Spring 2026 Convocation: What you need to know

Here's what you need to know for McMaster's Spring 2026 convocation, including ceremony dates, times, and locations.

May 7, 2026

Five graduates in robes, walking through archway on a university campus.
Graduates celebrating during spring 2025 convocation season. (Photo by Matt Clarke, McMaster University)

This article has been edited May 12, 2026 to correct the start time of the ceremonies for Engineering B and Science B. Please note each of these ceremonies is at 12:30 p.m.


The incredible achievements and hard work of our Spring 2026 graduates will be celebrated at faculty ceremonies and graduation celebration events taking place throughout May and June.

In addition to degrees being conferred, award winners and honorary degree recipients will be recognized at the Spring convocation.

When and where

Please see the schedule below for the 11 Spring faculty convocation ceremonies.

All faculty convocation ceremonies will take place at FirstOntario Concert Hall (1 Summers Lane) in downtown Hamilton.

Doors open 1.5 hours before the start of the ceremony and ceremonies are approximately two hours. Graduands are asked to arrive one hour before their ceremony.

Faculty/program Date and time
Faculty of Health Sciences A Wednesday, May 20, 2026, 2:30pm
Faculty of Health Sciences B Thursday, May 21, 2026, 9:30am
Arts & Science Program and Faculty of Humanities Monday, June 15, 2026, 2:30pm
Faculty of Engineering A Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 9:30am
Faculty of Engineering B Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 12:30pm
Faculty of Engineering C Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 4:00 pm
Faculty of Social Sciences A Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 9:30am
Faculty of Social Sciences B Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 2:30pm
Faculty of Science A Thursday, June 18, 2026, 9:00am
Faculty of Science B Thursday, June 18, 2026, 12:30pm
Faculty of Science C Thursday, June 18, 2026, 4:00pm
DeGroote School of Business A Friday, June 19, 2026, 9:30am
DeGroote School of Business B Friday, June 19, 2026, 2:30pm

Guests

All graduands are entitled to two guest tickets.

A livestream of each ceremony will be available if you or your guests cannot attend in-person.

Fun fact: A graduand is someone who is eligible to graduate but has not yet graduated. Once your degree or diploma has been awarded, you become a graduate.

A person in a graduation gown blowing a kiss as they cross a Convocation stage
A McMaster alumna crosses the Convocation stage at a ceremony for Faculty of Humanities and Arts & Science graduates. (Colin Czerneda/McMaster University)

Graduation Celebration Events

Please see the schedule for the Spring 2026 graduation celebration events:

Event Date Location
Black Excellence Graduation Celebration Tuesday, May 19,
2:30 p.m.
L. R. Wilson Concert Hall
Latin American Network at McMaster (LANMU) Graduation Tuesday, May 26,
5:30 p.m.
The Phoenix
Indigenous Graduation Celebration Wednesday, June 3,
5 p.m.
L.R. Wilson Concert Hall

For more information on graduation celebration events, click here.

Other information

For more information on parchment diplomas, click here.

For more details, including information on parking, click here.


Don’t forget to follow @macstudentservices on Instagram to keep on top of convocation updates. If you have questions about your eligibility to graduate, please contact your Faculty Office.

The Canadian flag at half-mast at the centre of campus

Campus flags lowered in memory of Terry Gingerich

A driver on the Mailroom and Logistics team, Gingerich brought a sense of humour and laughter to the garage.
Katie George smiles while standing outdoors on campus. in the corner is a

Katie George builds a community of brilliant, resilient future leaders

As program manager and research coordinator for the McCall MacBain Postdoctoral Fellows Teaching and Leadership Program, George supports and sees the potential in every postdoc.
About 16 people line up in to pose on stage in L.R. Wilson Concert Hall.

2026 Alumni Awards celebrate Mac grads’ contributions

Sixteen exceptional graduates and current students were recognized for their contributions to global and local communities through research, leadership, innovation, impact and service.