Carnegie Mellon University Commencement Weekend: May 8 - 10, 2026  

students on stage in cap and gown

Mechanical Engineering Diploma Ceremony
Friday, May 8
Ceremony & Reception: Noon-3 p.m.
Music Hall and Foyer, Carnegie Museum
4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

*This event will be live streamed.  Check back here the morning of May 8th for the live stream link!  

*Professional photos taken at the diploma ceremony will be available on this webpage in early to mid-June.  Please check back!

Entrance Locations:

Carnegie Music Hall

4400 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Or entrance from back parking lot

Student Information: 

  • Student Arrival: 10:30 am – 11:30 am
  • Please have your CMU ID readily available for check-in.
  • Students must have a cap and gown to participate.  We will NOT have extra hats, tassels or gowns. 
  • NO BAGS or purses for students.   

Guest Information: 

  • Guest Arrival Time: Doors will open at 10:30 am for guests. 
  • Seating is first come first served for guests.  Level 1 is primarily reserved for graduating students. We strongly recommend Levels 2 or 3.
  • The venue has an elevator and stairs to access level 2 and 3. 

Carnegie Music Hall Seating and Other Venue information can be found here. 

Parking Information for guests at the Carnegie Music Hall: 

Parking information (and maps) regarding the Carnegie Music Hall's parking can be found here. 

For families with guests who have limited mobility, we recommend dropping guests off before parking. You can pull into Carriage Drive, drop them off right at the entrance, and then proceed to park your vehicle.

Carriage Drive Drop Off Information: 

  • On the right-hand side of Forbes, just past the large Music Hall doors and where the Natural History Museum’s entrance is located, there is a half-circle, a one-way driveway that can be used for drop-offs. Once inside the lobby, the guests head to the right into the Music Hall Foyer. This drop-off location is physically accessible. Once the guest(s) are dropped off, the parking lot is just a short drive down Forbes (next right). 

Wheelchair and limited mobility seating Information: 

The venue does have an elevator for access to the 2nd and 3rd floor. 

Carnegie Music Hall offers wheelchair-accessible seating on each level of the venue. However, Level 1 is primarily reserved for graduating students. We strongly recommend Levels 2 or 3. Seating on Levels 2 and 3 allows guests using wheelchairs or with limited mobility to sit closer to other family members.

Upon arrival, please connect with a Music Hall usher for additional seating assistance for guests with wheelchairs or limited mobility. The venue is equipped with both elevators and stairs to access the second level.

While we will accommodate wheelchair seating, we cannot guarantee that entire parties will be seated together. We are currently expecting a high number of guests requiring wheelchair-accessible seating and anticipate a nearly full venue.

Important venue policies:

  • No drinks will be allowed in the Carnegie Music Hall.  This includes coffee/tea with a lid.  You will be asked to dispose of the drink prior to entering the venue.
  • Only small bags or purses will be permitted in the Music Hall venue. 
  • No fog horns, whistles, etc., balloons, confetti poppers, etc. of any kind are permitted in the venue.

Ceremony Format:

  • Ceremony Begins promptly at 12:00 pm  
  • Faculty enter the music hall
  • Students enter the music hall
  • Welcome
  • Awards
  • Presentation of Names
  • Undergraduate Students
  • Master Students
  • PhD Students with Doctoral Hooding
  • Final Remarks

*Professional photos taken at the diploma ceremony will be available on this webpage in early to mid-JUNE.  Please check back!

Additional information:

What is the difference between the Mechanical Engineering (MechE) diploma ceremony and the main CMU Commencement Ceremony?

The MechE Diploma Ceremony is a more personalized experience for MechE students. Diploma ceremonies will include the calling of each student name, processing across the stage, hooding of doctoral candidates, student awards and remarks from their Department Head. Our ceremony is organized by the department.

Mechanical Engineering Diploma Ceremony
Friday, May 8
Ceremony & Reception: Noon-3 p.m.
Music Hall and Foyer, Carnegie Museum
4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

The main CMU Commencement Ceremony starts at 10 am on Sunday, May 10 and will include remarks from the president, keynote speaker, student speaker and academic deans, in addition to recognition of the honorary degree recipients.

Main CMU Commencement Ceremony information can be found here.

Will students get their official Carnegie Mellon University Diploma at the Mechanical Engineering Diploma Ceremony (Friday, May 8, 2026)?

MechE students who have completed their degree requirements in the Spring 2026 semester may receive their diploma immediately after the ceremony (provided that the university has not placed a hold on the diploma). 

All other diplomas will be mailed directly to students by the CMU Registrar's office.  Please make sure your diploma address is updated in SIO. 

Where can I find more details about CMU's commencement weekend? 

You can find additional details here.  

There is a section specific to CMU graduates.  You can find that information here. 

Congratulations!  We look forward to celebrating with you!