Commencement 2026

Congratulations, Class of 2026!

Philosophy Department Commencement Ceremony

Saturday, June 13, 2026
4:00 PM
Royce Hall

 

Event details

All graduating philosophy majors, minors, PhD students and your families are invited to attend the philosophy department commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at 4:00 PM in Royce Hall. Celebrate your accomplishments with your fellow classmates and the philosophy department’s faculty and staff! (Please note: this is a separate ceremony from the College of Letters and Sciences Commencement.)

A reception will take place after the ceremony outdoors on the Humanities Courtyard (north entrance of Royce Hall across from Rolfe Hall) at 5:00 PM. Come by after the ceremony to mingle with your peers, professors, TAs and staff over some light bites and refreshments!

Ceremony highlights

  • Address from philosophy department chair, Professor Michael Rescorla
  • Address from philosophy department alumna Christine Miceli, Senior Executive Producer, KTLA News
  • Presentation of department of philosophy awards, prizes, departmental honors, and latin honors designations.
  • Individual recognition of graduates: your name will be called and you will cross the stage for a ceremonial photo with the chair. We ask that all graduates and their guests remain until the end of the ceremony to honor each student as their name is announced.

Eligibility to participate in the ceremony

Both philosophy majors and minors who declared graduation for the following terms are eligible to walk in the commencement ceremony:

When and where

The 2026 UCLA Department of Philosophy Commencementwill take place on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at 4:00 PM in Royce Hall Auditorium and the reception will follow at 5:00 PM at the Humanities Courtyard.

Event Day Time Location
2026 Department of Philosophy Commencement Saturday, June 13, 2026 4:00 PM Royce Hall Auditorium
Reception Saturday, June 13, 2026 5:00 PM Humanities Courtyard

The Humanities Courtyard is located at the north entrance of Royce Hall across from Rolfe Hall. Please see below for photos of the location. It is the lawn in the back of Royce Hall with the circular sculpture.

Instructions for graduating students

Tickets Required. To enter Royce Hall for the ceremony, each graduating student must show a valid ticket (either on a mobile device or printed) at the participant entrance. Please note: This guidance is updated from previous guidance, which said that students were not required to display tickets; the guidelines have changed based on updated instructions from Royce Hall management.

Participants’ entrance. Students participating in the ceremony should enter Royce Hall via a dedicated entrance. The participant entrance is located at the front of Royce Hall, to the left of the main entrance (as you face the building).

No re-entry permitted. Make sure you have everything you need when you check in for the ceremony. Participants are not permitted to exit and re-enter the venue before walking in the ceremony.

Please arrive on time. Students participating in the philosophy department ceremony must arrive with regalia promptly by 3:30 p.m.

Ordering student regalia

Students must wear regalia to take part in the philosophy commencement ceremony. Students should order regalia through Graduation Etc., which is accessible online through the UCLA Store. We recommend ordering regalia by the beginning of April 2026.

Ticketing for the ceremony

  • Students may reserve tickets from May 8, 2026, at 12 noon, through May 22, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. via my.ucla.edu.
  • Students participating in the philosophy commencement ceremony are eligible for 4 free tickets. Additionally, you may request to be added to the waitlist for additional tickets for an additional charge of $20 per ticket. Guest tickets are required for the Royce Hall venue and will need to be scanned at entry.
  • Waitlist tickets are not guaranteed, but if given to students, you will be charged directly.
  • All graduating students and guests will require a ticket to enter Royce Hall.
  • Students with ticketing issues for the philosophy ceremony should contact philcounselor@humnet.ucla.edu.
  • After the May 22 deadline, no ticket orders are guaranteed. Ticket requests made after the deadline will be handled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Royce Hall Security Overview

Graduates CANNOT leave behind any belongings in the check-in/lineup area (West Lobby) and should bring nothing but their cap and gown.

Graduates must be prepared to remove their cap and gown during entry screenings.

Clear bags or coin purses policy. According to Royce Hall regulations, only clear bags or coin purses meeting certain specifications may be brought into the building on Commencement day:

  • Bag must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and must not exceed 12”W x 12”H x 6”D.
  • A one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc or similar) would be permitted.
  • Small clutch bag measuring no larger than 4.5” x 6.5”, with or without a handle or strap. Such bags may be carried separately or within a plastic bag.
  • Diaper bags are permitted, provided an infant is present.
  • These policies apply to all graduating students and audience members, so please notify your guests of the guidelines as well.

Prohibited Items:

  • Balloons
  • Banners
  • Firearms
  • Flags
  • Food
  • Knives
  • Noise makers
  • Non water beverages
  • Non-Closeable water bottles
  • Opaque / non-clear backpacks or other bags
  • Pepper spray
  • Selfie sticks
  • Signage
  • Tasers
  • Tripods
  • Umbrellas
  • Weapons of any kind

Additional Information

Please keep an eye out for future emails from Wil Jones and please visit the following links, especially the “UCLA College Graduation Checklist” link, for more information:

Please be sure to plan early, especially for any out-of-town guests!

Degree Progress Check

Please feel free to schedule an appointment with Wil Jones and we can review your Degree Audit Report to ensure you are on track to complete your philosophy major or minor requirements.

UCLA College ceremonies

Please visit the UCLA College Commencement page for more information.

Questions?

If you have questions, please email Wil Jones, Student Affairs Coordinator, at philcounselor@humnet.ucla.edu.

 

FAQs

I'm a graduating student participating in the philosophy department commencement ceremony. Do I need a ticket?

Yes, tickets are required. Each graduating student must show a valid ticket (either on a mobile device or printed) at the participant entrance.You can order tickets for commencement via MyUCLA beginning at 12:00 PM on Friday, May 8th – 11:59 PM on Friday, May 22nd.

How many tickets can I order?

You are eligible to order (4) free tickets. In addition, you may request to be added to the waitlist for additional tickets for an additional charge of $20 per ticket.

How will I receive my ticket?

Tickets for all ceremonies will be distributed electronically between Thursday, May 28, and Thursday, June 11. All tickets will be sent by the Central Ticket Office (CTO) from cto@tickets.ucla.edu. Please be sure to check that your email account is accurate in MyUCLA, and also check your email account’s spam folder frequently, to be sure you do not overlook these important messages.

Graduate tickets will be blue while guest tickets will be yellow.

Do toddlers and newborns need tickets?

Yes. A ticket is required for every person attending the ceremony, so that event staff have an accurate count of the number of attendees, which is required in the event of an emergency, and because patrons with babies often use a second seat for baby items.

How does the waitlist for additional tickets work?

There is no limit to how many waitlist tickets a graduate can request; however, waitlist tickets are NOT guaranteed. On or around Wednesday, May 27th, we will determine if tickets can be issued to those on the waitlist. If you are issued tickets, your student BAR account will be charged $20/ticket.

Who can help if my family needs assistance for a relative with a disability or an elderly relative?

Please visit here for information regarding Royce Hall’s accessibility features and disability accommodations.

For any accommodation needs, please contact Wil Jones at philcounselor@humnet.ucla.edu.

I forgot to RSVP for the ceremony by the deadline. Can I still attend?

Please contact Wil Jones, Student Affairs Officer, at philcounselor@humnet.ucla.edu to ask if space is still available for the ceremony.

How long is the philosophy department commencement ceremony?

 

The ceremony will last no longer than 1 hour and 45 minutes. Please plan accordingly when making restaurant reservations, travel plans, etc.

 

Stay connected!

Grads, stay connected through the Philosophy Alumni Network, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, or sign up for our mailing list to stay up to date with philosophy department news and events.