Congratulations Prospective 2026 Hartnell Graduates!
Join us at the 2026 Commencement Ceremony
Friday, May 22, 2026
4:00 p.m. promptly
Rabobank Stadium
1034 N Main Street
Salinas, CA 93906
The 2026 Commencement Ceremony will be live-streamed.
Live links coming soon!
Commencement Information
Last Update: May 20, 2025
- Guests must use the main entrance to enter.
- Strollers, confetti, balloons, and other large signage will not be allowed in the stadium.
- All guests (3 years and above) are required to have a ticket.
- All guest must use the main entrance.
- No fresh flower leis allowed on the field.
- Guests must remain seated during the entire ceremony.
General Admission
One ticket is required per person. Each graduate will receive a maximum of six (6)
tickets. Lost or stolen tickets cannot be replaced.
Floor Seating
One ticket is required per person. This year, valedictorians will receive two (2)
floor-seat tickets to accommodate family members on the field. Additional information
will be shared soon.
Students will receive a communication in May 2026 with details about when and where tickets will be available for pickup.
- Carpooling is encouraged as parking is limited.
- Traffic will be heavy during the commencement ceremony. All attendees are encouraged
to plan appropriately and prepare for additional time for travel.
- Staff will be on site to direct traffic to appropriate parking areas.
There will be a designated drop-off area for graduates on the North side of the venue. Graduates can also use the main entrance.
- The commencement ceremony event is wheelchair accessible. Individuals requiring accommodations should contact the Office of Student Life as soon as possible.
- Accommodations will be accessible to the person needing accommodations, plus one (1)
person. The accommodations area is located to the immediate right side of the stadium
entrance. Designated signage will be posted.
Regalia
Regalia will be available for purchase in the Bookstore on and after April 29, 2025.
- Regalia will be sold as a bundle and will include the gown, tassel, and cap at the bookstore (main campus)
- Caps and tassels can be purchased separately
- Gowns are only sold as a bundle
Students will receive a communication in May 2026 when regalia is available for purchase.
Honors cords and stoles of gratitude will be available for purchase in the Hartnell Bookstore on a first-come-first-served basis.
Honors cords are for students on the honors list (3.25 GPA or above).
Stoles of gratitude are for students to gift to an individual(s) who assisted and influenced your academic success. It is intended for the graduate to wear the stole of gratitude to then be gifted after the ceremony.
Students will receive a communication in May 2026 when stoles are available for purchase.
Graduates are allowed to decorate their cap. Decorations should be respectful in content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Each ticket admits one (1) person age 3 and up. Guests under 3 years old must share seating with parent or guardian.
Tickets will be limited due to the increased number of graduates. As commencement nears, we will contact graduates if there is an opportunity to obtain more tickets. Graduates do not need a ticket to attend the ceremony, only guests.
Graduates should plan to be at venue 4 hours and are required to participate for the duration of the event. The ceremony usually takes 2 hours, start to finish.
Graduates are required to wear full regalia. Due to unpredictable weather conditions of the Salinas Valley, we recommend graduates and guests to prepare for both sunny and cloudy/windy weather.
NOTE: The venue strictly forbids the use of pointy heels and fresh flower lei, and fresh flowers on the turf.