Watch Live 2027

Content from 2026 below. The 2027 Commencement livestream will start at 9:30 a.m. on May 30, 2027.

Join us on Sunday morning, May 31, for live coverage, beginning at 9:30 a.m., of the 160th Bates Commencement as we celebrate the Class of 2026 and welcome Commencement speaker Deborah Harkness and fellow honorary degree recipients H. Scott Bierman ’77, and Seema Hingorani.

News & Updates

October 22, 2026

Bates plays Wilco: The beloved tradition returns with a new g…

Bates Plays, an annual outdoor musical performance organized by the Bates Musicians' Union, made its return to the top of Mount David with an evening of student musicians playing the music of Wilco.

October 22, 2026

Launching the Legacy: A celebration of Marsden Hartley Schola…

For more than 10 years, for five days a week — “at least” — art historian Gail R. Scott worked on the Marsden Hartley Legacy Project: The Complete Paintings and Works on Paper. The Legacy Project, now live and available to anyone with access to the internet, is a comprehensive, annotated online catalogue of all known paintings and works on paper created by the Lewiston-born Hartley (1877-1943).

October 22, 2026

Bates joins National Student Success Project

A major project geared at addressing practical concerns from students and families about the value of a college degree launched today in Washington, D.C. The National Student Success Project, in development since early 2026, is led by five higher education associations and the presidents and chancellors of 19 colleges and universities.