Pratt’s 2026 Commencement streamed live on Tuesday, May 19, at 10 AM ET.
Congratulations to the class of 2026!
Commencement 2026 at Radio City Music Hall featured inspirational words from Commencement speaker David Remnick,journalist and editor of The New Yorker, who received an honorary degree. Dr. Mariët Westermann, Director and CEO of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation and renowned art historian, and alumnus Ted Shaine, esteemed designer and printmaker, also received honorary degrees and shared their thoughts with the class of 2026. Read more in our coverage.
Ceremony Schedule
FACULTY PROCESSIONAL
Pomp and Circumstance
Sir Edward Elgar (1857–1954)
Performed by Juilliard Jazz Ensemble
PRESENTATION OF THE MACE
Frank Franca
Distinguished Teacher (2025–26)
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Heather Lewis
Co-President, Academic Senate
THE ALMA MATER
Megan Chew
Bachelor of Architecture
Kelly-Ann Tan
Bachelor of Architecture
OPENING DECLARATIONS
Frances Bronet
President, Pratt Institute
THE PRATT LEGACY
Gary Hattem
Chair, Board of Trustees
FACULTY HONORS
Karen L. Dunn
Adjunct Associate Professor,
Graduate Communications Design
STUDENT SPEAKERS
Anish Lahiri
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Communications Design
Aliman Temirbek
Master of Science, Urban Placemaking and Management
CONFERRING OF HONORARY DEGREES
Ted Shaine
Doctor of Fine Arts
Introduced by Anne N. Edwards
Presented by Dean Anita Cooney
Mariët Westermann
Doctor of Humane Letters
Introduced by Gary Hattem
Presented by Dean Jorge Oliver
David Remnick
Doctor of Letters
Introduced by Dr. Joan Fallon
Presented by Dean Peter West
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER
David Remnick
2026 DEGREE CANDIDATES
Frances Bronet
President, Pratt Institute
School of Architecture
Dean Quilian Riano
School of Art
Dean Jorge Oliver
School of Design
Dean Anita Cooney
School of Information
Dean Anthony Cocciolo
School of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Dean Peter West
PRESIDENTIAL CONGRATULATIONS
Frances Bronet
President, Pratt Institute
CLOSING DECLARATION
Zach Slanger
Co-President, Academic Senate
FACULTY RECESSIONAL
Prince of Denmark’s March
Jeremiah Clarke (c. 1673–1707)
Performed by Juilliard Jazz Ensemble
Share your celebration!
Grads are sharing their celebrations on social media. Explore the hashtag#PrattGrad26 for more, and find full coverage of Commencement on the news page.