Ceremony Information

Winter 2026 Commencement

Empire State University is pleased to announce that the winter commencement ceremony will be held at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany, NY.

Friday, December 11, 2026, at 6 p.m.
Empire State Plaza Convention Center
279 Madison Ave.
Albany, NY 12242

All commencement-eligible students will receive the registration link via their student email accounts beginning in October.

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

Students who are eligible to participate in Winter 2026 Commencement will receive email communications to their student email address (@sunyempire.edu) beginning in October or as they become eligible through the November 1 eligibility deadline. Email communications will contain a link to register to attend: all students looking to participate in a commencement ceremony must register.

Ceremony information including date and location will be available on this page. Updates about what to expect on the day of the event will be added as we approach the ceremony.

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. A link will be posted here and also shared with registered attendees via email.

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.