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2026

UCBPH Commencement

Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Hearst Greek Theatre, Berkeley

On May 19, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., we will gather at the Hearst Greek Theatre to celebrate the Baccalaureate, Masters, and Doctoral graduates of the UC Berkeley School of Public Health Class of 2026 with an inspiring in-person ceremony. Following the commencement, the celebration continues as the UC Straw Hat Band leads our graduates and guests in a spirited procession down the hill to the Campanile Esplanade for a light reception. Be sure to join us there for refreshments and the chance to take commemorative photos with our beloved Oski the Bear, making for an unforgettable afternoon of tradition and joy as we honor our newest alumni.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at bph-commencement@berkeley.edu. We are happy to assist. Go Bears!

Eligibility for Participation

All Berkeley Public Health undergraduate and graduate students graduating in 2026 are eligible to participate in the Berkeley Public Health Commencement Ceremony at 2:00 p.m. on May 19, 2026 at the Hearst Greek Theatre. This includes those who graduated in fall 2025 and those who intend to graduate in spring or summer 2026.

Registration

Eligible graduate students will begin registering with their Program Managers in January. Online registration via the Tassel website will open in March.

Undergraduates are automatically added to the list, except for those with a Fall EGT who need to reach out to sphug@berkeley.edu for additional instructions.

Online MPH (OOMPH) students are automatically added to the commencement list if they meet their degree requirements by their EGT.

More detailed registration information will be shared in the upcoming months.

Ticketing, Seating, and Guest Information

Upon completing the Master’s Exit Survey, which opens on April 20, each graduating student will receive four complimentary tickets to commencement (graduates do not require a ticket themselves). Additional tickets will be available for purchase at $15/each on our commencement website at the end of April through May.

If you or any of your guests require accommodations for disabilities (e.g., wheelchair seating, sign language interpreter, etc.), please complete the Special Seating Request Form with your contact information and special seating request. Kindly be advised that special seating requests are not guaranteed and will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the event. Contact bph-commencement@berkeley.edu with any questions.

Commencement Recording

A livestream will be available for those who are not able to attend the ceremony in person. Links to the event livestream(s) will be made available in the coming months. A recorded version of the ceremony will be preserved on the UCBPH YouTube channel after the event has ended.

Caps, Gowns, and Regalia

To meet the regalia needs of our graduating students, the Cal Student Store has partnered with Herff Jones to offer a rental program in addition to still being able to purchase your regalia to keep if you prefer. A campus-wide announcement featuring an informational flyer will be released soon. Graduates should note that while the gowns provided through this new rental program are blue, the School of Public Health’s complimentary in-house loaner gowns are black; please rest assured that both colors are perfectly acceptable for the ceremony. Detailed information regarding in-store and online availability, along with updates on the UCBPH Regalia Lending Library, will be posted here as soon as those details are finalized.

Please refer to these resources for more information:

Tassels:

  • Undergrad, Masters: Blue & Gold
  • Doctoral: Gold

Hoods:

  • MPH and DrPH: Salmon
  • MS EHS & Epi: Gold
  • MA Biostats: White
  • PhD: Blue

Hearst Greek Theater Facility Information

Transportation to Commencement

We highly recommend taking public transportation. Reserved parking is not available for commencement. If you choose to drive, please consult the campus map for directions. Paid hourly parking may be available in campus parking lots on a first-come, first-served basis.

View the Commencement Parking Flyer from the UC Berkeley Parking & Transportation Office for more detailed information.

Safety and Security

The Greek Theatre is an outdoor venue. The day of commencement, temperatures may spike up to 80 degrees. Please be prepared and bring hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a refillable water bottle with you. Limited concessions are available at the venue, though there will be waters stations where you can refill your bottle.

There is no bag or coat check available. All bags are subject to search.

  • Items Prohibited Inside The Greek Theatre

    The following items are prohibited inside the Greek Theatre:

    • large bags or backpacks
    • glass bottles / aluminum cans
    • alcoholic beverages
    • coolers / ice chests
    • baby strollers (designated parking is available inside)
    • skateboards / bicycles / scooters
    • musical instruments
    • fireworks
    • noise-makers / airhorns
    • rolls of toilet paper
    • confetti cannons and/or poppers
    • color bomb cannons and/or poppers
    • balloons (may be tied-off at the entrance gates at own discretion)
    • umbrellas
    • signs / banners / flags
    • tripods for cameras
    • animals (with the exception of documented service animals)
    • lawn furniture or chairs (small blankets, cushions, and low-backed stadium seats are ok)
    • any items that can be perceived as weapons

Breastfeeding Support Program

To support breastfeeding mothers during our commencement ceremony at the Hearst Greek Theatre, lactation space is available in the nearby Haas Building for students, staff, and faculty. Access to this facility requires an advance online request to obtain the necessary entry code and specific directions to the room, and all users are asked to register with the campus Breastfeeding Support Program prior to the event. For more information regarding registration and to access the request form, please visit the Campus Wellness Center’s Breastfeeding Support Program website.

Keynote Speaker

S. Desmond-Hellmann headshot photo.

Sue Desmond-Hellmann

With a medical, scientific, and philanthropic career that spans more than 30 years, Dr. Sue Desmond-Hellmann has devoted her life to improving the human condition through innovation. Most recently, she was the CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, leading the organization’s vision for a world where every person has the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life. As CEO of the Gates Foundation for more than five years, Dr. Desmond-Hellmann led the organization’s 1,500 employees in its efforts to reduce inequity and combat infectious diseases around the world. Immediately prior to joining the foundation, Dr. Desmond-Hellmann was the first female and ninth overall chancellor of the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), overseeing all aspects of the university and medical center’s strategy and operations. Before UCSF, Dr. Desmond-Hellmann spent 14 years at biotech firm Genentech, where she served as president of product development. She led the development of a number of breakthrough medicines, including two of the first gene-targeted therapies for cancer, Avastin and Herceptin.

Dr. Desmond-Hellmann has been listed among Fortune’s “top 50 most powerful women in business,” named to the NonProfit Times’ ‘Power and Influence Top 50’ list, inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and elected to the Institute of Medicine. Previously a member of the board of directors at both Facebook and Procter & Gamble, she now serves on the board of directors at Pfizer, OpenAi, and Stand Up2Cancer, and is an advisor at GV (formerly Google Ventures) and Lazard.

Contact Us

Email bph-commencement@berkeley.edu with additional questions.

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