Congrats, 2026 Graduates!
Congratulations seniors on your upcoming graduation!
Illinois Wesleyan University will celebrate Commencement on Sunday, May 3, 2026
COLLEEN L. KANNADAY TO GIVE KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT COMMENCEMENT
Details
This year's ceremony will be held indoors at the Shirk Center Activity Center beginning at 1:00 p.m. and typically concludes no later than 4:00 p.m. The ceremony may also be viewed via livestream here.
Graduates, please arrive at the Shirk Center Basketball Performance Arena by 12:00 p.m. in your cap and gown ready to line up.
Families and other guests, please arrive no earlier than 11:00 a.m. Complimentary water, iced tea, and lemonade will be available at beverage stations placed around the Activity Center before and after the ceremony. In addition, the concession stand on the upper floor will be open from 11 a.m.-1p.m. The University Bookstore, located in the Hansen Student Center, will be open on Saturday from 12-3 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
There are still no attendance limitations; there is plenty of seating all on the lower floor so easily accessible to all of your guests from the parking lot entrance. There is also some bleacher seating in the upper balcony.
There are no tickets required or guest limits for the ceremony. Accessible parking and seating options will be available as well as an ASL interpreter if needed. Please complete this Commencement 2026 Accessibility Request Form with those requests.
The University is pleased to cover the cost for the caps and gowns that graduates wear and may keep. They do not need to be returned. Ordering for these items as well as announcements, diploma frames, etc. is available now using this link: herff.ly/illinoiswesleyan
- Please place your cap and gown orders by March 2 at 10:59pm CST for delivery on campus.
- Pick up of the cap and gown orders will occur on Wednesday, April 1 from 10 a.m.- 6:30 p.m. in the Young Main Lounge at the Memorial Center.
- A home ship option is also available until April 8; standard Fed Ex shipping rates apply.
- All other items may be ordered beyond these dates.
Pre-register for photos and receive a 20% discount: Grad Images Photo Orders
Accessible Parking & Seating Information
For accessible parking, if you have a handicap placard for your vehicle, you may park in any designated space. You may also park in any parking lot shown on the attached map or along the street. We will have roaming golf carts that can pick anyone who needs assistance up at their vehicle to bring them to the ceremony location. Then when the ceremony is over, they will take those who need assistance back to their vehicles. If you do not see a golf cart, please call or text Julie Anderson's cell phone number (309-212-7274), and she will radio one of golf carts to pick you up. You will just need to tell her which parking lot you are in.
If the ceremony is outdoors on the Quad, there is also a small circle driveway along Park Street in front of Holmes Hall that will be a drop off/pick up area, and again, if someone needs assistance from there, a golf cart driver will take them to the ceremony site.
In either location, all guests may sit anywhere in the brown chairs, but we will have a designated area for those who have wheelchairs, are not able to walk far, or need to be close to a restroom. Volunteers will be stationed by Holmes Hall to provide assistance if the ceremony is outdoors, and inside the entrance to the Shirk Center ground floor if the ceremony is indoors.
Welcome to the IWU Alumni Association
As an IWU alum, you are automatically considered a member of the Alumni Association, which comes with benefits at no charge.
- Update your contact information: we want to stay in touch after graduation!
- Share your news: No matter where your next path takes you we want to hear about it!
- Attend an alumni event: Connect with fellow alumni, engage in unique opportunities and join the fun.
- Get involved: There are so many ways to make a difference. Wherever and whenever you have time and talent to share, there is a way for you to contribute.
- Make a plan to return to campus: We hope to see you at Homecoming 2026!
Contact
