More than 8,100 graduates earned degrees during the 2025–2026 academic year, and they come from 100 countries, 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. A total of 58% of degree recipients come from the state of Pennsylvania, including 16% from right here in Philadelphia.

Temple University will celebrate the Class of 2026 when it officially confers undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees during its universitywide Commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 6. Temple’s 139th Commencement ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. in the Liacouras Center, 1776 N. Broad St. 

“Commencement is a joyous occasion, not just for our students and their families but for the entire Temple community,” President John Fry said. “I am excited for us to come together to celebrate our graduates and their incredible accomplishments. It is going to be a truly great day to be an Owl.” 

This year’s degree recipients will have the privilege of hearing from Academy Award nominee Colman Domingo, who will deliver the Commencement address during the ceremony. Domingo, who attended Temple in the late 1980s and majored in journalism, will also receive an honorary degree during the event. 

More than 8,100 graduates earned degrees during the 2025–2026 academic year and will now count themselves among Temple’s more than 380,000 living alumni. The soon-to-be alumni will be treated to quite the welcoming crew when they process to the Liacouras Center for the ceremony. Continuing a tradition started in recent years, Temple faculty and staff will congregate to create designated “cheer pods” where they will greet graduates with signs and cow bells. 

Graduates from the Class of 2026 hail from 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. Temple’s strong ties to both the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and city of Philadelphia are also evident in this year’s graduating class, with 58% of degree recipients from the state of Pennsylvania, and 16% from right here in Philadelphia.  

A number of those students are from right in Temple’s North Philadelphia community. One hundred and eighty-one of the new graduates live in one of the eight zip codes (19121, 19122, 19123,19125,19130,19132,19133 and 19140) that border Temple’s campus. 

Temple’s strong international footprint is also evident within the Class of 2026 as graduates come from 100 different countries. 

This year’s youngest bachelor’s degree recipient is only 18 years old. The oldest is 75, who happens to be longtime Temple employee Peggy Moore. Sixteen sets of twins are also among this year’s graduates. 

A total of 5,345 of this year’s graduates earned undergraduate degrees, while 2,040 earned graduate degrees. A total of 731 graduates celebrated the culmination of their professional studies. 

For more information on this year's ceremony, including directions, accessibility information and a link to the event livestream, visit temple.edu/commencement. 

News media interested in attending the ceremony are asked to register in advance. Media members are urged to register by Monday, May 4, with Steve Orbanek at stephen.orbanek@temple.edu.