Graduates, families, and faculty gathered at Carver-Hawkeye Arena to honor the achievements of the Spring 2026 graduating class.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Image Gallery

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences celebrated the accomplishments of its Spring 2026 graduates during commencement ceremonies held at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. 

Surrounded by classmates, faculty, family, and friends, CLAS graduates marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. From moments of celebration on stage to quiet reflections in the crowd, the day's highlights are moments that captured the excitement, pride, and individuality of the Class of 2026. 

Take a look at highlights from the ceremonies below.

 

Gallery

CLAS Dean Sara Sanders poses with the student commencement speakers from the morning and afternoon ceremonies in front of the graduation stage during rehearsal. The three smile for a photo beside black-and-gold Commencement decorations and rows of flowers after the ceremony.
An aerial photo of Commencement showing a large number of graduates and viewers
A student makes a silly surprised face at the photographer
CLAS's Dean Sanders leads the academic procession at Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremonies
A graduate smiles while holding a Hawkeye-customized electric fan that says "Congrats grad"
CLAS Dean Sanders stands with the morning Commencement speaker, singer, and Herky the Hawk as each shout out their best "GO HAWKS!"
Two graduates in black caps and gowns pose together in front of a textured gray wall. One graduate wears a purple stole with “FIJI” lettering, while the other wears a white stole with pink trim and holds bouquets of yellow and red roses. Both are smiling and looking slightly off camera.
A graduate in a black cap and gown poses with a smiling companion in a floral dress and graduation stole during an outdoor Commencement gathering. Another person in the foreground holds up a phone to take their photo, while groups of graduates, families, and friends gather in the background.
A graduate decorated their black commencement cap with a sparkling gold Hawkeye logo and the year “2026.” The cap stands out in a crowded ceremony scene filled with graduates and attendees seated nearby.
Graduates in black caps and gowns react during a commencement ceremony, with several waving or making heart shapes with their hands toward the crowd. One graduate in the center blows a kiss while classmates around them smile and look into the audience.
A student speaker stands at a podium during a commencement ceremony beneath a large gold banner reading “IOWA.” Faculty and university leaders in academic regalia sit on stage behind the speaker holds a camera back at the crowd, while graduates in caps and gowns fill the foreground.
A graduate wearing a black “First Generation” stole walks across the commencement floor during the ceremony. Faculty members and fellow graduates in academic regalia surround the stage area in the background.
A graduate wearing a black cap and gown, gold stole, and green floral lei reaches out to shake someone’s hand during the commencement ceremony. Other graduates in caps and gowns are visible in the softly blurred background.
Two graduates in black caps and gowns smile from the audience during a commencement ceremony. One graduate waves toward the crowd while both look out into the arena, surrounded by fellow graduates seated nearby.
A graduate wearing colorful stoles raises both arms in celebration while walking across the commencement stage. Faculty members and university leaders seated behind the stage smile and applaud as graduates in caps and gowns fill the foreground.
A graduate in a black cap and gown walks across the commencement floor as the surrounding arena blurs with motion. The image captures the movement and pace of the ceremony, with streaks of light and rows of seated attendees in the background.