Dear Members of the Class of 2026:

We are delighted to announce that registration for Commencement Week is now open!  

The culmination of your time at GW, Commencement Week includes school, college, and organization celebrations, as well as our treasured #OnlyAtGW tradition, Commencement on the National Mall.

We invite all members of the Class of 2026 to register yourself and your guests for events and activities taking place that week.

You will soon receive an email with the subject line “Register for Commencement Week,” which will prompt you to create a password before starting registration. You must register with the GW email address that received the message. Do not use your personal email address to register. You will claim tickets for your guests during registration.

You have an opportunity to select either an AI-generated recording of your name or provide a phonetic spelling and a recorded audio version of your name. If you decide not to use the AI-generated file, a vocalist will use that information to dub an audio file of your name that will be played at your school celebration as you cross the stage. Please note:  The SMHS-MD Celebration will not use this feature, and no graduate names will be announced at Commencement on the National Mall.

To record your name, you must register by 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 21. 

Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page for additional details.

We look forward to seeing you in May!

Graduating students must apply to graduate and complete the mandatory graduation survey before registering for Commencement Week events. Please note: Neither SMHS-MD nor Law School students have a graduation survey. Law School students must complete their post-graduation plans in their CORE profile to register for Commencement Week events.

Please wait 24 hours after completing the graduation survey or your CORE profile (for Law School students) before attempting to register for Commencement Week events once the registration system opens.

Summer graduates who wish to walk at Commencement this year must apply to graduate by Wednesday, April 1.

Be sure to review the school celebrations and Commencement Week Schedule and confer with your guests about which events you wish to attend. This will help make the registration process much smoother.

Bags larger than 5”x7”x0.75” are prohibited at all school celebrations and Commencement on the National Mall. Diaper and ADA/medical bags up to 16”x16”x8” will be allowed. Permitted bags are subject to search. If you bring a permitted bag, expect a longer wait time and delayed entry.

WMATA Metro trains will not operate between the Pentagon City and Braddock Road stations (Yellow and Blue lines) on Saturday, May 16 - Sunday, May 17. WMATA will provide free shuttle buses. Plan for additional travel time if you will be affected by the service suspension.

Freedom250 will host an event near GW’s Commencement on Sunday, May 17. There may be an increased use of rideshare services and street closures surrounding that event. Updates will be posted as they become available.

Online regalia sales end Thursday, April 2. Students may purchase regalia in person at the Campus Store beginning Thursday, April 16. Campus Store quantities are limited and not guaranteed. Regalia is required for graduates to participate in school celebrations and Commencement on the National Mall.

Commencement on the National Mall is held outdoors, rain or shine, unless we are directed to move by the National Park Service or if conditions do not allow us to safely conduct the ceremony as planned. Please check the Commencement website on Sunday, May 17, for the latest information.

Sign up to receive updates from Georgie, GW’s chatbot that provides 24/7 support to graduates and families. Text "Hi" to 1-877-838-0027 or visit Georgie on the Commencement website. Messaging and data rates may apply. You may opt out at any time.

If you need more information, please contact commencement@gwu.edu.

Raise High!

If you are a Summer 2025 graduate who participated in Commencement Week events in May 2025, you may opt out using the link at the bottom of this message.