gown (regalia) for the University Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 16, 2026. 

Guests & Family 

Guests should arrive on the University Green to be seated by 8:20 a.m. for the University Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 16, 2026 for the start of the student procession at 8:30 am.  The University Commencement Ceremony will take place on the University Green rain or shine. 

Individual College and School Ceremonies:

For information on student line-up and location, as well as when doors open for guests for the individual college/school ceremonies, please visit the schedule page. Information is listed for each ceremony.

Graduates 

Academic regalia (cap and gown) for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees is available to purchase at the UVM Bookstore in the Dudley H. Davis Center. To participate in May 2026 Commencement ceremonies and celebrations, a complete outfit is required for all degree candidates (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral and Medical). Pre-orders are not necessary. Visit here for more details.

Guests & Family

The University Commencement Ceremony will be held outdoors on the University Green, rain or shine. Guests are advised to dress appropriately for the weather; temperatures in May can vary greatly. Clothing that can be layered easily is advisable along with comfortable footwear for walking on grass. Please plan for the possibility of strong sun as well as cool or wet weather.

Individual College and School Ceremonies held at the Champlain Valley Expo Center will be indoors, in climate-controlled spaces. Please note that the walk from parking areas to the venue will still require weather-appropriate clothing, especially in case of rain.

On Campus, University Green

Portable restrooms are located on South Prospect Street, north and south of the Waterman Building. Indoor restrooms are also located inside the north side of the Waterman Building.  The portable units located on the south end of South Prospect Street are handicapped accessible.

Champlain Valley Expo Center

Bathrooms are indoors in each venue, with handicapped accessible and family options available.

Visit the UVM Bookstore or Commencement Group for an assortment of commencement gifts and products, including diploma frames, class rings, graduation announcements and stationery, Class of 2026 t-shirts, Kukui Nut Lei necklaces, gifts and more.

The UVM campus is easily accessible by water, air and land: UVM is 90 miles from Montreal, 220 miles from Boston, 290 miles from NYC, 145 miles from Albany, and only 3.5 miles from the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport. 

From I-89: Take Exit 14W into Burlington. Head west on Williston Road up hill (Williston Road becomes Main Street). Follow signs for commencement parking. 

Heading north from Route 7: Follow Shelburne Road/Route 7 into Burlington. At rotary, bear right onto South Willard Street/Route 7. Travel less than 1 mile to intersection with Main Street (Route 2); turn right onto Main Street. Follow signs for commencement parking. 

From the Adirondack Northway (I-87): Take Exit 20 toward Fort Ann/Whitehall, NY. Proceed north on Route 9 to Route 149 East, headed to Fort Ann, N.Y. In Fort Ann, take Route 4 north to Route 22A in Vermont toward Vergennes. Follow Route 22A north through Vergennes, then follow Route 7 north into Burlington. At rotary, bear right onto South Willard Street/Route 7. 

Travel less than 1 mile to intersection with Main Street (Route 2); turn right onto Main Street. Follow signs for commencement parking. 

In addition, the State of Vermont Agency of Transportation website provides links to traveling safely in Vermont and current road conditions.

The Champlain Valley Expo Center is easily accessible, and less than 5 miles from campus. 

The main entrance is located at 105 Pearl Street (Route 15) in Essex Junction.

From Burlington and points south: Take Interstate 89 north to exit 15. Turn right onto Route 15 East at the bottom of the ramp. Follow Route 15 East to the Exposition entrance, approximately three miles on your left

From St. Albans and points north: Take Interstate 89 south to exit 16. Turn right at the bottom of the ramp onto Main Street towards Winooski/Burlington. Follow Main Street to the rotary and take the third exit out of the rotary onto Route 15 East towards Essex. Follow Route 15 East to the Exposition entrance, approximately three miles on your left.

In addition, the State of Vermont Agency of Transportation website provides links to traveling safely in Vermont and current road conditions.

As always, we ask that you do not bring large bags, parcels or signs to the ceremonies. 

Please see UVM’s policy regarding Unmanned Aircraft (Drones and Model Aircraft) here. 

Flower bouquets will be available for sale near the Information Booths on the University Green at the University Commencement Ceremony.  Additionally, flower bouquets will be available for purchase at the Champlain Valley Expo Center on Saturday and Sunday. You can pre-order your flowers in advance. 

Families and friends may view the University Commencement Ceremony indoors on large screen display in Brennan's at the Davis Center.

Latin honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, cum laude) are determined when all grades for seniors have been submitted. The Registrar’s Office anticipates making these names available on the Thursday prior to commencement. Students graduating with honors will receive an Honors Medallion from their college/school to wear at commencement to signify their achievement. Their diploma will also include this distinction. For more information about how honors are awarded please consult the University Catalogue.

All ceremonies will be livestreamed and recorded. The livestream link can be found here. Recordings of the ceremonies will be posted on the commencement website. 

Please share the link to this page with your friends and family who won’t be able to celebrate with you in person!

GradImages, a professional commencement photography business, will individually photograph each graduate in their regalia when they cross the stage at the college/school ceremonies and celebrations on May 16 and May 17. Students are encouraged to pre-register online with GradImages for easy tracking of their Commencement Day proofs and to order prints. Enter "UVM" or "University of Vermont" in the "School/Organization" search box.

In keeping with UVM’s commitment to environmental sustainability, the commencement program will be available electronically. The downloadable PDF of the program will be posted on Friday, May 15.

Graduates and families who would like to receive a printed copy of the 2026 Commencement Program can submit a request through this form. Programs are limited to one copy per graduate or requestor. Program orders should be submitted by Friday, May 29, 2026. The 2026 Commencement Program will not be shipped until mid-June.

Please contact the Academic Ceremonies office at 802-656-3272 or email academic_ceremonies@uvm.edu with questions.

Share your photos and good wishes for graduates throughout commencement weekend with the hashtag #uvmgrad 

Don't forget to stop at one of our four campus Selfie Spots.

On January 31, 2012 the University of Vermont announced that it would become the first public university in the nation to end the sale of bottled water on campus.

Water stations at the University Commencement Ceremony can be located on South Prospect Street, north and south of the Waterman Building. In addition, canned and bottled beverages are available for sale in the concession tents on the University Green.

Water stations are also available at the Champlain Valley Expo Center, along with indoor water fountains, and canned and bottled beverages for sale at the concession areas.

Guests are encouraged to bring their refillable bottles from home. Cups will also be provided at each station. 

Limited free Wi-Fi will be available commencement weekend both on campus and at the Expo center for your wireless devices. Please note that due to very high usage it may run slowly.