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LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 11, 2026) — The University of Kentucky marked a milestone weekend as thousands of Wildcats crossed the stage during its largest-ever Commencement, celebrating the achievements of a record-setting Class of 2026.
Across four ceremonies May 8-9, at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, more than 4,800 graduates took part, surrounded by family and friends.
In all, 6,693* May degree candidates — including 4,427 undergraduates, 1,526 graduate students and 740 professional students — were conferred. Watch the video above to hear from graduates about how it feels.
UK President Eli Capilouto welcomed graduates at each ceremony, joined by student speakers who shared reflections on their time at UK. Mostafa Mubarak, Maria Carolina Burn, Siena Pilati and Fatimah Alomar each brought a unique perspective to the stage, highlighting the resilience, curiosity and sense of community that shaped their journeys. Read more about the May 2026 student speakers in this previous UKNow story.
During the Friday evening ceremony, the university presented its highest honor to Malcolm J. Wilson, a documentary photographer, educator and storyteller, who received an Honorary Doctorate of Arts for his work elevating voices across the Appalachian region. Read more about Wilson in this previous UKNow story.
From the walk across the stage to celebrations with loved ones at Grad Gathering, the weekend captured the pride, energy and promise of the newest UK alumni. View the gallery below and online to see some of these memorable moments during the ceremonies.
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*These numbers reflect degree candidates, not individual graduates (some graduates earn more than one degree, thereby being counted as a degree candidate multiple times). Degrees will be certified by the UK registrar, ensuring individuals have satisfactorily completed all requirements. The most up-to-date information is available through UK and Institutional Research, Analytics and Decision Support.