Be Informed
Please make sure to click on all the sections below to get more information about Commencement 2026. Commencement at Cal State LA is an annual event that honors students who just have or will soon graduate during the current academic year. Students can graduate at the end of the fall 2025, winter 2026, spring 2026, or summer 2026 but Commencement only takes place at the end of the spring 2026 semester.
Prior to Commencement
All guests 3 years of age and older will require a ticket to attend Commencement and enter the venue. Children ages 2 and under can attend Commencement without a ticket, provided they sit on an adult's lap and do not occupy a seat.
Guest tickets can only be reserved by the graduating student through the online ticketing platform, powered by Tassel, during the online registration period on March 25, 2026, at 9 a.m. PT, until April 22, 2026, at 5 p.m. PT. After the deadline date, tickets are no longer guaranteed and will be dependent on availability. It is the graduating student's responsibility to reserve guest tickets and distribute them to their family and friends.
Each guest ticket has a unique bar code. Once scanned, copies of the same ticket will not be valid.
Please note that Commencement guest tickets are free and cannot be bought or sold. Under no circumstance should an exchange of money occur for tickets. Tickets that are bought or sold will be invalidated by the University.
The Cal State LA Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) do not provide assistance to guests. For guests who require mobility equipment, please make arrangements on your own according to specific needs.
University Bookstore
Here is a list of items that can be purchased at the University Bookstore:
- Cal State LA Sash
- Diploma frames
- Announcements
- Class rings
- Other Commencement related merchandise
Store Hours:
Monday - Thursday | 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday | 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday | Closed
During Commencement, the University Bookstore will have a satellite location at the Shrine Auditorium Lobby, on May 18, 19, and 20, 2026, with limited merchandise.
For more information, please visit the University Bookstore website or contact 323-343-2500. You can also follow the bookstore’s Instagram page to get the most up-to-date information, including store hours.
Commencement Group
Class T-shirts, sweatshirts, flower bouquets, Cal State LA custom Kukui Nut Lei and more! Graduation gifts are available for pre-order and on-site purchasing on the day of the ceremony. Pre-ordered items will be available for contact-free pick up on-site at the Commencement Group booths.
Pre-Order Form Coming Soon!
Celebrate this milestone in full bloom. The Commencement Group, the official flower vendor for Cal State LA Commencement, offers a beautiful selection of fresh bouquets, leis, and festive graduation keepsakes to honor the Class of 2026. With convenient pre-ordering, flowers and gifts will be ready for easy pickup at the Shrine Auditorium on May 18, 19, and 20, 2026, so you can focus on celebrating every unforgettable moment.
Before the Ceremony
Shrine Auditorium
665 W Jefferson Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90007
The Commencement 2026 map for graduating students and guests will provide guidance for navigating the Shrine Auditorium and other designated Commencement areas within the Shrine complex.
Coming Soon!
Information about parking and transportation options for Commencement 2026 at the Shrine Auditorium.
Guests are strongly encouraged to arrive 75 minutes, or more, before the ceremony to accommodate for traffic, parking, and large crowds. Doors will open 75 minutes before each ceremony start time.
Guests will line up at the front of the Shrine Auditorium on Royal Street off 32nd Street. For safety and security, all guests must pass through security protocols including metal detectors and possible bag check.
After security, guests must have their ticket ready to be scanned via their phone or printed paper. To expedite ticket scanning, please have each guest have their own ticket. Guests using their phone must have the bar code enlarged for easy scanning.
Once guest tickets are scanned, there are no in-and-out privileges.
Cal State LA is committed to creating a safe and comfortable experience for the graduating students and their guests. All attendees will go through security checkpoints, metal detectors, and possible bag searches.
Click on the Safety and Security button below to get more information about the Code of Conduct, prohibited items at the Shrine, and Service Animals disclaimer.
University Bookstore
During Commencement, the University Bookstore will have a satellite location at the Shrine Auditorium lobby, on May 18, 19, and 20, 2026, with limited merchandise.
Commencement Group
Class T-shirts, sweatshirts, flower bouquets, Cal State LA custom Kukui Nut Lei and more! Graduation gifts are available on-site to purchase on the day of the ceremony. Pre-ordered items will be available for contact-free pick up at the Commencement Group booths.
For convenience, the Shrine Auditorium concession stands will be open. Attendees can have food and refreshments at the lobby, but they are NOT allowed inside the auditorium. Please note that the Shrine is a cashless venue. They are unable to accept cash for concession purchases.
All guest seating is first come, first served. Due to large crowds, guests cannot hold seats for their companions. Shrine personnel will direct guests to all unoccupied seats.
The doors to the Shrine Auditorium will temporarily be closed five minutes before the start of the ceremony to prepare for the academic procession of the faculty and platform (stage) party. All guests who arrive late will be seated after the national anthem.
ACCESSIBILITY SEATING
Wheelchair accessible spaces and designated accessible seating will be clearly marked at the guest seating areas at the Shrine Auditorium's main floor. Shrine personnel will be available to assist and direct guests to these spaces. For guests requiring special accommodations, it's advisable to arrive early to ensure suitable seating is available.
Master’s degree students will be hooded in the Graduate Recognition Hall, 30 minutes before the main ceremony, and will last approximately 15 minutes. This event will be accessible via livesteam. A clip of the hooding ceremony will be provided to each graduate a week after Commencement to share with family and friends.
During the Ceremony
The Commencement ceremony is a time-honored tradition designed to celebrate the achievements of graduating students. To maintain the dignity of this important event, we kindly ask guests to adhere to the following guidelines:
Show Respect: Guests should conduct themselves with respect and courtesy towards the graduating students, other guests, and the speakers on stage.
Honor the Ceremony: It’s important to respect all those present, including students, faculty, administrators, and guests, who have gathered to witness the conferring of degrees. After the graduating students have crossed the the stage, please remain in your seats and stay for the entirety of the ceremony.
Be Considerate: Kindly clean up after yourself and leave your area tidy.
Thank you for helping to preserve the integrity of this special occasion!
Each ceremony will be between 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours in duration. The order of events may vary per Commencement ceremony and will include most of the activities below.
- Academic procession of faculty and stage party
- National anthem
- Welcome greeting by the college dean
- President's remarks
- Honorary Doctoral Degree
- Honorary Doctoral Degree remarks
- Academic honors
- Hooding and presentation of doctoral degrees
- Presentation of master's degrees
- Presentation of bachelor's degrees
- Conferral of degrees by the president (including the traditional turning of the tassel for baccalaureate degrees)
- Closing remarks by the college dean
- University hymn
- Recessional of stage party, faculty and conferees of doctoral, master's, and bachelor's degrees
The University will be livestreaming the ceremonies, which will be able to be viewed through the Cal State LA website and the Cal State LA YouTube channel.
Sign language interpreters will be projected on the jumbo screen during each Commencement ceremony.
Closed captioning in English and Spanish will be available to all attendees during the ceremonies via their mobile devices. The closed captioning link will be active during the ceremonies.
Pro Pics, the official Commencement photography service provider for Cal State LA's Commencement ceremonies, will capture each graduate’s special moment as they cross the stage during the ceremonies. To receive photo proofs as soon as they are available, graduating candidates are encouraged to register their contact information in advance with Pro Pics. If they do not register ahead of time, their photo proofs will be sent to the contact information the University has on file. There is no cost to be photographed and no obligation to purchase.
Questions? Contact Pro Pics directly at [email protected].
University photographers will also be photographing the ceremonies and candid photos will be available for free download on the Cal State LA Smug Mug webpage during Commencement week.
For personal photography, you can only take photos from your seat. For safety, security, and accessibility, you cannot block aisles and walkways unless leaving the venue.
After the Ceremony
Immediately after each ceremony, all attendees will be directed to on Royal Street or Jefferson Boulevard. Across the main entrance to the Shrine Auditorium on Royal Street, the Shrine West Lot is where you can meet your graduate and companions. The area will have photo backdrops.
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All information, including dates and activities, is subject to change.
If you are attending Commencement, please read the audio and visual media release disclaimer.
Visit the main Commencement homepage to see the most recent update date, listed at the bottom of the page.