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Information for Families and Visitors
A group of family and friends stand and cheer for their graduate.
Commencement 2026

A Celebration for All

Our Macalester community is excited for this opportunity to celebrate and honor the achievements of our graduates, and to thank you—parents, family members, caregivers, and friends—for your support throughout their journey.

This page will continue to be updated as Senior Week and graduation day approach.

Resources for Families and Visitors

  • Tickets

    All guests must have a ticket to attend the ceremony in the Field House. (Exception: Any child under two years of age, not occupying a seat, may attend without a ticket and therefore not count towards a graduate’s guest ticket limit.)

    Eligible seniors received an email on Friday, January 30 with a link to register and claim tickets.

    Graduates may:

    • Claim up to five Field House tickets for guests.
    • Request up to six additional Field House tickets. Any tickets that are not claimed by the March 2 registration deadline will be distributed by lottery and students will be notified of their lottery status on March 3, 2026.
      • Although the Field House has a capacity limit, we welcome additional guests who do not have Field House tickets to campus to participate in the celebratory events before and after the graduation ceremony. Guests without Field House tickets can view a livestream of the ceremony in the JBD Lecture Hall, Campus Center Lower Level.

    Please note that all ticket requests are handled directly with graduates. Family and friends may not request tickets independently
  • Live Stream

    A link for the live stream of the May ceremony will be posted on our main Commencement webpage prior to the event. We will also post a link to the recording shortly after the ceremony.
  • Directions and Parking

    Macalester College is located at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Snelling Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota.

    Use 130 Macalester Street, St. Paul, Minnesota for GPS directions to available parking.

    There is no charge to park in Macalester’s lots or on the streets close to campus. Please be respectful of the residential nature of our neighborhood and obey all signs regarding parking limitations.

    View our Interactive Campus Map for details.
  • Schedule of Events / Meal Registration

    Our Schedule of Events webpage will be updated regularly in the weeks leading up to commencement. Please note that some events are for graduates only, and some are by invitation only. All events are subject to change.

    Family and friends of our graduates are especially welcome at the Zero Waste All Campus Picnic and the Academic Department Receptions on Friday, as well as the Continental Breakfast on Saturday morning.

    Your registration for the meals will help us prepare an appropriate amount of food and beverages. There is no cost to attend the lunch, receptions or breakfast. A registration link for meals will be added here closer to the events.
  • Accessibility / Accommodations

    Macalester College strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully.

    We will provide accessible seating for access for individuals with disabilities with specific accommodation needs. To prioritize this seating, there is a limit of two (2) tickets for this area: one for the individual requesting seating and one for a companion to accompany that individual. These two (2) tickets/seats do count toward the graduating senior’s ticket limit.

    Captioning will be provided during the Commencement Ceremony.

    To request a disability related accommodation or inquire about accessibility please complete this form by April 24, 2026. Once we receive your completed form, you will receive additional information about parking, your assigned seating area and other event information.

    Macalester does not have wheelchairs available on campus, but can recommend these local vendors:

    1. St.Paul Corner Drug (Pick up only)
      • 240 Snelling Avenue South, St. Paul, MN 55105
      • Phone: 651-698-8859
    2. Jackson Medical Equipment (Offers delivery service)
      • 982 Thomas Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104.
      • Phone: 651-645-6221
    3.  Dahl Medical Equipment (Offers delivery service)
      • 154 Cobblestone Lane, Burnsville, MN 55337
      • Phone: 612-334-3159

    Accessibility questions? Email [email protected].
  • Seating Chart

    Candidates for degree do not cross the stage in alphabetical order. We will post a seating chart here before the ceremony.