Congratulations on your upcoming graduation! We are excited to celebrate this milestone with you at our Commencement Ceremony on May 9, 2026.
Today's email outlines your to-do list and ticketing information and announces this year's speaker.
In addition to reading everything thoroughly, be sure to review all of the commencement information available at queens.edu/commencement.
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- ASAP | Complete the Name Pronunciation form
- March 4 | Deadline to order regalia for Bookstore delivery
- March 18 | Parking Registration opens up for up to 2 guest parking spots
- April 1 | Deadline to decline your commencement tickets *
- April 6 | Deadline to order regalia for home delivery
- April 27 | Deadline to register up to 2 guest parking spots
- May 8 | Attend Baccalaureate & Graduation Reception
- May 9 | Graduate!
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Each walking graduate will receive 4 guest tickets to the Levine Center (ceremony location) and 2 guest tickets for the Sarah Belk Gambrell Center (live stream location).
We will be distributing tickets to graduates on Wednesday, April 22. All we need from you beforehand is to let us know if you will not need your commencement tickets by April 1*.
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HOW YOU WILL RECIEVE YOUR TICKETS
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- Digital tickets will be emailed to your Queens email Wednesday, April 22.
- These will go to your Queens email. We will not allow distribution to any external emails.
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- Please follow this link for more details and Guest & Visitor Information.
- For both locations - Children under 3 years old can enter without a ticket and sit on the lap of their caregiver.
- Seating in the Levine Center is general admission.
- Seating for the Gambrell Center will be assigned and distributed on a first come first served basis.
- The university will not manage a waitlist or facilitate ticket exchanges. We encourage graduates to claim their full ticket allotment and exchange excess tickets with fellow graduates. Details on how to exchange will be provided when your tickets are emailed to you.
- Digital tickets for the day of Commencement will be sent to your Queens email from Etix.com on April 22.
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HOW TO DECLINE YOUR TICKETS
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- Follow this link to our form for declining your tickets.
- You may decline all or a portion of your tickets.
- Deadline to Decline Tickets: Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
- Asking students to decline tickets they do not plan to use does not mean we will create a waitlist or reassign those seats. The purpose is to help us maintain an accurate count and ensure we stay within the approved capacity for the Levine Center.
- When students release unused tickets:
- It improves our real-time attendance projections.
- It helps us manage seating, safety staffing, and venue logistics.
- It prevents exceeding fire-code and operational limits.
- This process is about capacity management, not redistribution of seats.
- Walking graduates are welcome to ask fellow graduates if they have extra tickets for either location. The university does not manage a waitlist or facilitate ticket exchanges, so you will need to work with fellow graduates to exchange tickets amongst themselves.
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Queens University of Charlotte is committed to ensuring Commencement is an accessible experience for our graduates and their guests. The Levine Center Arena is ADA-compliant, and all guests with ADA accommodations are welcome to observe Commencement from there. The Sarah Belk Gambrell Center, our live-streaming location, offers a comfortable and convenient viewing experience, along with closer access to both restrooms and a designated drop-off area. For guests who use mobility devices, the Sarah Belk Gambrell Center is recommended as the more accessible option. Additionally, an ASL interpreter will be present in the Curry Area and will be visible on the live stream in the Sandra Levine Theatre.
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YOUR COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER
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Queens University of Charlotte is pleased to announce that Shelly Cayette-Weston, president of business operations for Hornets Sports & Entertainment, will deliver the keynote address to the Class of 2026 during the university’s 167th commencement ceremony.
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"We are honored to welcome Ms. Shelly Cayette-Weston as our keynote speaker," said Queens University President Jesse Cureton, ’02.
"She is a testament to the power of vision, resilience, and community commitment. As a leader who has consistently broken barriers in the NBA and beyond, she represents the courageous leadership and excellence we challenge our graduates to carry into the world."
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After graduation, the alumni team would love to stay in contact with you so you can attend alumni events, join us for reunions, and stay connected to Queens.
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