Commencement Schedule
Commencement Photo Opportunities
Regalia Information
Regalia reflects the pride and tradition of commencement. Official UCF regalia is required for all graduates participating in commencement ceremonies and is available exclusively through the UCF Bookstore and online via the Herff Jones website. These caps and gowns were created specifically for UCF; thus, you may not wear borrowed regalia or regalia purchased from alternative vendors. Our regalia is available for rent. If you wish to purchase, please contact the bookstore at SM190@bncollege.com for more information.
Important: Because of recent enhancements and redesigns to UCF’s gowns to elevate your special day, regalia delivery timelines may be longer than usual. Graduates should order caps and gowns early to help ensure the earliest possible home delivery. We appreciate your understanding as we work to provide an even more memorable graduation experience.
- In-store cap and gown ordering:
- Will take place at the UCF Bookstore, John T. Washington Center location on the following dates:
- September 28 – September 30, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Online cap and gown ordering:
- is available at the Herff Jones website.
After November 6th, 2026, regalia cannot be ordered online and must be purchased at the UCF Bookstore in person. All rental orders placed after October 30th, 2026, will be assessed a rush fee. Graduates are encouraged to order their cap and gowns sooner rather than later to allow ample time for them to be delivered to their home. If you have any questions, please contact the UCF Bookstore at SM190@bncollege.com.
Graduates who ordered their official academic regalia on or before November 6th, 2026, may pick up their reader cards and tickets at the UCF FAIRWINDS Alumni Center from November 30 – December 3, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Graduates who did NOT preorder their official academic regalia through Herff Jones before the deadline can still rent regalia onsite, along with picking up their reader card from November 30 – December 12, 2026, at the Barnes & Noble at UCF Bookstore on East Plaza Drive. Because the deadline has passed, guest tickets are not guaranteed. Graduates who are unable to receive guest tickets may prefer to participate in Grad Walk and can pre-register at https://foundation.ucf.edu/GradWalk. Regalia and guest tickets are not required to participate in Grad Walk.
Note: Guest tickets and reader cards will only be distributed to graduates with current semester (Fall 2026) regalia rental orders and who filed an approved intent-to-graduate application on time. Availability of sizes for official regalia cannot be guaranteed after December 4, 2026. Contact the Barnes & Noble at UCF Bookstore for any regalia request after December 4, 2026.
Herff Jones also offers other commencement products — like graduation announcements, class rings and nursing pins — that can be viewed and purchased online.
The tassel on a graduate’s cap must be their college tassel and not the black and gold souvenir tassel. Note: Baccalaureate degree candidates wear tassels on the right; graduate degree candidates wear tassels on the left.
Returning Regalia
All rental regalia orders will include a pre-paid return shipping label. Rental items must be returned within 7 days of the commencement date.
Items that are rented and must be returned:
- Bachelor’s degree: gown
- Master’s degree: gown and hood
- Doctoral degree: gown, hood, and tam
Bachelor’s and master’s graduates may keep the cap (mortarboard) and tassel.
If the return label is misplaced, additional labels can be created at hjreturns.flatworldsc.com.
Baccalaureate Honors
The university shall confer baccalaureate honors recognition on those students who have completed a minimum of 48 credit hours at UCF. Baccalaureate honors awarded will be based on the overall cumulative GPA, including transfer credit at the start of the term in which they will graduate. Students can see their overall cumulative GPA in MyUCF under Other Academic Information, then Grades, then at the bottom of the Overall Cumulative column.
- summa cum laude — 3.950-4.000
- magna cum laude — 3.900-3.949
- cum laude — 3.800-3.899
In addition, students with a record of academic dishonesty appearing on any transcripts may graduate from a degree program after meeting all degree requirements, but will not be eligible for honors at graduation, including the honor of graduating from the Burnett Honors College or a departmental honors program.
Records for the term of graduation are incomplete at the time the commencement program is printed. Identification of these students at commencement, therefore, is presumptive of honors and not conclusive, since final term grades may result in changes in relative rankings.
Questions regarding honors eligibility should be directed to the Registrar’s Office prior to commencement at graduation@ucf.edu.
Honor Cords
All baccalaureate graduates potentially earning baccalaureate honors will be notified to their UCF email by the Registrar’s Office after the withdrawal deadline of the term the intent-to-graduate application is filed. For students who earn baccalaureate honors, the honor cords will only be available for purchase at the time of ticket pickup during the designated ticket-pickup week at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore on East Plaza Drive. At that time, a reader card for use at the ceremony is also issued indicating honors.
Because records for the final term are incomplete when the commencement program is printed, and final term grades may affect relative rankings and overall GPA, the notification of graduation with honors is presumptive rather than conclusive.
Honor cords from various honor societies may be worn if they are the designation of an officially recognized group.
Ticket Information
For the Fall 2026 Commencement, each graduate who preordered regalia will receive four (4) commencement guest tickets for their ceremony. Final allotments will be determined and published here on Friday, October 23, 2026
Graduation announcements cannot be used for admission. Graduates do not need to register for or order their commencement ceremony tickets. All graduates who have filed an intent to graduate on time and place a regalia order on time will automatically receive their ceremony tickets during the designated dates/times established for guest ticket and reader card pick up. Students who file a late intent to graduate and/or do not place a regalia order on time are not guaranteed to receive guest tickets. Guest tickets must be picked up along with reader cards by each graduate at the main campus by the dates specified below. Tickets for adults, children and infants are required for admittance to the Addition Financial Arena. Only valid, university-issued tickets will be accepted; counterfeit tickets will not be honored for admission to commencement ceremonies. Guests who do not have tickets may watch the live ceremony via a simulcast viewing in the UCF FAIRWINDS Alumni Center and the Student Union. The UCF FAIRWINDS Alumni Center’s seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are not required for the live telecast, and it is closed captioned.
Tickets are picked up during ticket-pickup week at the UCF FAIRWINDS Alumni Center located near the Addition Financial Arena on the main campus. A photo identification is required for pick up.
Doctoral candidates and Order of Pegasus graduates may obtain reserved seating for their guests by bringing their tickets to the Office of UCF Signature Events (Millican Hall, Room 326) during ticket-pickup week for a reserved seating stamp.
UCF ONLINE STUDENTS
UCF Online students who have preordered regalia pick up guest tickets at the UCF FAIRWINDS Alumni Center located near the Addition Financial Arena on the main campus during one of the ticket pickup dates. Online students not able to pick up tickets during the ticket pickup dates and/or those needing to order regalia after the deadline, should email the UCF Bookstore at SM190@bncollege.com for further information and instructions. A photo ID is required for regalia and ticket pick up.
Unable to Pick up guest tickets
Graduates unable to pick up their guest tickets may designate a third party to do so by providing them with a letter authorizing UCF to release the tickets during ticket-pickup week. Letters must include the name of the designated pick-up person, along with the graduate’s full name, UCF ID, college of major and their signature on the letter. The designated third party must also present a copy of the student’s photo ID along with the authorization letter.
Doctoral candidates and Order of Pegasus requesting reserved seating from the Office of UCF Signature Events via third party will need a second printed copy of the authorization letter.
Additional Tickets
There will be no ticket lottery offered for additional tickets for graduates. We encourage graduates to reach out to fellow graduates about additional tickets.
Any forfeited tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Addition Financial Arena Box Office two hours prior to each individual commencement ceremony. Guests will need to provide a photo ID, as well as their graduate’s name. No more than two (2) additional tickets will be issued per graduate.
Pre-Orders:
Monday, November 30, 2026 –
Thursday, December 3, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
@ UCF on East Plaza Drive
On-Site Orders:
Monday, November 30, 2026 –
Friday, December 4, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
On-Site and Pre-Orders:
Friday, November 30, 2026 –
Friday December 11, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Ticket Information FAQs
Tickets are not guaranteed. If tickets are available, they will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis at the Addition Financial Arena Box Office will call window two hours prior to the start of each ceremony for that particular ceremony. There will be a limit per graduate based on availability.
On the day of the ceremony, extra tickets can be turned in to the will call ticket box office at the Addition Financial Arena starting two hours prior to the first ceremony time.
Commencement Rules & Tips
Grad cap decorations
- Graduation cap decorations must lay flat against the cap and extend no higher than the cap button.
- Stagnant LED lights are permitted.
- Moving or flashing lights are not permitted.
- Language on decorated caps must be appropriate for a family-friendly event.
- The tassel on a graduate’s cap must be their college tassel and not the black and gold souvenir tassel.
- Doctoral tams must be returned in original condition, or a fee will be charged.
important venue info
- Please anticipate a longer than expected travel time to the Addition Financial Arena due to traffic.
- Graduates should be at the Addition Financial Arena 90 minutes prior to their commencement ceremony.
- Graduates who arrive after the procession begins will not be guaranteed a seat.
- All graduates should park in Garage D. View a map of the location of Garage D .
- Graduates must stay for the entire duration of the commencement ceremony.
important ticket info
- Please check to make sure all guest tickets have the correct commencement ceremony date and time listed on them.
- There is no ticket lottery for additional tickets.
- Graduation announcements cannot be used for admission.
Prohibited items
- The use of iPads and GoPros is prohibited. Cell phones can be used for taking pictures but should be on silent.
- Selfie sticks are not permitted.
- Graduates and their guests are prohibited from entering the ceremony with the following items: balloons, bottles, cans, containers, glass vases, alcoholic beverages, noisemakers, air horns, laser pens, silly string, confetti, flags, banners, signs or posters larger than 8½x 11.
- Backpacks of any kind or bags larger than 12” x 6” x 12” are not permitted inside the arena for security reason. Graduates are discouraged from bringing any bag into the Arena as storage is not available and items cannot be taken into the ceremony. Those who bring backpacks or large bags will be asked to return them to their car before entering the building.
Appropriate Attire
- Graduates participating in the commencement ceremonies are required to wear official UCF regalia available exclusively through the UCF Bookstore.
- Honor cords, honor society cords, and academic stoles may be worn if they are the authorized designation of an officially recognized group.
- Graduates should wear comfortable shoes and be wearing them upon entry into the arena. Do not plan to change shoes or any clothing once you have entered the arena.
- Temperature in the arena can be cold during the ceremony.
- The university reserves the right to request that graduates change inappropriate attire before they will be allowed to participate in the commencement ceremony.