A new generation of leaders: MSU celebrates spring 2026 commencement

Michigan State University will celebrate more than 10,000 graduates this weekend who represent a new wave of visionary thinkers ready to navigate a rapidly shifting global landscape. Commencement ceremonies for undergraduate, graduate and professional degree candidates begin May 1 at the Breslin Student Events Center and the Wharton Center for Performing Arts. These ceremonies mark an important milestone for the newest Spartan alumni who will enter the workforce prepared to strengthen their communities through collaborative problem-solving, meaningful discourse and commitment to the public good.

“As we celebrate the class of 2026, we are not just honoring their academic success, but the purpose and passion that will become the fuel for future innovation and leadership,” said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. “I am confident that our newest graduates will leave East Lansing prepared to apply their Spartan grit and ingenuity to use their voices and talents to lead with integrity and build a brighter future for all.”

This semester, the 8,253 bachelor’s degree candidates represent 76 of Michigan’s counties, all 50 states and 73 countries. Among those baccalaureate degrees are 947 members of the Honors College, 130 student-athletes and 33 veterans. This year’s undergraduate graduating class ranges from 19 to 49 years old, and 213 students are graduating with more than one baccalaureate degree.

This graduating class also boasts 320 graduates earning the highest scholastic average one can achieve — a 4.0 GPA. The students received the Board of Trustees Award for their academic excellence at the April 10 board meeting and will receive recognition at their college ceremonies.

Ceremonies will take place between Thursday, April 30, and Saturday, May 9, at either the Breslin Center or Wharton Center. Specific ceremony information, including for professional programs, is available on the MSU commencement website.

Convocation will take place on Friday, May 1, at 12:30 p.m. at Breslin Center and will include remarks from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The ceremony serves as a kickoff to commencement events. All spring 2026 baccalaureate degree candidates are invited to participate in convocation as well as their individual program’s degree commencement ceremony. Whitmer, who holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication and a law degree magna cum laude from the MSU College of Law, has signed nearly 1,600 bipartisan bills into law and has received numerous accolades, including the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award and the Harry S. Truman Award for Distinguished Service in Support of National Defense.

Christopher Fernandez, founder of Agentic Connect, will address master’s and educational specialist degree recipients at 9 a.m. A former Microsoft corporate vice president and chief AI officer, Fernandez led global strategies for responsible AI deployment and developed the concept of “hyper-scaled human thought.” He is a proud Spartan alumnus whose work now focuses on the intersection of behavioral science, labor economics and artificial intelligence.

University Distinguished Professor Ann Austin will address MSU’s doctoral candidates, including those earning degrees in philosophy, education, nursing practice and musical arts, at the 2:30 p.m. ceremony. Austin has served on the faculty in Higher, Adult and Lifelong Education in the College of Education since 1991 and was recently named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS — an elite national distinction established in 1874 that is considered one of the most distinctive accolades in the scientific community.

Commencement ceremonies will be livestreamed and available to view via MSU’s commencement ceremonies web page. Social media users can follow the ceremonies on X and other social media platforms using #SpartanGrad26.

For the safety of all attendees, only small, transparent bags are allowed at the ceremonies. Cameras, camcorders and certain carrying cases are also permitted. No food or beverages — including bottled water — will be allowed, and this applies to graduates, guests and faculty. Facilities will offer a limited concessions menu during the ceremonies. Additional prohibited items include noisemakers, selfie sticks, pets, signs and weapons of any form.