A student in graduation regalia smiles directly at the camera. She wears a pink stole over a black robe.
Photo by Wais Kakarr ’26

2026 Graduate Degrees Commencement

We’d like to welcome you to the inaugural Graduate Degrees Commencement here at Bard! Celebrating the long history of Bard’s graduate programs, this new ceremony will honor students who are receiving their graduate degree through Bard. Below, you'll find information on the day itself, including the full schedule and a registration link.

Watch the 2026 Graduate Degree Commencement Now

This is a photo of Thomas F. Rosenbaum

Graduate Degrees Commencement Speaker

Thomas F. Rosenbaum
Thomas F. Rosenbaum is the ninth president of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) where he is also professor of physics. He is an expert on the quantum-mechanical nature of materials, having conducted research at Bell Laboratories, INC.; the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center; Argonne National Laboratory; and the University of Chicago. At the latter, he served as vice president for research and then as provost before moving to Caltech in 2014. He received his bachelor’s degree in physics with honors from Harvard University and a PhD in physics from Princeton University. He serves as the chair of the Board of Trustees of the Society for Science, as a board member of the Aspen Center for Physics, and on the Los Angeles Committee of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
You’re Invited!

You’re Invited!

The Trustees and Faculty of Bard College and the Members of the Graduate Studies Class of 2026 request the honor of your presence.

Schedule of Events

Saturday, May 23

Fisher Center Doors and House Open

9:30 am
Seating is first come, first served, as tickets are not issued for the Bard Graduate Studies Commencement. To provide the most enjoyable experience for all guests, we request limiting each party to six individuals.
Sosnoff Theater, Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts

Graduate Degrees Procession Lineup

10 am
Lineup begins on the path that leads from Olafur Eliasson’s parliament of reality, just across the street from the Fisher Center. Academic attire is required.

Graduate Degrees Academic Procession

10:30 am
Class of 2026 master’s and doctoral degree graduates, members of the Board of Trustees, faculty and staff are invited to join in the procession to the Commencement stage. Academic attire is required.
Sosnoff Theater, Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts

Graduate Degrees Commencement Livestream

10:30 am
To access the livestream, please click here.

Graduate Degrees Commencement Ceremony

11 am
Celebrate the Class of 2026 with President Leon Botstein and Dean of Graduate Studies Christian Crouch. The Reverend Meredith Kadet Sanderson ’04 will officiate. For safety reasons, standing in the aisle during the ceremony is prohibited.
Sosnoff Theater, Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts

Graduate Degrees Reception

12:30 pm
A reception will immediately follow the Commencement ceremony. Students, guests, faculty, and staff are all welcome. 
Portico, Sosnoff Theater, Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts
Keep the Celebration Going
Photo by Wais Kakarr ’26

Keep the Celebration Going

All Graduate Studies graduates are invited to join the following events.
  • 2026 Undergraduate Commencement
  • Post-Commencement Festivities

FAQs

General FAQs
  • What is the date of the ceremony, and where does it take place?
    The Graduate Degrees Commencement ceremony is at 11 am on Saturday, May 23, 2026, in the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts’ Sosnoff Theater, located on Bard’s Annandale campus.
  • Do I have to register to attend, and do I need tickets to enter the Fisher Center?
    We ask that all visitors register here so we can account for an approximate number of attendees. Tickets are not issued for Commencement. Doors will open at 10 am and seating in the Fisher Center’s Sosnoff Theater is first come, first served. We suggest that you arrive as early as possible.
  • Will the ceremony be photographed?
    Bard’s photographer will take candid photographs throughout the Commencement festivities, which will be uploaded to the Bard website as soon as possible following the event. Genesee Photo Systems will take formal photos of graduates receiving their degrees. Graduates will be contacted by Genesee to purchase these more formal images.
  • Will I receive a formal invitation?
    Commencement invitations will be available for download at bard.edu/commencement beginning in mid-March. You can order printed invitations here.
  • Is there a limit to the number of guests I may bring?
    Sosnoff Theater has a finite number of seats. To provide the most enjoyable experience for all guests, we request limiting each party to six individuals.
  • When should I arrive on campus?
    We recommend you check with your Graduate Studies student. Some guests arrive on Friday, while others arrive on Saturday.
  • When does the Commencement ceremony begin and end?
    Lineup is at 10 am in front of the Fisher Center. The procession begins at 10:30 am. Everyone must be seated in the Sosnoff Theater by 11 am. Commencement ends at approximately 12:30 pm. There will be a reception immediately following the ceremony, located on the portico in the front of the Sosnoff lobby.
  • Where do I park?
    Campus Security will direct guests to designated parking areas. Once parked, we recommend you use your phone to pin your car’s location, if possible, so you can more easily locate it after the ceremony or later that evening.
  • Is there an accessible parking area?
    Accessible parking is available, and there are wheelchair-accessible paths between the parking lot and the theater. Golf carts are also available to transport patrons between the parking lot and the theater. Please note that golf carts cannot run during lightning storms or other dangerous weather conditions. If the carts are not running, please request assistance from a parking attendant; the attendant will then ask a staff member to escort patrons to the theater lobby or seating area. Alternatively, drivers may drop off any guests with accessibility needs at our designated drop-off point, located directly in front of the Fisher Center (on Manor Road, by the large glass signs), and parking attendants will likewise ask staff to escort patrons into the building while drivers park. The path from the drop-off point to Sosnoff Theater is shorter and flatter than the path from the parking lot, and it is also wheelchair accessible.
  • Does the theater have an accessible seating area?
    Wheelchair-accessible seating is available for patrons with accessibility needs and up to three guests. There is an elevator to each level of Sosnoff Theater, and a wheelchair lift allows access to front-row wheelchair seating. Please reserve accessible seating in advance using the registration form.
  • Do you offer livestreaming of the Graduate Degrees Commencement for those who cannot attend in person?
    Yes, a livestream of the Graduate Degrees Commencement ceremony will begin at 10:30 am on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Click here to watch.
Travel and Dining FAQs
  • Will a shuttle service be offered between the Bard campus and local hotels or train stations?
    Shuttles will not be available between campus and hotels. Saturday’s shuttles will pick up passengers at the Amtrak station in Rhinecliff. The pickup schedule will be posted on the College’s transportation website, blogs.bard.edu/transportation (under “Special Schedules”). Guests are responsible for making their own return travel arrangements.
  • I will need a travel visa to attend Commencement. Do you have any information to assist with the application process?
    The Office of International Student and Scholar Services provides a list of helpful tips, which can be found here.
  • How do I purchase tickets for the Commencement barbecue?
    Graduate Studies students must pre-purchase their barbecue tickets online by May 4 and pick them up at the event. To purchase tickets, please click here. When you arrive at Blithewood, please visit the table beneath the Mansion’s east portico for assistance. If you did not register in advance, a limited number of tickets will be available for purchase at the door (while supplies last).
  • Will there be meals for those with special dietary concerns?
    We make every effort to accommodate dietary needs. Vegetarian and gluten-free options will be available at the post-Commencement barbecue and at Kline Commons.
  • What happens if I purchase meal tickets and don’t use them? Can I get a refund?
    All requests for refunds must be submitted by May 4.
  • May I come for fireworks if I don’t purchase barbecue tickets?
    Yes! Find a spot on the lawn and enjoy. Fireworks begin at dark, around 9:15 pm.

Contact

I have more questions. Whom do I ask?
If you need further assistance, please feel free to contact the Office of Events at [email protected] or 845-758-7414.