The Dates That Matter Most

You don’t need to memorize the whole academic calendar — but these are the dates worth circling:

🗓️ April 8–9: Grad Fair at the University Book Store (10 AM–5 PM). Announcements, frames, rings, and Class of 2026 merchandise. A fun reason to visit campus this spring if you’re nearby.

🗓️ April 17: Deadline for your student to apply for graduation (Spring 2026). This is also the cutoff for their name to appear in the Commencement program. If your student hasn’t applied yet, now is a great time to ask.

🗓️ Mid-May: Commencement Registration/Order Form opens online. This is where your student orders their cap and gown, requests guest tickets, and reserves parking. Tickets are complimentary — all reasonable requests are honored.

🗓️ June 5: Last day of Spring Quarter instruction.

🗓️ June 6–12: Finals Week. Your student is in the home stretch. Care packages welcome.

🗓️ June 13: UW Seattle Commencement at Husky Stadium. Doors open at 12:30 PM. Ceremony begins at 1:30 PM. Over 7,400 graduates. Up to 50,000 guests. An experience not to be missed.

Departmental ceremonies happen throughout the week of June 8–14. Your student will get details from their department directly.

What Your Student Needs to Do (and How You Can Help)

Graduation isn’t automatic — your student has to apply for it, and there are a few steps between now and walking across that field. Here’s what’s on their plate, and where a well-timed conversation can make a difference.

🎓 Apply for graduation: Your student works with their departmental adviser to submit the Application for Graduation form. They then confirm it via email from the Registrar’s Office. This should be done by April 17. A good question to ask: “Have you met with your adviser about your graduation application?”

📋 Run a Degree Audit: The Degree Audit (DARS) tool confirms whether all requirements are met. If something is missing, their adviser can help them make a plan. Your student should be running this every quarter — but especially now.

🎉 Register for Commencement: When the Registration/Order Form opens in mid-May, your student will need to complete it to receive their personal ticket, order guest tickets, and get their cap and gown. This is separate from applying to graduate — both steps are required.

💾 Save their work: After graduation, your student will eventually lose access to their UW accounts — email, Google Drive, everything. UW-IT has a Data Retention Guide to help them preserve files and forward email before that happens. This one sneaks up on people.

If Things Haven’t Gone as Planned

Here’s something we don’t say often enough: not every senior’s path looks the way they — or their family — expected it to four years ago. Some students are finishing in a different major than they started. Some are taking longer than they planned. Some are still figuring out what comes next. And some may not be graduating this quarter at all — even if the family assumed they would be.

If your senior has been less communicative lately, that’s not unusual. It’s often a sign they’re deep in the work of figuring out their next steps — and sometimes, figuring out how to talk to you about where things stand.

We want you to know: you’re not alone in this, and we’re here. Our Parent & Family Programs team works closely with the UW’s Student Care Team, which supports students navigating complex challenges. We’re also here for families directly. If you have questions, if something feels off, or if you simply haven’t heard from your Husky in a while and want to talk it through — reach out to us. Sometimes a conversation with our team is the first step toward making sure your student has the support they need.

Contact us anytime: uwparent@uw.edu

Your student can also connect with the Counseling Center, the University Registrar, or CIRCLE for direct support.

Planning Your Trip to Seattle

This is a big weekend — and Seattle in June is gorgeous. A few things to keep in mind as you plan:

🏨 Book lodging early — and we mean early. The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in Seattle on June 15 — just two days after Commencement. Hotels across the city are expected to fill up fast, with prices higher than usual. The UW Office of Ceremonies recommends booking rooms and travel as soon as possible. Their Transportation and Lodging page has the latest details on hotels, Light Rail connections, and getting around Seattle.

View Travel & Lodging Details

🚇 Skip the traffic: Link Light Rail drops you directly in front of Husky Stadium and connects to SeaTac Airport. Plan your trip at King County Trip Planner or visit Sound Transit for station info.

🅿️ Parking: Your student can purchase campus parking permits through the Commencement Registration/Order Form in mid-May. Permits are available for Commencement Day (June 13) and departmental ceremony days. Disability parking can also be reserved through the form.

☀️ Seattle weather in June: Expect daytime highs in the mid-60s to low 70s. Mornings can be cool — bring a layer. Husky Stadium is open-air, so sunscreen and sunglasses are a good idea.

For Families Traveling from Outside the U.S.

If your family members are traveling internationally to attend Commencement, please start planning now — visa processing can take weeks or months, and the earlier you begin, the better.

Family members may need to apply for a visitor visa (B-2) at a U.S. consulate or embassy in their home country. Your student can support that process by writing a letter of invitation that includes the purpose of the visit, their relationship to the guests, their student status, and details about the Commencement ceremony. They can also request an Enrollment Verification from the Office of the University Registrar to confirm their student status.

Important to know: UW’s International Student Services (ISS) does not write invitation letters on behalf of students — but they do offer guidance on the process and can help your student prepare. For more on U.S. visa requirements, visit the U.S. Department of State.

Can’t make the trip? The Commencement ceremony is broadcast live on UW’s website, YouTube channel, and social media — so you can celebrate from anywhere in the world. Share the moment using #uwgrad26.

For more resources for international families, visit our International Families page or the UW Office of Ceremonies’ International Travel page.

Commencement Day — June 13, 2026

Where: Husky Stadium, University of Washington Seattle Campus
Doors open: 12:30 PM
Ceremony begins: 1:30 PM
Duration: Approximately 3.5–4 hours

All graduates are required to wear cap and gown. Guest tickets are complimentary and distributed digitally — your student will order them through the Registration/Order Form. All reasonable ticket requests are honored.

The drop-off area is in front of the Tubby Graves Building, accessible from the northbound lanes of Montlake Boulevard. After the ceremony, this area will be closed for approximately 30 minutes while traffic clears.

Can’t be there in person? The ceremony is broadcast live on UW’s website, YouTube channel, and social media. Share the celebration using #uwgrad26.

All Three Campuses Celebrate

UW Commencement is a three-day event across all three campuses:

Friday, June 12: UW Tacoma Commencement — Tacoma Dome
Saturday, June 13: UW Seattle Commencement — Husky Stadium
Sunday, June 14: UW Bothell Commencement — Alaska Airlines Arena

Departmental ceremonies are scheduled throughout that week. Your student will receive details from their department directly — ask them to forward that information to you so the whole family can plan together.

After Graduation — What’s Next for Your Husky

The celebration doesn’t end on June 13. Even though your student will soon leave campus, they’ll remain a Husky for life — joining a community of 600,000+ UW alumni with opportunities for connection, learning, and networking wherever they land. Here’s what to know about the weeks that follow, and the resources that carry forward.

📜 Diplomas: Your student’s diploma will be mailed after degree requirements are verified and grades are posted. Check the Registrar’s Diplomas page for details, timelines, and reordering information.

📧 Keep checking UW email: Your student should keep their mailing address updated and continue checking their UW email (including spam) for announcements about degree status, diplomas, and any remaining requirements.

✅ Degree verification: If your student needs to provide proof of graduation to an employer or graduate program, they can request an Official Transcript or email regoff@uw.edu for a Degree Certification letter.

🚀 Career resources: The UW Career & Internship Center serves graduating seniors and recent alumni with job boards, career coaching, and industry connections. Have your Husky check out the Future Alumni page for an introduction to everything the UW Alumni Association offers.

🤝 Stay in the network: Husky Landing is a networking platform where students and alumni swap stories, get advice, and find mentors. The UW Alumni Association also has location-specific communities and events all over the world. And Huskies@Work matches alumni and students for one-time, low-commitment online conversations about careers — an easy way to stay connected and give back.