** This is a living website and will be updated as we get closer to the ceremony. Please bookmark this page and continue to reference it for up to date information.**
Commencement Ceremony 2026
Date: Saturday May 23, 2026 at 2:00 PM PT (approximately 2 hours)
Location: Greek Theatre
Keynote Speaker: Yamini Rangan, MBA
Student Speaker: Michele Obermeyer
Parking and Logistics
Parking: General parking ($12 Flat Rate) is available at the Foothill Lot, Lower Hearst Structure, and Upper Hearst Structure.
Important Instructions for Graduates:
- Arrival: Arrive at the Greek Theatre by 1:00 PM PT. Use the South Entrance (located in the Bowles Parking Lot near Haas) and stay in the parking lot.
- Check-in: Upon arrival, you must complete a name card for the stage announcements.
- Dress Code: You must be in full cap and gown to enter the South Entrance and enter the graduate seating area.
- Security: To speed up the security screening and metal detector process, please do not bring bags or backpacks. If you bring a water bottle, it must be empty before going through the metal detector.
- Guest Access: No guests (including infants and children) are permitted in the graduate assembly area or on stage.
Ceremony Duration: The event concludes at approximately 4:00 PM PT. While Evening & Weekend MBA students walk first, followed by Full-time MBA students, all graduates are required to stay for the duration of the ceremony.
Information & Logistics for Guests
- Tickets Required: Every guest, including children and infants, must have a ticket to enter the Greek Theatre.
- Arrival & Entry: Gates open at 1:00 PM PT and guests are encouraged to arrive early, entering through the North Entrance (near Hearst Street).
- Accessibility (ADA): Guests requiring ADA assistance should use the North Entrance for the most accessible path into the venue.
- Sustainability: Each family will receive two printed programs; a digital copy will also be available on our website.
Alternate Viewing Venue
- Anyone who prefers a climate-controlled viewing area away from the sun (infants, young children, with a medical condition, etc.), can view the livestream of the ceremony in Chou Hall, Room N100, located at Haas.
- Guests do not need tickets to enter the livestream area.
- Those who cannot attend the ceremony, can watch the livestream here. A recording of the ceremony will be available at the same link a few weeks after graduation.
- Live, written translation services will be available in the following languages: Arabic, French, Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, & Chinese.
Yamini Rangan, MBA 03, is the Berkeley Haas Commencement speaker for the joint Full-Time and Evening & Weekend MBA Class of 2026 ceremony at the Greek Theatre on Saturday, May 23 at 2:00 PM PT.
Rangan is CEO of HubSpot, the agentic customer platform for scaling companies. Prior to becoming CEO, Rangan served as HubSpot’s first-ever chief customer officer, overseeing the marketing, sales, and service teams.
A tech industry veteran, Rangan has more than 25 years of experience in product marketing, sales, and strategy. She previously served as chief customer officer at Dropbox, where she was responsible for embedding customer focus across the organization. Before Dropbox, she was vice president of sales strategy and operations at Workday, where she helped quadruple revenue and scaled the sales organization. At SAP, Rangan held several customer-facing leadership roles in strategy, presales, and value-based selling and helped close landmark deals.
Rangan holds a bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering, a master’s degree in computer engineering, and an MBA from Haas. She was recognized among the Most Influential Women in Business by the San Francisco Business Times in 2019 and as a Best CEO for Women by Comparably in 2022. She is a Haas School Board member and a former Splunk board member.
Bag Policy: Security will perform bag checks. Only small/medium-sized bags are allowed in the Greek Theatre. Large bags and backpacks are strictly prohibited.
- All individuals entering the Greek Theatre will be required to walk through metal detectors at the entrance to the venue. Be sure to empty your water bottles before entering the metal detectors.
Please note that the following items are not allowed in the Greek Theatre:
- Large bags or backpacks
- Glass bottles or aluminum cans
- Personal water bottles with liquid
- Alcoholic beverages
- Tobacco products
- Animals (except for documented service animals)
- Lawn furniture (low-backed stadium seats are permitted)
- Noisemakers/Air Horns/Musical Instruments
- Umbrellas (small umbrellas for sun/rain protection are permitted)
- Balloons (may be tied up and left at entrance)
- Tripods for cameras
- Coolers/Ice Chests
- Signs/Banners/Flags
- Rolls of toilet paper
- Confetti/Glitter
- Streamers
- Strollers (designated stroller parking is available at the north entrance)
- Any item that can be perceived as a weapon
Pickup Schedule & Locations
- Monday, May 4 – Thursday, May 21: EWMBA Program Office during normal office hours.
- Sunday, May 17: WE Lead Breakfast (9:00 AM – 10:30 AM). Note: This is the only pickup window available during WE Lead.
- Saturday, May 23: On the day of Commencement the EWMBA Program office will be open from 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM.
Requirements & Logistics
- Identification: A valid government ID, Student ID or Driver’s License* is required for pickup.
- Proxies: If you cannot pick up, a designated person may collect your tickets using their own valid form of ID (*see above).
- Ticket Count: Distribution is based on your response to the Class of 2026 Graduation Survey and the Commencement Ticket Request Survey.
- Honors Cords: Eligible students can collect honors cords at the same times and locations listed above.
Important Notes
- No Digital Delivery: Tickets will not be mailed or emailed. If you are unable to pick up your tickets, find a designated person as soon as possible and notify our team.
We recommend that graduates wear official regalia for the MBA Commencement ceremony. This includes a cap, gown, MBA hood and tassel.
How to Order Your Regalia
We strongly encourage students to their regalia. It is the most sustainable and cost-effective option for Commencement.
- Official Rental Site: Herff Jones – UC Berkeley
- Please check out this video on how to order.
Important Deadlines
There are three ways to secure your regalia:
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On-Campus Pickup (Cal Student Store): Order by March 27 at 8:59 PM to avoid shipping fees.
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Ship to Home:
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Standard Shipping ($18.10): Order by April 20 at 8:59 PM. This price includes a pre-paid return shipping label.
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Expedited Shipping: Order by May 1 at 8:59 PM.
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In-Store Rentals: You can rent directly at the Cal Student Store beginning on May 11th.
For more details, please see the University Regalia FAQ
New Regalia Design for 2026
Please note that the official UC Berkeley regalia has been updated this year:
- Current Design: Blue gown with gold braiding and the UC Berkeley seal.
- Previous Design: Solid black gown.
If you purchased or borrowed a solid black gown from a previous graduate, you are welcome to wear it. Please know that the majority of the class will be in the new blue/gold design so there will be a level of “mismatched” regalia. We are absolutely fine with this, but wanted to be sure you were aware.
EWMBA Students can Request a Visa Support Letter for commencement.
FTMBA Students should inquire with their Program Office.
If you require an accommodation for effective communication (ASL interpreting/CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.) to fully participate in this event, please contact Kate Tobias by May 1st. We kindly ask for at least 7 days notice before the event to allow 7-10 days for processing your request. Your timely communication is appreciated to ensure we can provide the necessary accommodations.