Commencement – Saturday, May 16, 2026

Due to a change in University policy, all commencement celebrations at the University will require tickets for guests this year. Minnesota Law invites you to reserve tickets for your guests for the 2026 Commencement Ceremony. 

Please note:

• All guests, regardless of age, will need a ticket to enter Northrop Auditorium.
• You can reserve up to 8 tickets. More tickets will be released on April 30; if you need more than 8 tickets, you will be able to reserve them at this time. 
• You will need to create a login to reserve tickets. Please use your UMN ID to create your account.
• View the Commencement Ticketing Help Guide 

Questions about the registration platform or issues reserving tickets? 
Contact the Northrop box office at 612.624.2345 or [email protected].

Northrup Parking and Directions

Plan to Arrive Early 

Make sure you have plenty of time to navigate traffic around UMN parking facilities and get to the event on time. 

Graduates, faculty, and staff should enter through the Ground West entrance on the Pleasant Street side of Northrop.

Public attendees should enter through the Ground East entrance near Church Street. 

Available Parking Lots

• Fourth Street Parking Ramp
  1625 4th St SE
  Minneapolis, MN 55455
  Approx. 10 min walk to East Entrance.
• Washington Avenue Parking Ramp
  501 Washington Ave SE
  Minneapolis, MN 55455
  Approx. 15 min walk to East Entrance.
• Church Street Garage
  80 Church St SE
  Minneapolis, MN 55455
  Approx. 5 min walk to East Entrance. Note: This lot fills up quickly!

View additional details and updates on the Parking & Transportation Services website.

Campus Map

Arrival for Graduates, Faculty, and Staff

All graduates, faculty, and staff should enter through the Ground West entrance on the Pleasant Street side of Northrop. College staff will need to be stationed at this entrance to verify and check-in graduates and faculty. After verification, they will be screened and wanded by security.

Arrival for Public Attendees

The Ground East entrance of Northrop near Church Street. Doors will open at 9 am. Public entry will only be allowed through the Ground East entrance near Church Street; all other entry points will be locked or unavailable to public guests. Guests will need to show a digital or physical ticket to security prior to screening to gain access.

Security screening will include a bag check and walk-through magnetometers. The University bag policy will be in effect, meaning only clear bags and small purses will be allowed. Northrop will follow its prohibited item policy. 

Upon entering Northrop, tickets will be scanned by Northrop ushers. Once scanned, no reentry will be allowed. The public entrance on Ground East will close 30 minutes after the commencement's scheduled start time.

Speaker

Honorable Nancy E. Brasel, U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

Order of Exercises

• Prelude and Processional
• Welcome
• Presentation of the Class of 2026 Student Awards and Class Gift
• Minnesota Law Equity & Diversity Awards
• LL.M. Class Graduation Address
• J.D. Class Graduation Address
• William B. Lockhart Award for Excellence in Scholarship, Leadership, and Service
• Stanley V. Kinyon Teaching Awards
• Commencement Address
• Presentation of the Class of 2026
• Hail! Minnesota
• Recessional

Graduation Reception, May 15, Mondale Hall

On Friday, May 15, Minnesota Law invites the Class of 2026 and their guests to a graduate reception on the Plaza level of Mondale Hall from 3 to 5 pm (CT). Graduates are requested to RSVP online for their guests (registration link provided via email from [email protected] in April). 

Commencement Reception, May 16, Northrup

An optional reception with light refreshments will take place in the atrium of Northrop following the ceremony from 12 to 1 p.m. Separate registration for this event is not required, other than commencement tickets. 

Any guests requiring ADA seating in the auditorium are advised to arrive early to secure seats. We recommend these guests wait on level one in the study lounge for the auditorium doors to open. 

Additional access services provided by Northrop include: 

• Wheelchairs
  Northrop has two wheelchairs to be used for transporting guests only. They are not meant to be a permanent seat during the event. They can be found at the east side coat check on ground level. An ID is held as a guarantee of return. 
• Wheelchair Seating
  There are a limited number of spaces for wheelchair seating in the auditorium. They are designated for guests who can not transfer to a theater seat and one companion. This seating can be found by entering off of the east ground auditorium entrance or east level one auditorium entrance. Elevators are located throughout the venue. 
• Access Seating
  Is available for guests who cannot use stairs and is limited to 1 guest and 1 companion. This seating can be found by entering off of the east ground auditorium entrance or east level one auditorium entrance. Elevators are located throughout the venue. 

Regalia will be shipped directly to graduates from Herff Jones and will include instructions on how to mail regalia back after commencement. Regalia must be ordered no later than Friday, April 3, 2026. 

All graduates must stop by Auerbach Commons on Thursday, April 23 between 9 am to 2 pm (CT) to pick up their name card. 

Yes! Our 138th Commencement Ceremony will be livestreamed at z.umn.edu/lawcommencement at 10 am (CT) on Saturday, May 16, 2026. A recording will also be made available following the ceremony at law.umn.edu/commencement.

Unfortunately Northrop does not allow helium balloons at their venue since they trigger their fire alarms. Please wait to celebrate with helium balloons until you're off Northrop's premises. Thank you for your understanding! 

The hotels listed below have offered discounted room rates for commencement weekend. 

The Courtyard by Marriott Minneapolis Downtown
1500 Washington Ave S 
Minneapolis, MN 55454

The Courtyard by Marriott Minneapolis Downtown has a "Friends & Family" 15% discount for University of Minnesota visitors, available on a first come, first serve basis. The Courtyard Marriott is located 1 block west of Mondale Hall with easy access to Minneapolis attractions such as U.S. Bank Stadium, the Guthrie Theater, Huntington Bank Stadium and the Stone Arch Bridge. 

Book your room today!

The Lofton Hotel – Tapestry Collection by Hilton
601 1^st Ave N
Minneapolis, MN 55403   

The Lofton Hotel – Tapestry Collection by Hilton is located in downtown Minneapolis, approximately a 10 minute drive from the University of Minnesota campus. The hotel is connected to Target Center and the North Loop entertainment district, offering convenient access to restaurants, shopping, and local attractions for visiting families.

Book your room no later than April 15!