Ticket and Seating Information

Yale University Commencement

at Old Campus

Tickets

Tickets will be required to gain entry to Old Campus for Yale's 325th Commencement Ceremony on Monday, May 18, 2026. Graduates will receive further instructions on how to claim these tickets from the university.

  • Each student receiving a degree from the Graduate School or one of the professional schools will receive up to two (2) guest tickets.
  • Graduates can pick up their requested tickets during the regalia pickup (dates/times here).
  • No dogs are allowed at any campus ceremony.

Seating

Gates to Old Campus will open at 8:00 a.m. All guests should be seated by 10:00 a.m. No standing will be allowed. A ticket grants admission onto Old Campus but does not guarantee a specific seat. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved.

  • Every guest must present a ticket to enter Old Campus.

YSE Diploma Ceremony

at Kline Courtyard

Tickets

YSE's Diploma Ceremony at Kline Courtyard will be ticketed as well. Graduates have received instructions on how to claim these tickets. The deadline to claim these tickets is April 6, 2026.

Seating

As with Old Campus, seats at Kline are first come, first served and cannot be reserved. Guests may begin being seated at 12:00 PM/Noon.

There will be no refreshments (food or drink) available in the courtyard prior to the reception. We recommend guests bring water with them to the ceremony and enjoy lunch on their own prior. Due to this year’s diploma ceremony location on Kline’s Courtyard, seats are extremely limited, and standing guests may want to take advantage of our indoor viewing locations at Kroon Hall. Tickets do not guarantee a seat. Seating is first-come, first-served beginning at 12 PM. There will be an area reserved for those with accessible seating needs outside and in both indoor locations. Comfortable indoor seating is available for livestream viewing in both Kroon Hall’s Burke Auditorium to alleviate the need to stand at the ceremony.

Not everyone attending will fit under the tent. It is imperative that guests consider wearing sunscreen and/or hats.

If any of your guests require special accommodations, please email us at commencement.yse@yale.edu.

Preparing for Weather and Comfort

Commencement downtown and at YSE’s diploma ceremony are rain or shine events and held on grass courtyards. Guests and graduates should be prepared to walk across grassy areas and to stand. We encourage guests to consider sun protection. Sunscreen will be available at the info table at the YSE Diploma Ceremony.

There is no tent for the downtown ceremony, and only partial coverage on Kline. Guests may consider bringing a refillable water bottle to prepare for warm weather. Should rain be in the forecast, we will provide rain ponchos and will continue to offer remote viewing in Kroon Hall.

Tickets can only be claimed by the graduate for both of these ceremonies.

Accessibility at Old Campus Ceremony

For the Yale University ceremony downtown at Old Campus, please refer here for more information on accessibility services.

Accessibility at the YSE Diploma Ceremony

The YSE Diploma Ceremony is being held in the Kline Tower Courtyard this year, which is accessible without stairs. From Prospect Street, there is a ramp leading all the way to the tent area. Under the tent there will be an area reserved for accessible seating. Additionally, this courtyard has numerous benches, chairs, and picnic tables, most of which are accessible as well. For guests wishing to watch the ceremony via Livestream from Burke Auditorium in Kroon Hall, there is an elevator which can be used.