Duke Commencement 2026
May 8–10, 2026
Congratulations, 2026 Graduates!
2026 Commencement Speakers
Amy E. Hood T’94
“Class of 2026, you are ready for this. Everything you have accomplished at Duke has prepared you to make a difference on an even greater scale. The world needs you, Duke is grateful for you, and your family and friends are proud of you. You are made for this.”
“We didn’t all start from the place, we didn’t all carry the same weight. But we all carried something, and together we learned how to move forward. This degree is more than a credential. It’s a chance to shape what comes next.”
– Juliet L. Peñaranda Pérez, biology major with minors in global health and chemistry
“As widely as our intellectual impact reached within our respective domains, we also formed bridges. In academics this meant an interdisciplinary culture where we pushed science forward because of, and not in spite of, our different backgrounds. And outside of school we formed deep friendships with one another.”
– Lucas Bellaiche, cognitive scientist receiving his Ph.D. in psychology and neuroscience
“As you earn your degrees today, we hope that you will continue to nurture the friendships that have made Duke such a compelling place for you. That includes maintaining connections to those faculty who had the honor to teach you, knowing that we will delight in your future accomplishments.”
2026 Honorary Degree Recipients
Amy E. Hood T’94
Microsoft executive vice president and chief financial officer
Dianne R. McIntyre
dancer and choreographer
Cass R. Sunstein
legal scholar and policy adviser
Abby Wambach
soccer champion and media figure
2026 Commencement By The Numbers
6,900+
Graduates
1,785
Undergraduate Degrees
290+
From N.C.
2026 Graduates:
Stories of Exploration and Excellence
Every journey of the thousands of new Duke and Duke Kunshan in China graduates tells a different story. While the background and details may be different, they have a commonality: They all want to solve challenges in society, be it health care gaps, the environment, or issues of national security.
Moments Captured from Across Campus
In additional to the university-wide ceremony in Wallace Wade Stadium, commencement weekend consists of celebrations hosted by schools and programs across campus. Here is a small selection of photos from the many ceremonies recognizing and celebrating our graduates.
