Commencement 2026

May 18, 2026

The University of Pennsylvania’s 270th Commencement ceremony was held on Franklin Field. As is tradition, faculty, staff, families and friends joined to watch and cheer the graduates. The ceremony featured the conferral of degrees, the awarding of honorary degrees, greetings by University officials, including Penn President J. Larry Jameson, and remarks by the 2026 Commencement Speaker, Michael Beschloss, Historian, scholar of leadership, author, News and Documentary Emmy Award, 2005. Beschloss received an Honorary Doctor of Letters. In addition to the University’s Commencement ceremony Penn’s 12 schools each host a ceremony, at which graduating students are individually recognized as their names are called, and they walk across a stage. Additional information is available at the School Ceremonies page of the University Commencement website.

Read President Jameson’s Commencement Speech.

Penn Today news story.