Greetings, Bates Class of 2026 families —

We are so excited to celebrate the Class of 2026 with you in just a few short days. Campus is buzzing as we prepare for this special milestone weekend.

Whether you’ll be joining us on campus or tuning in from afar, we wanted to share a few reminders ahead of this exciting celebration:

Friday, May 29

• Cap & Gown Pickup: Students may pick up their regalia at the Bates College Store from May 28–30 from 8 a.m.–4 p.m. No pre-order is required; students simply provide their name, height, and Bates ID at pickup. Standard regalia is provided at no cost, and additional Commencement items will be available for purchase.
• Senior/Parent Events: We hope to see you at the Senior Parent Gift Celebration from 8–8:30 p.m. in the Fireplace Lounge of Commons. While we’ll offer a special toast to recognize donors to this year’s Senior Parent Gift, all are welcome to attend. Immediately following, head over to the Senior/Parent Wine and Cheese Tasting from 8:30–10:30 p.m. in the Bardwell Field Tent.

Saturday, May 30

• Baccalaureate Ceremony: Baccalaureate will take place at 11 a.m. on the Historic Quad. Planned by members of the Class of 2026 and the Bates Multifaith Chaplaincy, this reflective ceremony features music, storytelling, and voices from many traditions and backgrounds. 
• Parking: Campus Avenue will be closed to through traffic throughout the weekend. We recommend parking behind Merrill Gymnasium or in the Bonney Science Center lot for accessible parking. 

Sunday, May 31 — Commencement Day

• Commencement Seating: Seating opens at 7 a.m. on the Historic Quad, and guests are asked to be seated by 9:15 a.m. for the Commencement procession. Families and friends may sit in any non-reserved areas on a first-come, first-served basis. A member of your party must remain with held seats, as unattended seats are not considered held. Families needing accessible seating should look for chairs with blue covers.
• Photography: Professional photographers from GradImages will photograph each graduate during the ceremony, and graduates who provided a post-Bates email address will receive photo access information approximately two weeks after Commencement. Families are also welcome to take photos throughout the ceremony while keeping aisles, the graduate seating area, and parade path clear. Additionally, please do not move into any of the three main aisles as individual names are being called. We appreciate your help with this!

Inclement Weather: Both Baccalaureate and Commencement take place on the Historic Quad, rain or shine, so we encourage guests to plan for all types of weather and bring rain jackets, hats, and sunscreen.

As a reminder, the Commencement website remains the best resource for weekend details and updates. We can’t wait to celebrate the Class of 2026 with you and your student in just a few short days!

Best from campus,
The Bates Parent Team

PS: Looking for a past Commencement email update? Find them all here!