Celebrating our graduates! College of the Desert Commencement InformationCelebrating our graduates! College of the Desert Commencement Information

2026 GradFest and Commencement Ceremony

Congratulations on reaching this milestone at College of the Desert! We are excited to celebrate with you and your family and friends!

This page includes everything you need to help you prepare for GradFest and Commencement. You will find guest information for your friends and family. Keep in mind, we will be updating this page periodically, so please check back for the latest event details as we confirm them. We look forward to honoring you and all those in the Class of 2026!

Commencement Ceremony

Commencement is the official ceremony in academia that recognizes students’ academic achievement. Even though the word “commencement” means “to begin,” the ceremony marks the end of one journey and the beginning of your next chapter whether that be career, additional education, or life goals. 

The college is excited to celebrate with you! We ask that you prepare your family and friends to stay for the entirety of the ceremony (2 hours) as you walk across stage and turn your tassel to signify your hard-earned academic achievement. 

The tassel turn is the official moment you become a graduate of College of the Desert. It is a collective celebration – when the entire graduating class shares one final milestone together! A shared moment of Roadrunner pride! You have worked hard for this day! That’s all the more reason to stay for the moment that makes it official.

Please share with your family members and guests that the ceremony continues until the tassel turning and we encourage everyone to remain for the full celebration. Your loved ones are part of this milestone – and their support in staying through the end ensures every graduate receives the same moment of recognition and respect. 

Date:

May 18, 2026  

Time:

6:00 p.m. Ceremony Begins

Doors Open:

4:00 p.m.

Location:

Acrisure Arena
75702 Varner Road
Palm Desert, CA 92211
View on Google Maps

We are just as excited as you are to celebrate you and your academic achievement! You will find valuable information regarding your responsibilities for this day.

Graduate Check-In:

4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. 

Once you check in, you will be guided by ushers to the seating area for graduates. Arrive early to avoid the long line. You will have time to check your cap and gown before being seated and have one last opportunity to use the restrooms prior to line-up. All graduates must be seated in the premium level seats before processional line-up begins.

Line-Up Begins:

5:30 p.m. (Ushers will line-up students accordingly)

All graduates will be lined up accordingly to avoid any fire hazards. Ushers will lead you to the main floor appropriately. 

Ceremony Length:

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (2 hours) 

The ceremony will be two hours long. Please help us create a respectful and unified ceremony for everyone and please stay until the ceremony concludes. 

Graduate Parking

  • Complimentary (first-come, first-served)
  • Enter from Varner Road onto Delfino Resort Road
  • Park in VIP Lot B
  • Inform the attendant you are a graduate
  • Enter through the South Entrance
  • Disabled parking available

Graduate Check-In Information

  • All participants must wear full regalia.
  • The ceremony is indoors and air-conditioned.
  • Wear comfortable clothing and shoes (stairs will be used).
  • If you need mobility accommodations, inform staff at check-in.
  • Restrooms and water will be available.
  • Arrive early to enjoy photo opportunities.
  • Allow 30 minutes for parking and security screening.

We are just as excited as you are to celebrate your graduation! Help us create a respectful and unified ceremony for everyone and please stay until the ceremony concludes.

Ceremony Begins:

6:00 p.m. 

Main Doors Open:

4:00 p.m.

Ceremony Length:

2 hours 

The tassel turn signifies the official conferral of degrees. Early departure can disrupt the ceremony and impact fellow graduates and their families. We strongly encourage all attendees to remain until the ceremony formally concludes. The ceremony will only be two hours long.

Guest Parking 

  • Complimentary (first-come, first-served)
  • Guests park in the Main Lot
  • Rideshare drop-off: Classic Club Drive (north side of arena)
  • Disabled parking available  

Guest Security Screening

  • All attendees will go through security screening.
    • No strollers
    • No wrapped gifts or gift bags
    • No balloons, confetti, or noisemakers
    • No vases with flower – flowers and leis are okay, just no vases
    • No signs larger than 11” x 17” 
    • No outside food or beverages 
    • No smoking 
    • No pets (service animals permitted) 

Frequently Asked Questions

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You must have applied for graduation to be invited to participate in the commencement ceremony. The graduation application is due Wednesday, April 15. If you believe you are ready to graduate, check with your program or counselor for specific requirements.

Students who are finishing in the summer are encouraged to submit a graduation application before Wednesday, April 15. All students submitting a graduation application after Wednesday, April 15 will be invited to participate in next year’s commencement ceremony in spring 2027.

Each graduate will receive 5 paper tickets at GradFest. If you don’t attend GradFest, you can pick up your tickets at the Admissions and Records office starting Monday, April 27. 

Graduates can fill out the Extra Tickets for Commencement Form and request up to 5 additional tickets for a total of 10 tickets per graduate. If graduates require more tickets, it is encouraged to reach out to other peers who may not use their tickets. Extra tickets will be distributed Monday-Thursday from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. beginning Monday, May 4 through Thursday, May 14.

Yes, you may donate your extra tickets to the Admissions and Records office, or you may give them away to other graduates at your discretion. Tickets donated to the Admissions and Records office will be redistributed to graduates needing more tickets.

No, it is not assigned seating. Seating is on a first come first serve basis. We encourage loved ones to arrive early if they have a favorite place to sit.

Do not buy tickets from anyone. The event is free and no one should be selling tickets. If you learn someone is selling tickets, please inform the Dean of Enrollment Services (enrollmentservices@collegeofthedesert.edu).

Please do not sell your tickets.  Disciplinary action may be put in place for anyone determined to be selling tickets after campus investigations.

Graduates do not need a ticket as seating will be arranged for them at the center of the arena. Guests who require seats to watch the ceremony will need a ticket. Newborns or toddlers DO NOT need a ticket unless they require a seat. 

No, only if the child needs a seat of their own will they need a ticket. If the child is being held or sitting on someone’s lap, they will not need a ticket.

Yes, they do need a ticket. There is an accessible entrance to the right of the main entrance.

Yes, we will have ASL interpreters, and the ceremony will be live captioned via YouTube live stream. The link to the ceremony will be published to this site prior to the ceremony.

The ceremony will take approximately two hours. Please help us create a respectful and unified ceremony to support all our graduates by staying until the end of the ceremony.

The ceremony itself is about 20 minutes long, however, because of the large number of graduates participating and because each graduate is recognized and invited to cross the stage the ceremony is 2 hours long. Early departure can disrupt the ceremony and impact fellow graduates and their families. We strongly encourage all attendees to remain until the ceremony formally concludes.

No, there will not be a rehearsal at the arena, but we are holding Commencement Orientation Sessions. These sessions are 45 minutes long. They are not mandatory, but we do go over what to expect on that day and answer all your questions.

No, your diploma will be mailed to you once the Admissions and Records office verifies your final grades. You will receive an email from Parchment stating your diploma is ready.

This year the college has a special gift for you. It is a surprise! You will receive your gift once the ceremony formally concludes, during the recessional.

The recessional is the formal conclusion of commencement. It is led by the faculty and followed by the graduates signifying entering the next step into your new role as a College of the Desert graduate.

Absolutely! We encourage you to stay until the end of the ceremony and ask you to encourage your peers and loved ones to stay too. Early departure can disrupt the ceremony and impact fellow graduates and their families. You and your fellow classmates earned this momentous celebration – stay until the end! We guarantee you won’t be disappointed!

You can email all your questions to Commencement@CollegeoftheDesert.edu or call 760-346-8041. We will be sure to help you with any questions you may have about this important day! Congratulations Roadrunners! 
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