Plan Your Visit

There are two graduation ceremonies taking place on Thursday, May 29, 2025: Harvard University’s Morning Exercises in Harvard Yard and the HES Luncheon and Commencement Ceremony on the lawn of Harvard Museum of Natural History.

Tickets will be required for guests to enter both Commencement ceremonies.

Children

• For the Morning Exercises and the HES Commencement Ceremony, only infants and small toddlers who will remain in an adult’s lap for either ceremony’s duration can enter without tickets.
• Children are not permitted in the graduate seating area during either ceremony (i.e., graduates cannot have their children sit with them).
• Strollers are strongly discouraged because they pose a danger in case of emergency.
• For the Morning Exercises: Strollers are permitted only in the Old Yard and not in Tercentenary Theatre.
• For the HES Commencement Ceremony: Strollers are not allowed in the guest seating areas and must be left in designated areas.

How to Dress

May weather in Boston can be variable (hot and humid, cool, or raining), so use your judgment when deciding what to wear. Both the Morning Exercises and HES Commencement Ceremony will be held outside in most weather conditions, including heavy rain.

Useful items to bring include:

• Sunscreen
• Sun hats
• Umbrellas/ponchos
• Blankets
• Sunglasses
• Snacks
• Water bottles

Security & Emergency Support

Security measures will be in place for Harvard’s Commencement to facilitate an atmosphere where graduates and guests can fully participate in the ceremony in a safe, inclusive, and celebratory fashion.

Security measures include, but are not restricted to:

• Screening all guests at entry gates for prohibited items.
• Requiring tickets for entry into Harvard Yard and the Museum of Natural History Courtyard.
• Restricting backpacks, large bags, and other items that could pose safety risks.

In the event of an emergency, police and EMT personnel will be on-site during all Commencement ceremonies.

Bags

All bags and personal items are subject to inspection. No backpacks of any type will be admitted. No bag or item larger than 12 x 12”x 6” will be permitted inside the Yard. Please do not bring large-size bags, backpacks, luggage, briefcases, gift bags, wrapped gifts, packages, or balloons to the lawn area.

There are no on-campus storage locations available.

For additional information: See the Gates and Bags Policy page on the Harvard University Commencement Office website.

Hotels

Local hotels book up quickly during the graduation season, and arrangements for accommodations should be made as soon as possible. Please see the Plan Your Visit section on the Harvard University Commencement website for information pertaining to local hotels.

Parking & Shuttle Service

All visitors looking for Commencement Day parking, including guests needing accessible parking, should proceed to the Soldiers Field Park Garage, located at 111 Western Ave. in Allston. Signs will be posted directing traffic to Soldiers Field Park Garage or a nearby overflow lot. Parking will be available beginning at 6:30 a.m. on May 25, 2025 for Commencement.

Harvard Transportation will provide continuous shuttle service between the main parking areas at the Soldiers Field Parking Garage to Harvard Square between 6:30 a.m.–9 p.m. on Commencement. All vehicles are fully accessible.

Also, Commencement Week visitors and guests should know there are many commercial parking facilities in and around Harvard Square. View locations and information for Harvard Square parking facilities.

Photography & Video

Photographers & videographers will be on campus recording Commencement activities. Your presence and comments may be captured and appear in photos and videos in School publications and websites. Photographs of your loved one crossing the stage will be available for purchase after the event through GradImages.

Live Streaming

Harvard University’s Commencement Exercises in Harvard Yard (Thursday, May 29) will be livestreamed on Harvard University’s website and on Comcast cable TV (channel 283) in the Boston/Brookline and Cambridge/Greater Boston areas.

Harvard Extension School’s Commencement Ceremony will also be livestreamed on the Extension School website.

Extreme Weather

• Ceremonies will be held outdoors, rain or shine.
• A live webcast of the exercises will be featured on Harvard’s website.
• Commencement Exercises may be seen on Comcast Cable TV (channel 283) in Boston/Brookline and Cambridge/Greater Boston.