This post will be a mostly practical review and walkthrough of UCalgary’s Spring 2026 convocation ceremony for those who are curious what the day actually looks like (consider this your unofficial guide)! I’ve covered my final year thoughts and feelings over in my post-final year updates post, so I’ll skip the emotional preamble here.
Arriving
I arrived around the recommended 90 minutes before my ceremony start time (2pm for the afternoon session) and parking was fine; lots 10 and 11 as well as the Arts Parkade all had spaces available. This was at the same time when the morning ceremony people were wrapping up, so campus was already abuzz with gowned graduates taking photos.
Gowning up
First stop is the oval, where you pick up your gown, hood, and cap. Make sure you bring photo ID! There are volunteers stationed there to pin your hood to the gown.
p.s. although the orientation t-shirts that science students got in our first year were the ugliest (white on yellow), it’s made up for by the fact that our gold hoods match the gold trim on the gowns 😉
For caps, I recommend bringing bobby pins if you’re worried about your hairstyle. It can be fidgety to get the elastic on the cap to fit right (especially if you have bangs). If you forget pins or run out, there are some on the tables where volunteers help with your gown, but supplies may vary depending on how early you get there.
An important note: you can’t bring large items with you into the ceremony gymnasium. For small things like your phone, wear something with pockets or bring a small crossbody bag (it won’t show under the boxy gown). If you’re really pressed, you could hold your stuff and leave them on your chair when you go to walk the stage.
Decorating your cap
A couple months before the ceremony, graduands received emails with the option to pick up their cap early from enrollment services to pre-decorate it. I think it’s a great thing to do; many get shown on the big screen as everyone walks into the gymnasium (and it can be as simple or as extravagant as you like, I saw some true works of art).
For mine, I attached a light-up PCB (designed with my high school’s logo) and powered with a coin battery, fixed to the cap via magnet.
Picking up your degree package
Once you’re gowned up, you collect your degree package and convocation booklet. Holding the physical document representing the culmination of years of work is surreal :’).
Attached to your diploma is the name card that you’ll hand to the name announcer right before you walk the stage. There’s also a table where you can talk to the announcer beforehand about the correct pronunciation of your name, which is a thoughtful touch. Success rates vary though, I’m sorry if your name got mangled…
During this time, the Oval becomes a nice reunion zone. You’ll talk to friends, people from your program you haven’t properly met despite sharing classes, and other familiar faces. There’s something special about seeing your cohort all dressed up and academic-looking that makes it hard not to smile while soaking up the atmosphere.
Procession
Shortly before the ceremony starts, you line up based on your position in the convocation booklet. It’s a nice opportunity to chat with your neighbours, talk about post-grad plans, and bond with a couple people you shared a degree with but somehow didn’t cross paths with until now.
When your line starts moving into the Jack Simpson Gymnasium, there are cameras along the way that livestream to the big screen inside (wave and smile!). Walking to your seat among hundreds of graduates while trying to spot your people in the huge audience is a fun challenge.
Ceremonious ceremony
There are anthems, traditions, and speeches that I won’t walk through in detail, but I will say that the chancellor, Jon Cornish, was very charismatic and made a great speech (unfortunately this was Jon’s last year as chancellor).
As for the president’s speech, he highlighted some student achievements from the year, and I was shocked that he mentioned me and this blog (alongside a shoutout to the Goobie Woobies, iykyk)! That was very much the cherry on top of the day :D.
Walking the stage
Eventually, the graduands start crossing the stage, and the energy in the room is just really wholesome and celebratory.
When it’s your turn, everything feels like it happens so fast. Make sure not to rush when it’s actually your moment: take a beat to look at the audience as they say your name, and then walk across to be congratulated by your chancellor and dean.
After the ceremony
Leaving the gymnasium takes some patience as everyone pours out together. Outside, the Oval and paperclip area fill up with graduates and family members taking photos. It’s chaotic and joyful and a bit overwhelming in a great way. Eventually, most family members head home, and once you’ve found your friends in the crowd, you wander campus for group photos and post-convocation revelry.
Among other spots, our group went to Math Sciences to take some pics where we spent years studying, attending tutorials, and goofing off.
Overall
The convocation ceremony was very nicely put together. I didn’t really know what to expect, but honestly, all the pomp and circumstance really does make the end of a chapter feel real after the underwhelming end of classes. It’s nice to have a day that punctuates it all and says: you did it!
Until next time,
Ana (now with a degree!!!)
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