decorative image of a diploma

Ceremony Information

Spring 2026 Commencement

Empire State University is excited to announce the dates for Spring Commencement, with ceremonies planned across New York state.

Students who are eligible to participate in Spring 2026 Commencement will receive email communications to their student email address (@sunyempire.edu) beginning in February or as they become eligible through the March 22 eligibility deadline. Email communications will contain a link to register to attend: all students looking to participate in a commencement ceremony must register.

Ceremony dates, locations, and venue details will be available on this page and updates will be added as we approach the ceremonies.

Ceremony Livestream and Captioning

All SUNY Empire in-person commencement ceremonies are livestreamed. The livestream feed will be available at SUNY Empire Live approximately five minutes prior to the start of the ceremony and will end when the ceremony has concluded.

Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) captions can be accessed during all ceremonies on your mobile device.

Ceremony Locations

Ceremonies are available to commencement-eligible students in three locations in New York state: Albany, Manhattan, and Rochester. Read more below to see which is right for you.

A ceremony will be hosted at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany, NY.

Friday, May 29, 2026, at 6 p.m.
Empire State Plaza Convention Center
279 Madison Ave.
Albany, NY 12242

All commencement-eligible students have received the registration link via their student email accounts. Be sure to check your email for details on how to register.

Important: The Albany ceremony registration deadline is May 15, 2026.

More details, including what to expect at this specific venue, will be added to this page.

Any student who meets the eligibility requirements for participation in the spring 2026 commencement ceremonies is invited to attend this ceremony. All commencement-eligible students are encouraged to choose their ceremony location based on what is most convenient to them.

 

Two ceremonies will be hosted at the New York City Center in Manhattan, NY, on Wednesday, May 20, and Thursday, May 21, 2026.

New York City Center
131 W 55th St. (between Sixth and Seventh avenues)
New York, NY 10019

Commencement-eligible students who would like to attend a ceremony in Manhattan should select the day according to the list of colleges below. If you are unsure of which college your degree is affiliated with, please reach out to the commencement team at commencement@sunyempire.edu.

A ceremony for the following colleges will be hosted at the New York City Center in Manhattan, NY, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 6 p.m.:

  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • College of Business
  • College of Education

A ceremony for the following colleges will be hosted at the New York City Center in Manhattan, NY, on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 6 p.m.:

  • College of Health and Human Services
  • College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

All commencement-eligible students have received the registration link via their student email accounts. Be sure to check your email for details on how to register.

Important: The registration deadline for the Manhattan ceremony location is May 6, 2026.

Venue Information for Registered Commencement Participants and Guests

When and where is the Manhattan commencement ceremony?   
The ceremony will be held Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the New York City Center. For directions to the venue, visit www.nycitycenter.org/plan-your-visit/directions.   
What time should I arrive for commencement?   
Students who are commencing must arrive no later than 5 p.m. This will give you time to check in and line up for the processional. The ceremony starts promptly at 6 p.m. 
When and where can I get my guest tickets? 
Reserved guest tickets may be picked up at the New York City Center Box Office by students or by your guests. Dates and times for ticket pick up were shared in an email sent to all registered students.
At pickup, the person claiming the tickets must provide the first and last name of the graduating student to the box office staff. 
The New York City Center Box Office and Theater are located at:  
131 W. 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenue) in Manhattan.   
How many guest tickets do I receive?  
Students participating in the Manhattan ceremony reserved their guest tickets when they registered to attend. If you requested additional guest tickets on your registration form, our office will contact you by email with a decision based on available venue capacity. 
Each guest must have a ticket to enter the venue. Tickets are free. 
What time will my guests be allowed to be seated?   
Guests will be seated at 5 p.m.   
How long will the ceremony last?   
The ceremony will last approximately 1½ hours.   
Is the facility accessible?   
Yes. Please contact commencement@sunyempire.edu to request seating accommodations or other accessibility supports for you or your guests. Upon arrival, if you or your guests need assistance, please alert a member of our staff.  
A sign-language interpreter and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be available at the ceremony.   
If you haven’t done so already, please contact commencement@sunyempire.edu to request accommodations or other accessibility supports for you or your guests.   
Where should I reconnect with my guests after the ceremony? 
Students will exit the ceremony separately from the guests. We recommend planning to meet your guests either outside in front of the theater or in the student line up area (through block next to the theater). Creating a plan in advance can help alleviate stress when departing from the venue. 
Where do I park? 
For information about parking near the venue, visit www.nycitycenter.org/plan-your-visit/parking. 
Will I receive my diploma at the ceremony? 
Diplomas are not distributed at the ceremony. You will receive a padded diploma cover when you cross the stage. The Office of the Registrar will mail your diploma to the address on file when you have graduated from the university. Please direct diploma questions to the Office of the Registrar at 800-847-3000.   
What should I wear for commencement?   
Students must wear a cap and gown (regalia) to participate in commencement. We recommend comfortable footwear for standing and walking. We also suggest breathable, light clothing as the venue has areas that are not air conditioned. If you don’t have regalia and plan to participate, please request regalia through Commencement Closet.   
Will water be available?  
Please bring your own water, as the venue does not supply bottled water. We will have a water bubbler available, but we strongly recommend you come prepared with your own. 
Can I purchase food at commencement?    
Yes, limited concessions will be available for purchase on the second and third floors of the theater from 5-7:30 p.m. 
Is there a place to keep valuables?     
No. There is no secure place to store valuables, such as bags and purses. Please leave all valuables at home, with your guests, or place them in something small enough to fit under your regalia. SUNY Empire is not responsible for theft or loss of personal property.   
What if my plans have changed?   
If you no longer plan to attend the ceremony, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing commencement@sunyempire.edu. This helps us determine staffing needs, reallocate tickets, and provide accurate attendance information to the venue. 
Congratulations on your achievement! We look forward to celebrating with you!   
Additional questions? Visit our FAQ page at www.sunyempire.edu/commencement or email commencement@sunyempire.edu.  

A ceremony will be hosted at the Kodak Center in Rochester, NY.

Friday, May 8, 2026, at 6 p.m.
Kodak Center
200 W Ridge Rd.
Rochester, NY 14615

Any student who meets the eligibility requirements for participation in the spring 2026 commencement ceremonies is invited to attend this ceremony. All commencement-eligible students are encouraged to choose their ceremony location based on what is most convenient to them.

All commencement-eligible students have received the registration link via their student email accounts. Be sure to check your email for details on how to register.

Important: The Rochester ceremony registration deadline is April 24, 2026.

Venue Information for Registered Commencement Participants and Guests

Please Note: The Kodak Center has strict entry protocols and venue restrictions that you and your guests must adhere to. Please carefully review the Kodak Center Bag Policy and House Rules with your guests. 

Prohibited items include but are not limited to bags larger than 8.5” L x 6" W x 11” H, outside food or drinks, weapons, cameras with external flash, recording equipment, flammable or disruptive items, animals (other than ADA service animals), and smoking or vaping devices. 

All persons and bags are subject to inspection and electromagnetic wanding. Patrons will be asked to return non-compliant items to their vehicles. Violators are subject to removal. 

What time should I arrive for commencement?   

Students who are commencing must arrive no later than 5 p.m. This will give you time to check in and line up for the processional. The ceremony starts promptly at 6 p.m.   

What time will my guests be allowed to be seated?   

The auditorium will open for guests to be seated at 5 p.m.   

How long will the ceremony last?   

The ceremony will last approximately 1-1½ hours.   

Where should I reconnect with my guests after the ceremony? 

Students will exit the ceremony before guests. We recommend planning to meet your guests either in the cafeteria on the second floor of the Kodak Center or back at your parked vehicles. Creating a plan in advance can help alleviate stress when departing from the venue. 

Is the facility accessible?   

The Kodak Center is a fully accessible facility. All entrances are wheelchair accessible, and wheelchair accessible restrooms and seats are available. Companion seats are also available.  

A sign-language interpreter and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be available at the ceremony.   

If you haven’t done so already, please contact commencement@sunyempire.edu to request accommodations or other accessibility supports for you or your guests.   

Can I purchase food at commencement?    

The cafeteria concession stand will be open with a limited menu from 4-6 p.m. Food and beverages are not allowed in the theater where the ceremony is held. 

How many family members/friends can I bring to the ceremony?  

You registered for guest tickets when you indicated that you would be attending commencement. Although physical tickets are not required for the commencement ceremony, we will monitor the number of guests on the day of commencement.

Where do I park?   

Complimentary parking is located across the street from the Kodak Center. There are designated accessible parking spaces in all Kodak Center surface lots. Visit www.kodakcenter.com/p/visit/directions-parking for a map and detailed parking information.   

Will I receive my diploma at the ceremony?   

Diplomas are not distributed at the ceremony. You will receive a padded diploma cover when you cross the stage. The Office of the Registrar will mail your diploma to the address on file when you have fully graduated from the university. Please direct questions regarding your diploma to the Office of the Registrar at 800-847-3000.   

What should I wear for commencement?   

Students are required to wear a black cap and gown to participate in commencement. We suggest comfortable footwear for standing and walking. If you don’t have regalia and plan to participate, please request regalia through Commencement Closet.   

Is there a place to keep valuables?     

No. There is no secure place to store valuables at the commencement venue. Please leave all valuables with your guests or vehicle. SUNY Empire is not responsible for theft or loss of personal property.   

What if my plans have changed?   

If you no longer plan to attend the ceremony, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing commencement@sunyempire.edu. This helps us determine staffing needs, reallocate tickets, and provide accurate attendance information to the venue. 

Congratulations on your achievement! We look forward to celebrating with you soon!   

Additional questions? Visit our FAQ page at www.sunyempire.edu/commencement or email commencement@sunyempire.edu.   

 

 

Doctor of Education Hooding Ceremony

Students who have completed the Doctor of Education program will be invited by email to attend a hooding ceremony.

Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
Empire State University
2 Union Ave.
Room 126
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Students invited to attend the Ed.D. hooding ceremony are asked to register by May 15, 2026, using the link shared in the email invitation.

Follow Us on Social

Share your commencement celebration photos and quotes with @SUNYEmpire on social media! Post a selfie, photo of a grad you are proud of, or any other celebratory photo and be sure to tag @SUNYEmpire.

Notice of Photographic & Media Recording

When you attend an Empire State University commencement ceremony, you enter an area where photography, audio, and video recording may occur. By entering the event premises, you consent to such photography, audio, and video recording and its release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction to be used for Empire State University’s promotional and marketing purposes now and in the future.