Columbia Commencement in 24 Photos: Celebrating the Incredible Class of 2026

Columbia University has marked Commencement since 1758, and for the past 100 years, outdoors on Low Plaza in front of the proud eyes of Alma Mater. On May 20, the Class of 2026 carried that tradition forward as the University’s 272nd academic year closed with the conferral of 18,000+ degrees upon graduates of 19 schools and affiliates, representing all 50 states (plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico) and 140 countries from around the globe.

Over the past week, the graduating class was also celebrated through school ceremonies, festive fêtes, and beloved traditions like the lighting of the Empire State Building.

Although rain was predicted during a record heat advisory, the weather held out for graduates of two Commencement ceremonies, with sunny skies in the morning for graduate schools and blessed, intermittent cloud cover in the afternoon for undergraduate schools. It was a fitting tribute to a century of Commencement, rain or shine, on the Morningside campus.

Presidential Remarks for the Class of 2026

In her remarks, Acting President Claire Shipman spoke about an enduring Columbia value: generosity of spirit. She reflected on it as a common thread across human history, tying together great minds and leaders, including Aristotle, Confucius, Rumi, Columbia alumni Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, Eleanor Roosevelt, Nelson Mandela, and Maya Angelou. 

She added that contemporary research has proven that focusing on and supporting others leads to less stress and anxiety, more connectedness, and ultimately, longer and better lives.

“A life organized around generosity of spirit is just a larger life,” Shipman said. “More is possible in it. More people are welcome in it. More truth can be spoken in it. More of what is genuinely worth doing, for you, and the world, gets done.”

“Add to this your intellect, your character, your accomplishments, and now your exceptional education—what can’t you do?” she continued. “Just as many of our nation’s founders harnessed their time at Columbia to create their vision of America, you are now poised to imagine the future, for yourselves, and for all of us. I can’t wait to see it.”

Words of Wisdom From Featured Commencement Speakers

This year, Columbia’s graduate and undergraduate Commencement ceremonies featured remarks from Paulette Bernd, Professor of Columbia’s Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, and Sunil Gulati, Michael K. Dakolias Senior Lecturer of Economics, respectively. Both received the Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching this year.

“It has been an honor, and a pleasure, to teach the extraordinary students at Columbia,” said Bernd. “You grasp concepts quickly. You ask great questions. And you genuinely want to learn not just for yourselves, but for the people you will serve in your future careers. Congratulations to all of you on your graduation!”

“Have an intolerance to pain—the pain of others around you, people whose lives are just as real and just as consequential as your own,” said Gulati. “The world has plenty of people optimizing for outcomes. What it needs more of are people who feel the cost of those outcomes on others.”

Award Recipients, Honorands, and a Surprise Performance

Each year at University Commencement, Columbia recognizes individuals and faculty members whose achievements and service embody the University’s highest values: The University Medal for Excellence, Presidential Awards for Outstanding Teaching, Faculty Mentoring Award, Faculty Service Award, CAA Alumni Medalists, Campbell Awards, and Honorary Degrees.

This year's honorary degree recipients were recognized at the morning and afternoon ceremonies: Jon Batiste, for his musical creations that defy categorization and express the joy and the pain of being alive; Michael Lomax, for his life spent fighting for equity in access to educational opportunities; Amanda Peet, for her dedication to telling stories that explore the mysteries and complexities of the human condition; George Stephanopoulos, for his career devoted to public service and democratic education; and Harriet Zuckerman, for her innovative, path-breaking research that has helped define the field of the sociology of science.

In a surprise performance, graduates, friends, and family were serenaded by Batiste astride a grand piano, playing masterful improvisations and a jubilant, crowd-pleasing rendition of childhood favorite “If You're Happy and You Know It” on the melodica.

It was then time for the deans of all of Columbia's schools, with characteristic flourish, to present their graduates for the conferral of degrees, all of which were granted with joy by Acting President Shipman. 

As Lanny Breuer, Chair of the Columbia Alumni Association, said in welcoming graduates to the alumni community: “You don't leave Columbia today, you take it with you, and the world could use more Lions right now.”

Snapshots From a Historic Commencement Day

Our photographers were there to capture every unforgettable moment. Below, find a few selections from the most celebratory of days on Columbia's campuses. 

Choosing only a few photos to sum up such a momentous week is no easy task—so for even more snapshots, head over to Columbia’s Instagram. Be sure to follow Columbia’s social media channels to share how you celebrated, and use the hashtag #Columbia2026 to spotlight our brilliant graduates.

Roar, Lion, Roar!