PHOTOS: Celebrating the Class of 2026
JMU News
James Madison University
James Madison University celebrated the Class of 2026 during commencement ceremonies as campus came alive with tradition, recognition, and celebration. Graduates gathered with family, friends, faculty, and staff to honor the achievement. From medallion ceremonies and convocations to college commencements and ROTC commissionings, these events reflected the spirit and traditions that define the JMU experience.
Ceremony Photos and Recordings
Browse photo galleries and livestream recordings from each event below organized by date throughout commencement week. These university photos are for personal use only and not for commercial purposes. Please credit: Photos courtesy of James Madison University.
Select the ceremony date:
The Donning of the Kente
Honors College Medallion Ceremony
College of Arts and Letters
College of Health and Behavioral Studies: Communication Sciences and Disorders, Health Sciences, and Kinesiology)
College of Health and Behavioral Studies: Graduate Psychology, Health Professions, Nursing, Psychology, and Social Work
College of Business, School of Strategic Leadership Studies and the MBA program
College of Science and Mathematics and College of Visual and Performing Arts
College of Integrated Science and Engineering
Nursing Convocation
College of Education, Hart School of Hospitality, Sport and Recreation Management, the School of Professional and Continuing Education, and University Studies
Air Force ROTC Commissioning
Army ROTC Commissioning
A graduate in purple shakes President Jim's hand. Photo by Rachel Holderman.
A student and faculty member hug in front of Wilson Hall after the Nursing convocation. Photo by Julia Weaver '21.
Graduates and their families filled AUBC. Photo by Rachel Holderman.
Air Force ROTC Commissioning. Photo by Tiffany Showalter.
A graduate preparing to be donned at the annual Donning of the Kente ceremony. Photo by Olive Santos '20.
Students pose for a photo in AUBC. Photo by Olive Santos '20.
Graduates look toward the stage during the COB ceremony. Photo by Rachel Holderman.
A smiling graduate collects high-fives after walking across the stage. Photo by Olive Santos '20.
President Schmidt high-fives graduates while walking down the aisle in AUBC. Photo by Cody Troyer '26M.
A student smiles during the doctoral hooding ceremony. Photo by Rachel Holderman.
A smiling graduate raises her diploma in excitement. Photo by Olive Santos '20.
A faculty member presents an Honors graduate with a medallion. Photo by Olive Santos '20.
Class of 2026 By the Numbers
4,200+
Undergraduate degrees
520+
Graduate degrees
Photos by Rachel Holderman, Olive Santos '20, Tiffany Showalter, Julia Weaver '21 and Cody Troyer '26M.