2026 Commencement
The Smith School's Spring 2026 commencement ceremonies will be at the Xfinity Center on May 19, 2026. The undergraduate ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. and the graduate ceremony will begin at 6 p.m.
Tickets
Campus Ceremony
Tickets are required for all graduates and their guests. More information can be found on the UMD Commencement website.
Smith School
Tickets are not required for the Smith School ceremonies.
Location and Parking
Commencement will be held at the XFINITY Center on campus. General guest parking is in lots 4, 6, 9 and 11. Anyone with an ADA permit or otherwise needing accessible parking should park on the 2nd floor of Terrapin Trail Garage. Drivers should go in through the middle entrance of the garage.
View directions for:
Please note that some items are prohibited in the XFINITY center. A few examples include balloons, noisemakers, strollers and backpacks. More information on prohibited items can be found here.
Guidelines for Graduates and Guests
Undergraduate Ceremony
- Graduates and guests should arrive at the XFINITY Center at 1 p.m. to be able to participate and view the graduate procession, which will begin before the start of the 2 p.m. ceremony.
- At 1 p.m., graduates should report to the Pavilion (auxiliary gymnasium) of the XFINITY Center (Room 0601, located on the southeast end of the XFINITY Center) to line up for the procession.
- No tickets are required for guests attending the Smith School Ceremony.
- Regalia must be worn at commencement. For more information on regalia and cap decorating, visit the university's commencement FAQ page. Please check the prohibited items list to review decoration guidelines.
- Balloons, noisemakers, strollers, and backpacks are a few of the items that are prohibited in the XFINITY Center. View the XFINITY Center's bag policy and additional venue information.
- We ask that all attendees remain for the entire ceremony so that we can give each graduate their full recognition.
- Concession stands in the XFINITY Center will be operating throughout commencement day.
- Be aware that traffic on campus and on the area roads and highways will be heavy during Commencement. The University recommends that graduates and guests attending ceremonies at the XFINITY Center avoid traveling through the center of campus and enter the XFINITY Center via route 193.
- The Smith School's Spring Commencement Ceremony will be streamed live online.
Graduate Ceremony
- 5 p.m. - Graduate/guest arrival at the XFINITY Center.
- Graduates should report to the Pavilion (auxiliary gymnasium) of the XFINITY Center (Room 0601, located on the southeast end of the Xfinity Center) to check in, receive their name card, and line up by program for the procession.
- 5:30 p.m. - Graduate procession begins.
- 6 p.m. - Ceremony begins.
- Tickets are not required for guests attending the Smith School Ceremony.
- Regalia must be worn at commencement. For more information on regalia and cap decorating, visit the university's commencement FAQ page. Please check the prohibited items list to review decoration guidelines.
- Balloons, noisemakers, strollers, and backpacks are a few of the items that are prohibited in the XFINITY Center.
- We ask that all attendees remain for the entire ceremony so that we can give each graduate their full recognition.
- All graduates are required to wear official regalia, available for purchase at the University Bookstore.
- There will be no storage or place for graduates to leave their items; graduates should avoid bringing bags and purses since these items will need to be carried throughout the ceremony.
- Concession stands in the XFINITY Center will be operating throughout commencement day.
- Traffic on campus and in the surrounding area will be heavy. It is recommended that graduates and guests attending ceremonies at the XFINITY Center enter campus via Route 193 (avoid the campus vehicle entrances on Baltimore Avenue).
- The Smith School’s Spring Commencement Ceremony will be streamed live online.
Accessibility
Those with limited mobility should park in Terrapin Trail garage. Wheelchair seating will be available at the top of section 120. There will be Xfinity staff near the garage entrance to help direct people who need help finding section 120.
Those who need the ASL interpreter should sit in the first few rows of section 114. Xfinity staff will reserve the first three rows for those who need this service.
Regalia Information
Academic regalia are the traditional dress for degree candidates participating in college, school and department convocations, as well as the university-wide commencement ceremony.
On Campus
University Book Center
Academic regalia is available for purchase from the University Book Center (UBC). The UBC will continue to provide regalia services up until commencement. Gown sizing and hood colors may be limited after April 20. Along with full regalia packages, the UBC will stock individual pieces, including the tassel, stole, and hood.
Ceremony Eligibility Guidelines
Students who completed all degree requirements during the Summer 2025 and Fall 2025 semesters, and students who will be completing all degree requirements during the Spring 2026 semester, are eligible to participate in the Smith School and Main Commencement Ceremonies being held in May 2026.
Per University guidelines, students in the Robert H. Smith School of Business who will complete all degree requirements by August 2026, instead of May 2026, can request permission to participate in the May Smith School Commencement Ceremony & Main Campus Ceremony by completing the online request form below. Names of August 2026 graduates who are approved to participate will not appear in the University or Smith School Commencement programs until the May 2027 ceremonies, per University guidelines.
Contact Us
Office of Smith Programs & Events
4570 Van Munching Hall
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
smithcommencement@umd.edu