Bard College Commencement Registration 2026

Welcome to the Bard College 166th Commencement registration form.

Commencement packets may be picked up at onsite registration, and are organized under the main registrant's name. Packets will contain any meal tickets and accessibility seating wristbands. Online registration closes on Monday, May 4.

If you have any questions, please contact events@bard.edu.
View the Commencement schedule of events here. View some of the frequently asked questions here.

* Denotes a required field.

Main Registrant's Information

First Name*

Last Name*

Email Address*

Mobile Number*

I am a*

Class of 2026 Graduating Senior

Family/Guest of Bachelor's Degree Graduate

Friend/Guest of the College

Type the name of your graduate in the box below. As you start typing, their name will auto-populate.

Graduate*

Bard College Awards – Friday, May 22

This year the Bard College Awards return to main campus under the big tent where guests will be able to enjoy cocktails, ceremony and dinner together. Join us as we ecognize exceptional alumni/ae achievements and distinguished faculty careers.

5:30 pm – Cocktail Reception

6:30 pm – Bard College Awards Ceremony and Dinner Reunion classes will be seated together.
Commencement Tent, Seth Goldfine Memorial Rugby Field
$65 per adult. Advanced registration is required.
Commencement Tent, Seth Goldfine Memorial Field

Adult Tickets–BCA Dinner ($65 each)

Please provide the names of your guests below:

Commencement Exercises – Saturday, May 23

1:30 pm 
Tent opens for seating
Tickets are not issued for Bard Commencement and seating is first come, first served. It takes place under a grand tent with a finite number of seats. To provide the most enjoyable experience for all our guests, we request limiting each party to 6.
Commencement Tent, Seth Goldfine Memorial Rugby Field

2:30 pm
Academic Procession
Alumni/ae from reunion classes are invited to join the Class of 2026, trustees, and faculty in the procession to the Commencement tent. (Academic attire is required.)
Formation at Annandale Road, south of the Chapel of the Holy Innocents

Livestreaming of Commencement
Olin Auditorium, Franklin W. Olin Humanities Building

3 pm
Commencement Ceremony
Celebrate the Class of 2026 and the awarding of honorary degrees. James C. Chambers ’81, chair of the Board of Trustees of Bard College, presiding, and The Right Reverend Matthew F. Heyd, officiating.
Commencement Tent, Seth Goldfine Memorial Field

Please indicate the approximate number of guests in your party.

Accessible Seating Request

Advance registration is required to reserve a seat in this area with a wristband provided for access. Requests for accessible seating must be received on or before Monday, May 4. To begin the application, please indicate your interest in accessible seating below. You will then be contacted by commencement accessibility staff to provide additional information.

In order to accommodate as many requests as possible, a person with accessible seating needs will be allowed no more than two guests in this area.

Wristbands will be included in the main registrant's packet. Please see the schedule for registration hours and location. For questions, please email Jacob Testa at jtesta@bard.edu.

I or someone in my party is in need of accessible seating and would like to be contacted about reserving a seat.

Yes

No

Please provide the name(s) of the person(s) in need of accessible seating below:

How many seats total would you like to reserve in the accessible seating area?

1

2

3

Does that person use either of the following?

a wheelchair

a walker

Does that person require an assisted hearing device?

Yes

No

Saturday Brunch – Saturday, May 23

11 am – 1:30 pm
For graduating seniors, their families, and their guests.
$17 per adult, $8 per child 4–12, free for children 3 and under.
Main Dining Room, Kline Commons

Adult–Saturday Brunch Tickets ($17 each)

Children ages 4–12 – Saturday Brunch Tickets ($8 each)

Children ages 3 and under–Saturday Brunch Tickets (Free)

Commencement Barbecue – Saturday, May 23

6:00–8:30 pm
Gather with family and friends.
$28 per adult, $22 for children ages 12 and under, free for Class of 2026 Bachelor's Degree Graduates.
Advance reservations recommended. Cash wine and beer.
Blithewood north lawn

BBQ Tickets for the Class of 2026 Bachelor's Degree Graduates:

Add a complimentary BBQ ticket for the Class of 2026 Bachelor's Degree Graduate? (one complimentary ticket per graduate only).

Adult Meal Options:

Pulled Pork

BBQ Chicken

Black Bean Burger

Vegan Meal

Child Meal Options:

BBQ Chicken - Child portion

Black Bean Burger - Child portion

Alumni/ae Brunch – Sunday, May 24

10:30 am – 12:30 pm
$30 per adult; $13 for 4–12 yr olds, free for children 3 and under
Advance registration recommended.
Kline Commons

Adult–Alumni/ae Brunch Tickets ($30 each)

Children ages 12 – 4 Alumni/ae Brunch Tickets ($13 each)

Children ages 3 and under–Alumni/ae Brunch Tickets (Free)

Enter Amount

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ALL GUESTS ARE SUBJECT TO BARD POLICIES

Bard College endeavors to foster mutual respect and understanding among all members of the College Community. To that end, the College will not tolerate discrimination or harassment by any alumni/ae or other visitors.

All visitors are subject to Bard’s Policies, which can be found at:

bard.edu/nondiscrimination/policies and https://www.bard.edu/humanresources/training/.