CSULB Commencement 2026: Know before you go

The time is drawing nearer for about 10,000 of Cal State Long Beach graduates to celebrate with classmates, faculty and loved ones.

The Beach will host Commencement 2026 on campus grounds, with 13 ceremonies planned for May 17-21 at George Allen Field. Here is a guide to help graduates plan their big day. Be sure and follow the CSULB Commencement Instagram feed for additional information.

Be ready for your big day

Commencement planners at The Beach anticipate some 130,000 people showing up for this year's proceedings. The Commencement 2026 schedule, with start times for all ceremonies, is available online. Check the schedule to make sure you attend the ceremony that aligns with your college, major and degree. Please note: The colleges of Health & Human Services and Liberal Arts will both host three events; Business and the Hung Family College of Engineering will both have two events.

Planning your arrival

• You can obtain up to 10 tickets via Tassel - accessible via their CSULB SSO landing page. Tickets and passes are free of charge.
• You can use Tassel to select a preferred name and record the correct pronunciations of your names by 10 p.m. April 21.
• Ceremonies will take place at George Allen Field, near the northeast corner of campus. Parking will be free of charge. Graduates: Gather at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center to check in, pick up your GradPasses, and line up with your departments for processional.
• GradPasses will be available 60 to 90 minutes before ceremonies begin. Gates to George Allen Field will open 90 minutes before ceremonies start.
• The Bob Murphy Access Center will provide information to grads requesting accommodations and guests seeking help with accessible parking and seating, as well as other accessibility accommodations.
• Follow CSULB Commencement on Instagram and visit CSULB's Commencement website for updates on parking and day-of-ceremony information. New details for graduates and their guests will be posted regularly, so please check back periodically.

Getting inside the venue

• Commencement guests can enter the stadium with clear bags no larger than 12.75'' x 6.5'' x 12.75." Reusable clear bags with capacities of up to one gallon will also be allowed.
• Diaper bags must align with the clear bag policy.
• Exceptions can be made for bags containing medication or medical equipment. These and all bags will be subject to search.
• Large photography equipment, including tripods, will not be allowed inside the stadium. Noisemakers and confetti likewise cannot be taken into the venue.
• Service animals will be welcome at Commencement, but pets and emotional support animals cannot be admitted. Review the Venue Guidelines and this FAQ for more information.
  

Reminder: Sign up soon for Cultural Graduation Celebrations

The Beach convenes Cultural Graduation Celebrations in addition to traditional Commencement proceedings. The Cultural Graduation Celebrations are voluntary and open to all graduating students who would like to participate, regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Graduates who would like to participate need to register for their selected event, in addition to Commencement, by April 10, with an exception for the International Student Graduation Celebration. The registration deadline for the International Student event is April 15.

Cap and gowns can be purchased online or in-person at University Bookstore, which is also the place to order your diploma frames and other memorabilia. Regalia orders can take three to four weeks to be fulfilled, so ordering by April 12 is a good idea. Check out the Graduation Central website for more information about gifts, graduation announcements, custom sashes and the like. University Bookstore will have a pop-up shop outside George Allen Field for last-minute gifts

Caps and gowns are a longstanding tradition for the academic community, and graduates are encouraged to add a personal touch to their regalia. You can place online orders for flowers and leis that can be worn over ceremonial gowns for delivery to George Allen Field.

You don't have to be an art major to add an attention-getting design to your mortarboards. The Designing a Sustainable Graduation workshop is set for April 16 at the Speaker's Platform to help participants craft environmentally friendly decorations.

Black and gold - and green

The Beach invites all to become a Green Grad. Take the Green Graduate Pledge, a commitment that starts with eschewing glitter and other wasteful products while taking graduation photos and goes on to cover a long-term focus on sustainability and equity over the course of your professional and personal life. If you take the pledge by April 17, you will be entered in a drawing to win a free photo session.

Portraits, messages of accomplishment

Graduation Central has portals for arranging portrait sessions with GradImages. Sittings are available on April 15 and 16, as well as on May 6 and 7. Looking for a special spot on campus? Find some inspiration within this guide to five locations lending themselves to distinctive photography.

Beach Media offers another way to commemorate graduates' accomplishments. Anyone wishing to send a congratulatory message can purchase GradGrams, to be included in the The Current's graduation issue.

The Beach will always be there for you

Earning a Beach degree or credentials is a major achievement, the culmination of dedication and hard work. Reflect on your growth, celebrate with loved ones and proudly enter your next chapter. To help with your transition as a new alum, check out Graduation & Beyond the Beach for links to resources available to students on the verge of graduation, as well as alumni.

Look to CSULB Alumni for networking and community-building opportunities over the years to come.

Don't need to keep your gown? Donate it

Beach alumni who still have their old graduation gowns on hand can donate their regalia to a new graduate. Gowns for this year's ceremonies can be delivered between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Fridays - April 10, April 17 or April 24 - at Anna Ngai W. Alumni Center.

New grads: You can also donate your gown shortly after crossing the Commencement stage. Gowns can be dropped off at the Alumni Center from May 26 through July 31, except for campus holidays.

Either way, donors will receive a CSULB license plate frame in exchange for their gown. Email for more information.