UCW Summer 2026 Convocation
This year’s summer graduating class will walk across the stage at the iconic Queen Elizabeth Theatre in downtown Vancouver. Tune in to our live stream from anywhere in the world to cheer on our graduates!
Ceremony DetailsCeremony Details
Monday, July 13
1:30 pm Doors Open to Students
2 pm Doors Open to Guests
3 pm Ceremony Starts
5 pm Ceremony Ends
Tuesday, July 14
8:30 am Doors Open to Students
9 am Doors Open to Guests
10 am Ceremony Starts
12 pm Ceremony Ends
1:30 pm Doors Open to Students
2 pm Doors Open to Guests
3 pm Ceremony Starts
5 pm Ceremony Ends
Wednesday, July 15
8:30 am Doors Open to Students
9 am Doors Open to Guests
10 am Ceremony Starts
12 pm Ceremony Ends
1:30 pm Doors Open to Students
2 pm Doors Open to Guests
3 pm Ceremony Starts
5 pm Ceremony Ends
Thursday, July 16
8:30 am Doors Open to Students
9 am Doors Open to Guests
10 am Ceremony Starts
12 am Ceremony Ends
1:30 pm Doors Open to Students
2 pm Doors Open to Guests
3 pm Ceremony Starts
5 pm Ceremony Ends
Location
Queen Elizabeth Theatre
630 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
Ready For the Big Day?
Get ready for your big day with this essential video guide to convocation. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know from where to line up and how to deal with ticket issues, to what to bring, how to properly wear your hood and more. Whether you're nervous or just not sure what to expect, this video will help you feel confident and prepared to cross the stage with pride.
Getting There
The Queen Elizabeth Theatre is easily accessible by public transit. The venue is a six-minute walk from the Granville SkyTrain Station on the Expo Line or a seven-minute walk from the Vancouver City Centre SkyTrain Station on the Canada Line.
Paid parking is also available at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre parkade. The entrance is off Cambie Street between West Georgia and Dunsmuir Street. Parkade parking is limited so we recommend arriving early.
For additional information, driving directions and parking information, please visit the Queen Elizabeth Theatre website.
Accessibility
UCW is committed to ensuring all graduands and guests have full access to convocation ceremonies.
- Live captioning will be available at every ceremony.
- Graduands who require any other accessibility accommodations can indicate their needs via the Tassel Graduation Form, which will be sent through the MyUCW Student Portal (@myucwest email) approximately four weeks prior to convocation.
- Guests of graduands with physical accessibility or mobility needs should arrive 1 hour prior to the ceremony. Ushers at Queen Elizabeth Theatre will be happy to assist with pre-seating before the start of the ceremony.
Privacy Notice
As part of our convocation celebration, student names, program(s), degree(s), honours earned and year of graduation will be printed in a convocation program. We distribute these programs at convocation and online and consider the information within to be a matter of permanent public record. The convocation ceremony will be streamed live. You consent to your image being so captured, and its use by the University for administrative, historical and promotional purposes in print and online.
If you would prefer not to have your name appear in the program, please contact communications@ucanwest.ca at least four weeks before the date of your ceremony.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ceremony times will be listed above. Graduating students will be emailed with the ceremony they must attend.
The doors will open for graduating students 1 hour and 30 minutes before the ceremony starts. Student will be informed by email about which ceremony they are scheduled to attend. Late students will not be allowed to take part in the ceremony, so please ensure you arrive on time.
Guests should arrive 60 minutes before the scheduled ceremony start time so they are seated for when the ceremony starts.
Convocation is a public event where photographs and videos will be taken, and the ceremonies will be streamed live on the internet. By attending the convocation, you are giving University Canada West permission to use any photos and/or videos (and to include your name) in all media, future promotional materials, programs and websites, as the case may be.
No. You must attend the ceremony you have been assigned to.
Each graduating student may bring up to two guests.
After the initial ticket window for getting a convocation ticket closes and our graduating students have had a chance to secure two tickets for their guests, any remaining tickets will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Graduating students will receive an email if more tickets become available.
Yes, you and your guests will need tickets. More details regarding tickets will be shared in the coming weeks.
No. There will be general admission for convocation, so guests are encouraged to arrive early to get the seats they want.
Yes, everyone attending the convocation needs a ticket, even children three years old or younger. Tickets for children three and under won’t count against the two-guest limit per grad as long as they sit on a lap.
Yes. However, all wheeled items other than wheelchairs must remain in the lobby or at the coat check during the ceremony. These items are considered hazardous if an evacuation becomes necessary.
The Convocation Ceremony is free. To secure tickets, students must follow the steps outlined in the email sent to their student portal email address There is a limit of three tickets per graduating student (one graduating student + two guests).
Late students will not be allowed to take part in the ceremony, so please ensure you arrive on time.
Attending convocation is not mandatory. Please note that degree parchments and official documents are not distributed at the ceremony. You will receive an email prior to convocation with instructions on how and when to pick up your degree parchment and transcript on campus.
Keep checking this page for the announcement about the next convocation ceremony.
You can pick up your convocation regalia at Queen Elizabeth Theatre before your ceremony and you MUST drop the gown and hood off before you leave. You can keep your graduation cap.
Students who fail to return their gown and hood (students can keep their caps) will be charged for them.
The Pop Up Shop will not be at the upcoming Convocation ceremony, but check out our online store to shop for UCW merchandise.
No. There are four flower shops near the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, where you or your guest can purchase flowers for convocation:
Flower d’amour – 437 Robson St, Vancouver, BC
Bay Fresh Flowers – 650 West Georgia Street #1b21, Vancouver BC
Kado Flower Studio – 449 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC
D&D Flowers – 531 Richards St, Vancouver, BC
After graduation, you can sign in to the UCW Alumni Portal and stay informed about networking opportunities, mentorship programs and events such as career development workshops and panel discussions. You can also learn about exclusive discounts and services available to the UCW Community. Feel free to email alumni@ucanwest.ca if you have any questions, concerns or issues signing in.
When our grads secure tickets for convocation, they will be offered the opportunity to write out their name phonetically or record their name to have the phonetic spelling auto-generated, which they will be able to correct. This will help the orator pronounce your name correctly.
All graduating students attending UCW’s Convocation ceremonies will have the opportunity to have a graduation portrait taken. The portraits will be available online approximately 48 hours after the ceremony ends and will be free of charge. A QR code linking to the photos will be shared at convocation, and an email will also be sent with instructions on how to access and download your portrait.
Only certified service and guide animals may accompany graduands and guests with disabilities.
