Commencement 2026
Congrats
Grads
Laguna College of Art + Design welcomes our 2026 LCAD Grads. With great pride and gratitude, we look forward to celebrating you on May 22nd, 2026 at 2PM at the Irvine Bowl, Festival of Arts grounds.
Tuesday
May 19
LCAD Animation Film Festival (LAFF)
Regency Directors Cut
25471 Rancho Niguel Road
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
6:45 pm – 9 pm
WEDNESDAY
May 20
Industry Open House
11am – 3pm
Big Bend Campus (Invitation Only)
BFA Fine Art Graduates Exhibition
11 AM – 4 PM, LCAD Gallery
Exhibits For BFA Entertainment Design, BFA Game Art, MFA Game Design, BFA GD+DM, BFA Illustration, BFA Experimental Animation, BFA Animation
2 PM – 5 PM, Big Bend Campus
THURSDAY
May 21
BFA Fine Art Graduates Exhibition
11 AM – 4 PM, LCAD Gallery
Exhibits For BFA Entertainment Design, BFA Game Art, MFA Game Design, BFA GD+DM, BFA Illustration, BFA Experimental Animation, BFA Animation
2 PM – 5 PM, Big Bend Campus
Graduating Student Dinner
5 PM, Nina’s Park (Graduates Only)
Hosted by Student Affairs, contact Vivian Ortiz with questions, vortiz@lcad.edu
FRIDAY
May 22
Exhibits For BFA Entertainment Design, BFA Game Art, MFA Game Design, BFA GD+DM, BFA Illustration, BFA Experimental Animation, BFA Animation
8:30 AM – 5 PM, Big Bend Campus
Commencement Rehearsal
8:30 AM, At Irvine Bowl, Laguna Beach CA
BFA Fine Art Graduates Exhibition
11 AM – 4 PM, LCAD Gallery
Commencement Ceremony
2 PM, Irvine Bowl (Unlimited Guests)
650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA
Contact Laura Patrick with questions, lpatrick@lcad.edu
MFA Exhibition Reception
5:30 PM – 9 PM, Laguna Art Museum
SATURDAY
May 23
LCAD Animation Film Festival (LAFF)
Regency Directors Cut
25471 Rancho Niguel Road
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
9:45 am – 12:00 pm
BFA Fine Art Graduates Exhibition
11 AM – 4 PM, LCAD Gallery
MFA Exhibition
10 AM – 5 PM, Laguna Art Museum
Commencement Information
Location
Friday, May 22nd
Irvine Bowl (At the Festival of the Arts/Pageant of the Masters)
650 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Balloons
Laguna Beach has a city ordinance that prohibits balloons being used on any Public Area or City Sponsored event. This includes city owned or controlled property, which includes the Irvine Bowl. So please tell your guests not to bring balloons.
Food
Food is prohibited inside of the Irvine Bowl during commencement. Please tell your guests to not bring food in with them.
Party Favors
Please be mindful of party favors that may cause excessive littering.
Cap and Gowns
Caps and gowns are available for pick up at the Main Campus Receptionist Desk beginning April 13, Monday – Friday 9AM-5PM. Please be sure to iron and hang your gown before the event! Clothing rack will be provided at MC during rehearsal. Please do not leave anything valuable like purses, backpacks, car keys, etc.
Stoles
All students will be given an LCAD stole at rehearsal. Latin Honors are included on the LCAD stoles for those students graduating with honors. Latin honors are based off your cumulative GPA and are awarded as follows:
Cum Laude 3.5-3.74
Magna Cum Laude 3.75-3.84
Summa Cum Laude 3.85+
Rehearsal
Friday, May 22, 2026. Be at Main Campus by 8:00AM to shuttle to the Irvine Bowl for rehearsal. After rehearsal we will provide a light lunch back on Main Campus while you get ready for the Commencement ceremony. We recommend bringing your cap and gown and getting ready at Main Campus after rehearsal.
Commencement
Gates will open for guest seating at 12:30PM. The ceremony begins at 2pm. The ceremony will last for approximately 2 hours.
Shuttles will be provided for graduates to get you to/from the Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters for rehearsal, lunch and Commencement.
Parking
Parking is available throughout the city at various public lots for a fee, and at both Main Campus and Big Bend with consistent shuttle services to/from the Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters all day until 6PM.
Diplomas
Main Campus and Big Bend will be open until 8PM for you and your guests to tour the campus after Commencement.
Campus Access
Main Campus and Big Bend will be open until 8PM for you and your guests to tour the campus after Commencement.
YouTube Video Recording
LCAD will be recording the 2026 Commencement Ceremony and a link will be sent to graduates within a week of the event.
Graduation Announcements
LCAD does not provide graduation announcements. We encourage our graduates to get creative and design their own!