Commencement 2026

2:00-4:00pm at Moore College of Art and Design Galleries: Refreshments will be available.

9:30 am: Seniors to arrive at the Academy of Music

10:15 am: VIP and Accessible Seating

10:30 am: General Admission Seating

11 am: Commencement ceremony begins

The Commencement ceremony is approximately 90 minutes in length.

Each graduating student will be allotted six tickets for the Commencement ceremony. Students will receive their tickets during the Commencement Rehearsal in the Graham Auditorium on Friday, May 8th (11:30am-12:30pm). If there are graduates who will not use all allotted tickets, we ask that they return unused tickets to the lottery so that they may be redistributed.

Tickets are required for all guests 2 years old and older. Children under the age of 2 are expected to sit on the lap of a parent or guardian.

Lost or stolen tickets will not be replaced. No additional tickets will be available.

If any Commencement guests are in need of assistance, please alert Sarah Stalter in Student Affairs at 215-965-4040 or email sstalter@moore.edu

Seating is on a first-come first-served basis starting at 10:30am.

Please, arrive 45 minutes prior to the start of event to be seated by Academy of Music staff. Academy of Music staff will seat guests who need accessible seating and their companions first.

The Academy of Music is a wheelchair-accessible location. The Academy of Music has a wheelchair-accessible entrance on the south side of the building, which allows for direct entry to the main lobby. A curb cut at the corner of Broad Street and Locust Street allows for access to the sidewalk leading to the accessible ramp on the south side of the building.

The items listed below, and any additional items that The Ensemble Arts Philly management determines could potentially distract from the audience’s safety and enjoyment, will not be allowed inside the venue**.

• Backpacks or oversized bags
• Weapons of any kind
• Illegal drugs/substances
• Selfie sticks
• Laser pointers/flashlights
• Balloons
• Pets (service animals exempt)
• Tripods/monopods
• Signs/flags/banners
• Beach balls or projectiles
• Fireworks or noise making devices
• Skateboards/scooters/roller blades

**Exceptions will be made for those with disabilities, medical requirements and/or special needs. Guests with specific needs due to disabilities or medical conditions can contact Kimmel Center Patron Services prior to attending the event to arrange for reasonable accommodations.

Commencement is a celebration of our students’ accomplishments; it is also a formal academic event.

We ask that guests remain in their seats for the duration of the procession and recession and refrain from blocking aisles and passageways by attempting to greet or take photos of graduates. Cellular phones must be silenced during the ceremony to ensure that all guests can hear and enjoy the Commencement activities. After the ceremony is over, we ask that you allow the faculty, board, and graduates to exit, and then you may exit after them. Graduating students will immediately proceed back to the rehearsal space to return their regalia.

The gowns will be rented by Moore College. They will be distributed during the Commencement Rehearsal on May 8th along with the caps. Each graduate is responsible for bringing their gown, cap, and regalia to the Academy of Music. At the conclusion of the ceremony, graduates are required to return their gown. If the gown is not returned, there will be a fee.

The diplomas will not be distributed on stage. Diplomas will be shipped to graduates 4-8 weeks after graduation.

At the ceremony, a professional photographer will be taking photos to capture this special day. We ask that you refrain taking photos from anywhere other than your seat in order to avoid obstructing the view of others. Each graduate will be professionally photographed as they receive their diploma on stage. The prints will be available after the ceremony for purchase through our photographer’s website 4-6 weeks after each event.

Bellevue Garage

• 220 S Broad Street
• 364 ft from the Academy of Music
• $18 per hour, does not accept cash (does accept card and Apple Pay)

Juniper & Locust Garage

• 1327 Locust Street
• 374 ft from the Academy of Music
• $29 per 2 hours, self-park, valet, accepts card and Apple Pay

Kimmel Center Parking Garage

• 330 South Broad Street
• 427 ft from the Academy of Music
• $48, card only
• * limited space

Academy House Garage

• 251 S 15th Street
• 0.1 miles from the Academy of Music
• $30 valet only

Avenue of the Arts

• 1501 Spruce Street
• 0.2 miles from the Academy of Music
• $28 for 3 hours, card only

Symphony House Garage

• 440 South Broad Street
• 0.2 miles from the Academy of Music
• $20 per 1 hour, self-park, accepts Apple Pay/any kind of mobile payment and card

Holiday Inn Garage

• 1305 Walnut Street
• 0.2 miles from the Academy of Music
• $39, keys might be held depending on parking occupancy

13th & Locust

• 219 S 13th Street
• 0.2 miles from the Academy of Music
• $16 per hour, accepts ParkMobile and Credit Card

SEPTA Subway – Walnut-Locust Station on the Broad Street Line

SEPTA Regional Rails – Suburban Station at 17th and JFK Blvd

For SEPTA information see www.septa.com

Greyhound Bus Terminal – 1001 N. Filbert Street.

For Greyhound information www.greyhound.com or 215.931.4075

Amtrak trains – 30th Street Station at 30th and Market St.

For Amtrak information, see www.amtrak.com or 1.800.872.7245

Philadelphia International Airport

See www.phl.org or 215.937.6937.

Trains to and from the airport can be boarded at 30th Street Station or Suburban Station.