{"id":6824,"date":"2025-07-24T10:38:06","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T14:38:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/?page_id=6824"},"modified":"2026-06-01T09:45:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T13:45:27","slug":"commencement-2026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/","title":{"rendered":"Commencement Weekend | May 29-31, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video wp-embed-aspect-16-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<lite-youtube videoid=\"4hMxmR-A9Hw\" params=\"modestbranding=1&#038;rel=0\" playlabel=\"Celebrating the Class of 2026 | Bates College Commencement\" title=\"Celebrating the Class of 2026 | Bates College Commencement\" >\n\t\t\t<\/lite-youtube>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video wp-embed-aspect-16-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<lite-youtube videoid=\"4kz5Ekx5GXc\" params=\"modestbranding=1&#038;rel=0\" playlabel=\"Bates College Faculty and Staff Share Their Congratulations with the Class of 2026\" title=\"Bates College Faculty and Staff Share Their Congratulations with the Class of 2026\" >\n\t\t\t<\/lite-youtube>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__list is-grid columns-3 has-dates has-author wp-block-latest-posts\"><li><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__featured-image alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/2026\/04\/02\/celebrate-with-bobcat-lawn-signs-2026\/\" aria-label=\"Celebrate With Bobcat Lawn Signs\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/02\/23-082-lawn-posters_2023_18x24-2-copy-900x675.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/02\/23-082-lawn-posters_2023_18x24-2-copy-900x675.webp 900w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/02\/23-082-lawn-posters_2023_18x24-2-copy-400x300.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/02\/23-082-lawn-posters_2023_18x24-2-copy-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/02\/23-082-lawn-posters_2023_18x24-2-copy-1536x1152.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/02\/23-082-lawn-posters_2023_18x24-2-copy-200x150.webp 200w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/02\/23-082-lawn-posters_2023_18x24-2-copy-837x628.jpg 837w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/02\/23-082-lawn-posters_2023_18x24-2-copy.webp 1919w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/div><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/2026\/04\/02\/celebrate-with-bobcat-lawn-signs-2026\/\">Celebrate With Bobcat Lawn Signs<\/a><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-author\">by Gina Nordini<\/div><time datetime=\"2026-04-02T16:43:54-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">April 2, 2026<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Want to show your Bobcat pride? Download one of our printable PDFs.<\/div><\/li>\n<li><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__featured-image alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/2026\/01\/21\/schedule\/\" aria-label=\"Schedule\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"888\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2025\/01\/sq-240526_Commencement_5251-e1744142868474-888x900.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"People taking a selfie during graduation\" style=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2025\/01\/sq-240526_Commencement_5251-e1744142868474-888x900.webp 888w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2025\/01\/sq-240526_Commencement_5251-e1744142868474-296x300.webp 296w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2025\/01\/sq-240526_Commencement_5251-e1744142868474-768x779.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2025\/01\/sq-240526_Commencement_5251-e1744142868474-620x628.jpg 620w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2025\/01\/sq-240526_Commencement_5251-e1744142868474-197x200.webp 197w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2025\/01\/sq-240526_Commencement_5251-e1744142868474.webp 1242w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 888px) 100vw, 888px\" \/><\/a><\/div><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/2026\/01\/21\/schedule\/\">Schedule<\/a><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-author\">by Michelle Lewis<\/div><time datetime=\"2026-01-21T13:54:00-05:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">January 21, 2026<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\"><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__featured-image alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/2026\/01\/16\/faqs-what-to-expect-for-commencement-2026\/\" aria-label=\"FAQs: What to expect for Commencement 2026\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/06\/crop_230528_Commencement_2_1184-900x600.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/06\/crop_230528_Commencement_2_1184-900x600.webp 900w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/06\/crop_230528_Commencement_2_1184-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/06\/crop_230528_Commencement_2_1184-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/06\/crop_230528_Commencement_2_1184-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/06\/crop_230528_Commencement_2_1184-200x133.webp 200w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/06\/crop_230528_Commencement_2_1184-942x628.jpg 942w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/files\/2023\/06\/crop_230528_Commencement_2_1184.jpg 1919w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/div><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/2026\/01\/16\/faqs-what-to-expect-for-commencement-2026\/\">FAQs: What to expect for Commencement 2026<\/a><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-author\">by Michelle Lewis<\/div><time datetime=\"2026-01-16T13:56:00-05:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">January 16, 2026<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\"><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull\" style=\"min-height:563px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-gray-light-background-color has-background-dim-100 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"fye-countdown\">\n  <p class=\"countdown-label\">Countdown to Commencement<\/p>\n  <div id=\"countdown-timer\">\n    <span><strong id=\"days\"><\/strong> days<\/span>\n    <span><strong id=\"hours\"><\/strong> hrs<\/span>\n    <span><strong id=\"minutes\"><\/strong> min<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<script>\n  const targetDate = new Date(\"May 30, 2027 10:00:00\").getTime();\n\n  const timer = setInterval(function () {\n    const now = new Date().getTime();\n    const distance = targetDate - now;\n\n    if (distance < 0) {\n      clearInterval(timer);\n      document.getElementById(\"countdown-timer\").innerHTML = \"Commencement!\";\n      return;\n    }\n\n    document.getElementById(\"days\").innerHTML = Math.floor(distance \/ (1000 * 60 * 60 * 24));\n    document.getElementById(\"hours\").innerHTML = Math.floor((distance % (1000 * 60 * 60 * 24)) \/ (1000 * 60 * 60));\n    document.getElementById(\"minutes\").innerHTML = Math.floor((distance % (1000 * 60 * 60)) \/ (1000 * 60));\n  }, 1000);\n<\/script>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"aside-stories-wrap\" data-nosnippet>\n\t\t\t\t<h1>Commencement News & Updates<\/h1>\n\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"aside-stories news-updates is-style-grid\"><article class=\"aside-story\"><a class=\"aside-image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/04\/a-beautiful-thing-stalwarts-on-the-sidelines-at-bates-commencement\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/06\/4x6-260531_Commencement_2965_hjb-400x267.webp\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\u2018A beautiful thing\u2019: Stalwarts on the sidelines at Bates Commencement\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/06\/4x6-260531_Commencement_2965_hjb-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/06\/4x6-260531_Commencement_2965_hjb-900x600.webp 900w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/06\/4x6-260531_Commencement_2965_hjb-942x628.jpg 942w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/06\/4x6-260531_Commencement_2965_hjb-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/06\/4x6-260531_Commencement_2965_hjb-200x133.webp 200w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/06\/4x6-260531_Commencement_2965_hjb.webp 1919w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><div class=\"aside-text-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"aside-date\">June 4, 2026<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"aside-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/04\/a-beautiful-thing-stalwarts-on-the-sidelines-at-bates-commencement\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u2018A beautiful thing\u2019: Stalwarts on the sidelines at Bates Commencement\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"aside-text\">For many, Commencement is a one-and-done visit. For others in the audience \u2014 local alumni, retirees, and Lewiston friends \u2014 it\u2019s an annual touchstone, rich with memories, friendships, and purpose.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/article><article class=\"aside-story\"><a class=\"aside-image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/31\/commencement-2026-into-the-future-with-heart-humanity-curiosity-and-community\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/05\/260531_Commencement_2319_3000-400x300.webp\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Moments from this year\u2019s Commencement captured on May 31, 2026. (Theophil Syslo | Bates College)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/05\/260531_Commencement_2319_3000-400x300.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/05\/260531_Commencement_2319_3000-900x674.webp 900w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/05\/260531_Commencement_2319_3000-839x628.jpg 839w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/05\/260531_Commencement_2319_3000-1536x1150.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/05\/260531_Commencement_2319_3000-200x150.webp 200w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/05\/260531_Commencement_2319_3000.webp 1919w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><div class=\"aside-text-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"aside-date\">May 31, 2026<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"aside-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/31\/commencement-2026-into-the-future-with-heart-humanity-curiosity-and-community\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCommencement 2026: Into the future with heart, humanity, and curiosity\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"aside-text\">The skies were changeable but the mood was resoundingly upbeat on Sunday, May 31, as 480 members of the Class of 2026 celebrated their Bates graduation surrounded by family and friends, and bolstered by speeches that dwelled on bright promises, both those already delivered and those to come.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/article><article class=\"aside-story\"><a class=\"aside-image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/09\/bates-announces-2026-commencement-honorands-including-writer-deborah-harkness\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/250902_Convocation_0009_WP-400x267.webp\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Opening Convocation at 11 a.m. Sept. 2, 2025, on the Historic Quad, followed by In Memoriam: Tree Planting Service. Processional Welcome by President Garry Jenkins Mace Bearer Mary T. Rice=DeFosse Greetings by Zach Richards \u201926 and Mohammad Zayd \u201927, Co-Presidents Convocation Address \u201cA College for Coming Times\u201d Rebecca Herzig, Professor of Gender and Sexuality Studies Benediction Raymond Clothier, Interim Multifaith Chaplain Memorial Tree Planting Alongside Gomes Chapel on College Street, in memory of those in the Bates community who died during the past year. The tree was designated with a yellow bow.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/250902_Convocation_0009_WP-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/250902_Convocation_0009_WP-900x600.webp 900w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/250902_Convocation_0009_WP-942x628.jpg 942w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/250902_Convocation_0009_WP-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/250902_Convocation_0009_WP-200x133.webp 200w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/250902_Convocation_0009_WP.webp 1919w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><div class=\"aside-text-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"aside-date\">April 9, 2026<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"aside-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/09\/bates-announces-2026-commencement-honorands-including-writer-deborah-harkness\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBates announces 2026 Commencement honorands, including writer Deborah Harkness\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"aside-text\">Bates will recognize four honorary degree recipients during Commencement on May 31, including Commencement speaker Deborah Harkness.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/article><\/section><!-- .aside-stories -->\n\t\t\t<\/div><!--.aside-stories-wrap-->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_hide_ai_chatbot":false,"_ai_chatbot_style":"","associated_faculty":[],"_Page_Specific_Css":"","_bates_restrict_mod":false,"_dimp_site_id":"","_dimp_override_contact":false,"_table_of_contents_display":false,"_table_of_contents_location":"","_table_of_contents_disableSticky":false,"_is_featured":false,"footnotes":"","_bates_seo_meta_description":"","_bates_seo_block_robots":false,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_id":0,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_twitter_id":0,"_bates_seo_share_title":"","_bates_seo_canonical_overwrite":"","_bates_seo_twitter_template":""},"class_list":["post-6824","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6824","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6824"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6824\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7114,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6824\/revisions\/7114"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6824"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}