Commencement

Coverage of Harvard’s annual graduation ceremonies, including speeches, profiles, and traditions.

Conan O’Brien Named Harvard’s 2026 Commencement Speaker

The comedian, host, and 1985 graduate will deliver remarks at the May 28 ceremony. 

by Schuyler Velasco

Honoris Causa

Harvard’s 2022 honorary-degree recipients

Commencement Confetti

Tidbits from a memorable, celebratory Harvard week

Harvard Alumni Day Debuts

New event draws alumni back to campus, in-person and virtually.

by Jacob Sweet , Nancy Walecki

“We Salute You, and We Thank You”

Harvard’s emotional celebration provides closure for the classes of 2020 and 2021—and honors those who served during the pandemic.

by John S. Rosenberg , Nancy Walecki , Lydialyle Gibson , Jacob Sweet

A Multiverse of Might-Have-Beens

A 2021 graduate returns to campus for a belated Commencement that feels more like a reunion.

by Meena Venkataramanan

“People Were Making Bricks Out of Straw”

Radcliffe Medalist Sherrilyn Ifill on the challenges of racism and the potential for progress

by Lydialyle Gibson

“Wade in the Water”

Public health leader Joia Mukherjee addresses Harvard Medical and Dental Graduates at Class Day.

by Nancy Walecki

The “Toxicity of Low Expectations”

Radcliffe Class Day panelists on higher education's responsibility to boost economic mobility

by Nancy Walecki

Somethings Old, Somethings New

Familiar preliminaries, but with many post-pandemic wrinkles for Harvard’s 371st Commencement, in-person again

by John S. Rosenberg , Jacob Sweet

Photographs from Commencement Week

A gallery of Jim Harrison’s images from the unique Commencement celebrations for the classes of 2020, 2021, and 2022