Congratulations, Class of 2026!

Join us as we celebrate the Class of 2026! This year’s Commencement ceremony will be held at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM.

Details are subject to change. Stay informed by checking your email regularly and revisiting this page for the latest updates.

Tickets

Tickets are not required, and graduates are welcome to invite an unlimited number of guests.

 

Navigating Prudential Center

Prudential Center is located at 25 Lafayette Street, Newark, NJ

To ensure graduates and loved ones have a seamless experience, please take a moment to review the Know Before You Go guide. 

IMPORTANT TRAVEL ADVISORY: We anticipate heavier-than-normal traffic in and around Prudential Center. Plan to allow ample time for traffic, parking, and security screening at the venue.

ENTRANCE for GRADUATES and GUESTS

  • Graduates MUST arrive at M&M Tower (Mulberry Street and Lafayette Street) 
  • Guests will enter through the Citizens Tower (Mulberry Street and Edison Place)

Candidates for graduation must arrive no later than 3:30 PM. Graduates must enter at the M&M Tower. You will be lined up according to your degree and by college. No family or guests are permitted in the graduate line-up area. Graduates can review the graduate line-up here. Graduates can review arena seating for graduates here.

Family members and guests will enter through the Citizens Tower. This entrance opens at 4:00 PM.

SECURITY SCREENING

  • All attendees will be subject to a courteous screening via a walk-through metal detector to ensure safety and security for all.
  • IMPORTANT: Prudential Center security will deny entrance to guests with any prohibited items. The following items are prohibited at Prudential Center: alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, balloons, signs, banners, flags, beach balls or balls of any kind, horns, noisemakers, laser pointers, flashlights, fireworks, selfie sticks, and outside food/beverages. For a comprehensive list of prohibited items, please view Prudential Center Arena Policy.
  • Bringing prohibited items will cause significant delays in entering Prudential Center.

PARKING & TRANSPORTATION

  • Parking will be available at lots and garages surrounding Prudential Center. Costs are determined by each parking facility.
  • Consider taking public transportation through NJ Transit, carpooling, or a rideshare service.
  • For detailed directions and parking locations, visit the Prudential Center Directions website.

BAG POLICY

  • Limit any personal items you bring, as they must always remain on you. Graduates cannot leave belongings in the graduate lineup or seating areas. Guests may carry small handbags up to 10” x10” for personal items. Anything larger (e.g., backpacks), except childcare or medical bags, is not allowed.
  • Bags that do not meet these expectations must be returned to the guest’s vehicle or stored in a Prudential Center-supplied locker at the guest’s expense. Lockers are located outside M&M’s Tower and Lafayette Street entrances. Strollers that fit underneath seating are permitted in the arena; all larger strollers must be checked at the entrance.

ACCESSIBLE ACCOMODATIONS

  • Guest Services staff are located at all entrances. Guest Services staff will assist guests needing accommodations, including wheelchair escorts, providing elevator locations, and ADA seating. Entrance ramps are located at M&M’s Tower and Lafayette Street Entrance.
  • For more information on accommodations available, please visit Prudential Center Access Accommodations. For additional questions, email guestservices@prucenter.com.
  • Any GRADUATE who needs accessible accommodations may contact Disability Support Services on their home campus.

CONCESSIONS

  • Food and beverages are available at concession stands located in Prudential Center. We encourage graduates to eat before arriving, as the concession stands are not accessible from the student line-up area. Guests and graduates cannot bring outside food, beverages, coolers, bottles or cans into the arena. All concession stands are cashless, and guests must pay for concessions with a debit card, credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.

GRADUATE GIFTS

  • Graduate gifts including flowers, graduate t-shirts and other gift items will be available for purchase on concourse levels at the top of the escalators towards the left of entering Citizens Tower.