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OCTOBER 9-10, 2026

Commencement Weekend in Atlanta

Alumni Celebration*

Friday, October 9, 2026
First Flight - 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Second Flight - 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

This event is RSVP-only. If you have not submitted an RSVP, your name will not be on the guest list, and you will not be permitted entry.

Gas South Convention Center - Grand Ballroom
6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy
Duluth, GA 30097

Commencement*

Saturday, October 10, 2026

Morning Ceremony
Graduate Check-in: 8:30 am
Ceremony start: 9:30 am

Afternoon Ceremony
Graduate Check-in: 12:30 pm
Ceremony start: 1:30 pm

Gas South Arena
6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy
Duluth, GA30097

*Details Subject to Change

Have questions? Ask Cappy!

Text "Hi" to 1.877.818.4477or scan the QR code below:

RSVP Closed

Regalia Update

Please be aware that the Regalia Order Deadline is before the RSVP Deadline.

Additional Information

Atlanta Deadlines:

  • RSVP
    Deadline: Closed
  • Graduate Speaker Application
    Deadline: Closed
  • Anthem Singer Audition
    Deadline: Closed
  • Cap and Gown Ordering
    Deadline: Closed

Atlanta Details:

  • Commencement Guidebook- coming soon!
  • Ceremony Program - coming soon!

Learn More About Commencement Day

Watch this video to see what a typical in-person commencement day looks like for a graduate.

Parking

Parking is $15 per vehicle on Event Day
Learn More Here:

Want to pay for Commencement parking in advance? Use

Atlanta Regalia Update

All graduates will be able to pass through security with their regalia and caps on, but the robe must be unzipped when passing through security at Gas South Arena.

A dedicated regalia station will be located past security, where staff will be available to help you adjust and reassemble your regalia so you’re ready for your moment in the spotlight.

Bag Policy

Gas South District® encourages all fans to arrive early and travel light.

  • In the interest of enhancing existing security measures and enforcing the most touch-free experience possible, Gas South District® requires .
  • The safest and fastest way to enter the venue is to not bring a bag at all.
  • No clear bag, purse, or drawstring larger than 12" x 12" x 6" will be permitted.
  • All bags are subject to search before being allowed into the venue. Guests not allowing inspection of their bags or purses will be refused entry into the building.
  • Backpacks are not permitted.
  • Diaper bags for guests accompanied by infant(s) will be permitted.
  • Medically necessary bags that are required to transport medical equipment will be permitted.

Alumni Celebration in Atlanta

Celebrate Your WGU Journey

Kick off your commencement weekend with an exclusive WGU Alumni Celebration at the Gas South Convention Center – Grand Ballroom!

All graduates attending the 2026 WGU Commencement in Atlanta are invited to join us for an evening filled with celebration, connection, and fun alongside fellow graduates, alumni, family, and friends.

Your Celebration Session

To create a comfortable and enjoyable experience for everyone, each graduate and their guests will be assigned to one of two Celebration Sessions. Your session assignment will be provided several weeks before the event.

When you arrive, please have a copy of your Celebration Session email available for check-in. You will also need your stage pass, which will be emailed to you during commencement week.

Upon arrival, you and your guests will receive a Celebration wristband identifying your assigned session.

91Ƭ Celebration Session: First Flight

Celebration Session 1 | 5:00–6:30 PM
Doors Open: 5:00 PM
Location: Gas South Convention Center – Grand Ballroom

91Ƭ Celebration Session: Second Flight

Celebration Session 2 | 7:30–9:00 PM
Doors Open: 7:30 PM
Location: Gas South Convention Center – Grand Ballroom

Please arrive during your assigned Celebration Session.

What to Expect

At your Celebration Session, you can:

  • Receive a complimentary professional portrait (graduates only) to elevate your LinkedIn profile, courtesy of WGU.
  • Connect and network with alumni in your area.
  • Visit partner and affiliated booths to purchase WGU swag, pick up your WGU Philanthropy Cord, and more.
  • Capture memories at our interactive photo booths and share your experience using #WGUgrad.
  • Meet Sage the Night Owl.
  • Enjoy light appetizers and refreshments, with self-pay bars available.
  • Dance, mingle, and participate in family-friendly activities with a fun WGU twist.

Good to Know

This family-friendly, come-and-go celebration is free to attend. Graduates and (6 - max) guests are encouraged to dress in business or cocktail attire and come ready to celebrate this exciting milestone.

Come for the networking. Stay for the celebration. We can’t wait to celebrate you and welcome you into the WGU Night Owl alumni community!

This event is RSVP-only. If you have not submitted an RSVP, your name will not be on the guest list, and you will not be permitted entry.

Date:October 9, 2026

Time:
First Flight - 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Second Flight - 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

This event is RSVP-only. If you have not submitted an RSVP, your name will not be on the guest list, and you will not be permitted entry.

Location:
Gas South Convention Center - Grand Ballroom
6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy
Duluth, GA 30097

Contact Information

91Ƭ Alumni Celebration contact:alumnievents@wgu.edu .

91Ƭ Alumni Celebration accessibility:alumnievents@wgu.edu

91Ƭ Commencement questions:commencement@wgu.edu

Parking Information

Parking will be in Deck #1 at $10 per car.

Keynote Speaker

Joy King
PhD(c), DNP, MBA, APRN, NP-C, FAIHM

Joy is President of the Georgia Nurses Association and a seasoned Family Nurse Practitioner whose career is dedicated to advancing equitable healthcare and elevating the nursing profession. A proud WGU graduate, Joy earned her MBA in Healthcare Management in 2020 and was selected as a WGU Distinguished Graduate earlier this year. Her experience spans primary care, telehealth, clinical leadership, and higher education, and she currently provides care to diverse and underserved populations while advocating for the nursing profession across Georgia.

Joy also serves as adjunct faculty, teaching graduate nursing and healthcare finance, and is a PhD candidate in Nursing after recently successfully defending her research proposal and advancing to PhD candidacy. Her research focuses on the relationships among body image, sleep quality, social media use, and perceived cardiovascular disease risk among overweight and obese African American women in rural Georgia. Throughout her career, Joy’s leadership has reflected compassion, advocacy, and a steadfast commitment to improving health outcomes and strengthening the nursing profession.

Frequently Asked Questions

Commencement Ceremony FAQs

A commencement guidebook with check-in details, parking, maps, and more will be loaded onto the and emailed to each graduate two weeks prior to the ceremony.

When registering for a commencement weekend, a graduate may choose the ceremony time that fitstheir needs bestas long asthe event has not reached capacity.All options can be seen at the event-specific registration link.

All schools willparticipatein each ceremony.

Due tovaryingspace limitations, Alumni Celebration and Commencement guest countpoliciesare different.Please refer to the specific guest count policy on the weekend-specific pagefor further information.

AlumniCelebration:

Guest capacitiesare implemented at alumni celebration events to accommodate as many graduates as possible while allowing everyone to enjoy the festivities with their loved ones.Guest capacities may be adjusted based on venue size and availability.

For the alumni celebrations in New Orleans, New York, Louisville, and Minneapolis graduates are invited to bring up to 6 guests.

For the alumni celebrations in Seattle, Atlanta, andAnaheim,graduatesare invited to bring up to 4 guests.

Commencement:Guests are recommended to bring up to 8 guests to ensure our eventdoesn’treach venuecapacity.

Tickets are notrequiredto enter thecommencementceremonies in New Orleans, Louisville, Minneapolis, and Anaheim.

Tickets will berequiredforthecommencement ceremoniesinElmont, New York at UBS Arena,Atlanta, Georgia at Gas South Arenaand in Seattle, Washington at Climate Pledge Arena.Event-specific ticketing information will be provided8 weeksprior to the event.

The names of graduates who physically attend an in-person commencement will be read as they cross the stage. All Virtual Commencement participants’ names will be read during the Virtual ceremony.

No. Graduates are called to the stage by schools and not in alphabetical order.

Please arrive dressed in your cap and gown for the commencement ceremony. Due to the number of graduates andpreciseschedule, it is not practical to change into regalia at the venue.

*This may be adjusted according to venue requirements.Additionalinformation will be included in the Commencement Guidebookand on the event-specific website.

You can watch the commencement ceremony on the at any point after the start of the ceremony.

The commencement photos will be available approximately 2-3 weeks after the ceremony. Those photos will be available for viewing at


Did you know that WGU Alumni have access to hundreds of discounts? Log in to to search for deals on flights, hotels, car rentals, and more.

Ceremony Participation and RSVP FAQs

There is not a time limit on when a graduate may walk in a commencement. Graduates may only participate in one commencement ceremony per degree program completed.

Generally,commencementceremonieslastapproximately90 minutes.

Yes,ceremonies have capacitylimits. Wesuggest that yousubmitan RSVP to your desired ceremony as soon as you are eligible.

Please review the located in the student handbook, which outlines student eligibility to attend commencement. If you have additional questions, you can contact the Commencement Office at commencement@wgu.edu.

Graduates who wish to participate in an in-person or virtual commencement ceremony must meet eligibility requirements and register for their desired event.

Eligibility Guidelines

  1. Students must have submitted their Graduation Application for the completion of their degree program OR
  2. Students must have only their final course remaining, such as capstone or final certification, with the exception of direct hours for field experience or demonstration teaching.
    • Students who meet the above final course requirements may submit an email tocommencement@wgu.edu with "Final Course" in the subject line along with desired commencement ceremony.
  3. Once eligibility has been confirmed the student or graduate MUST submit an RSVP via the commencement .

If you don’t currently meet either of these requirements, wait to RSVP until one of the requirements is met.

No, the graduation application process is separate from submitting a RSVP to a Commencement Weekend. If the Commencement Office has granted a final course exemption and you have RSVP’d to your desired ceremony you do not have to have your graduation application submitted to walk at Commencement.

Yes. The ceremony RSVP form is a separate process from the graduation application. The completion of the ceremony RSVP form reserves your seat at commencement and generates yourinformation on aname readingcardforthe announcer. 

After a graduate submits the ceremony RSVP form, a confirmation email is automatically sent to the email address listed on the completed RSVP form. Please check your junk inbox. If you do not see a confirmation email for your ceremony RSVP, please contact us at commencement@wgu.edu with additional questions.

No. Once registration has closed, no late additions, including day-of(walk-up)will bepermitted.Registration for allin-personcommencement events ends one month prior to the event date, and registration for virtual ceremonies ends

No. As of January 2022, a graduate may participate in one ceremony per degree, either a virtual or in-person ceremony.

AStagePassisa digital QR codeissued to each graduate registered for an in-personceremonythe week of commencement.Itcontainsthe information that willbe displayedon the screen as your name isread,and you cross the stage.To access theirStagePassat the ceremony, graduates will need their phone with them at graduate check-in and as they cross the stage.

YourStagePasswill be emailed to youon Monday andFriday,the week ofthecommencementweekend.If you do not receive it, please contact the Commencement Office atcommencement@wgu.eduwith the subject line, “StagePassNot Received”.

We will send commencement updates to the email address you entered on your RSVP form.

Regalia FAQs

91Ƭ works withofficial regalia vendorBalfour(caps, gowns, tassels, hoods,stoles). Ordering willopen at the end of 2025for all 2026ceremonies.Regalia ordering can be found.

For bachelor’s degree, post-baccalaureate teacher programs, or endorsement preparation program (English Language Learning), you should order a cap, bachelor's gown, and tassel.

For those earning a master's degree or endorsement preparation program (Educational Leadership), you should order a cap, master's gown, tassel, and a master's hood.

Clickto see a tutorial on how to wear your cap & gown the day of commencement.

The following master’s hoods are available for purchasefromour regalia vendorBalfour.

Education -Blue
Business (all MBAs) -Drab
Technology -Gold
Nursing –Apricot
Integrated Healthcare Management -Salmon
Master of Health Leadership -Sage green

91Ƭ works withofficialcommencementgoods vendorBalfourforadditionalcommencement goods and announcements. Visit them at https://www.balfour.com/wgu to see theirselection.

Prior to the conferral of degrees, bachelor's degree graduates weartheirtassel on the right while master's degree graduates wear their tassel on the left for the entire commencement ceremony.

A graduate should wear academic attireappropriate tothe awarded degree. The master's gown differs from a bachelor's gown. If you already have a cap and tassel, you can order amaster'sgown as an individual item onour commencement vendor’s website.Please note that the academic attire for a master's graduate includes a cap, tassel, master's gown, and hood.

Yes, WGU graduates affiliated with an honor society may wear society pins or honor cords/sashes/stoles torepresenttheir academic achievements, affiliations, or identityon their gowns.

Teacher graduates affiliated with the WGU chapter of theinternational honor societyof Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) may order honor cords at.

Graduates who are members of The National Society of Leadership andSuccessmay wear honor cordsindicatingthis affiliation.

91Ƭ graduates who are veterans or active-duty military will be provided with a military honor cord. For virtual commencements, cords will be shipped to the address provided on their RSVP. For in-person commencements, cords will be picked up atthe Alumni Celebration or at Commencementduringgraduate check-in. On your RSVP form, please mark that you are a veteran or active duty.

Graduates arepermittedto decorate theirgraduationcaps. Take into consideration the following if decorating your cap for commencement:

91Ƭ does not allow content on caps or sashes that is considered, in WGU’s sole discretion, obscene, vulgar, defamatory, hateful, inappropriate, profane or that might disregard another’s copyright or third-party rights. All decorations must lie flat on the cap.

91Ƭ Philanthropy Cord FAQs

The WGU Philanthropy Cord is a blue and gold cord for graduates to wear with their cap and gownatCommencement. ThePhilanthropyCord isaphysical symbol of a graduate’s commitment to WGU,and,more importantly,supports aphilanthropiclegacy that will last for future generations of WGUstudents.

  • Mail:If you order more than four weeks prior to your commencement ceremony, we will mail your cord to you at the address you specify. Alternatively, you may elect to pick up your cord in-person.
  • In-Person:Visit the91Ƭ Advancement tableat your commencement site (Check-in or Alumni Celebration).
  • Virtual:We will mail your cord to the address provided during your donation.

100% of your gift goes to theNight Owl Scholarship Fund, which provides direct financial assistance to WGU students who need a final boost to finish their degrees.

For in-person commencements,you may choose to have yourPhilanthropyCordmailed to you orpickedupat Commencementby visiting the WGU Advancement table at the Alumni Celebration or during graduate check-in beforeCommencement.

For virtual commencements,PhilanthropyCords will be mailed prior to the ceremony date.

91Ƭ Advancementis dedicatedtoattracting,allocating, and putting dollars toworkso more students have access to an affordable, quality education.Weprovidea meaningful way for alumni, donors, and partnersto “pay it forward” and invest in the future of education.

ASustaining Supporteris a donor who provides ongoing impact through a recurring gift. For as little as$3 a month, you can help ensure that the "bridge" to graduation remains open for every student who follows you.

Yes! Every dollar helps remove barriers for students. Whether it is a one-time gift or a recurring monthly contribution, your generosity directly impacts student success.

Letter of Invitation for Abroad & Commencement Announcements FAQs

Yes, students may send an email torecords@wgu.eduwith the family member's full name, relationship to the student, and foreign address. Once provided, the Records Department will prepare documentscontaininginformation about the commencement and student's earned degree. These prepared letters will then be sent to the student toforwardthem to the correct parties. It may take 5-10 business days for the letters to be mailed to the student.

91Ƭ works withofficialannouncements andcommencementgoodsvendorBalfour. Ordering will open at the end of 2025for all 2026ceremonies.

Announcements can be foundonBalfour

Graduation Application and Diploma FAQs

Visit thein the student handbook for the most current information on how to apply for graduation.

Visit the  in the student handbook for the most current information on how to receive your diploma.

No, please leave your diploma at home.You will receive a complimentary diploma cover at the end of the commencement ceremony.

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