A male grad in a poncho and cap and gown holds an umbrella for a female classmate

At Commencement, Gloomy Weather Can’t Dampen Big Red Joy

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Cold, wind, and (occasionally torrential) rain made for a soggy celebration—but grads and their proud supporters persevered

By Beth Saulnier

Those long, sun-deprived Ithaca winters train Cornellians to be a hardy bunch—and that meteorological pluck was sorely needed at this year's Commencement. It was cold and windy throughout the day, with rain ranging from a sprinkle to a gush depending on the moment.

But the joy of the graduates and their supporters provided rays of sunshine to relieve the atmospheric gloom of what may have been—no exaggeration—the worst Commencement weather in living memory.

The Touchdown statue wearing a cap and gown, and soaked with water
Touchdown, damp but festive!

The University distributed thousands of free ponchos to grateful attendees, and the many umbrellas made for a colorful sea in Schoellkopf.

For each of the two ceremonies—held in the morning and afternoon, with grads participating according to their school or college—the academic procession made its way from the Arts Quad to the stadium, to the applause of the red-robed faculty and trustees.

Ahead of Commencement itself, the festivities included a Senior Convocation speech by Emmy-winning comic actor Jane Lynch, MFA ’84, a Big Red alum in theater arts.

The University distributed thousands of free ponchos to grateful attendees, and the many umbrellas made for a colorful sea in Schoellkopf.

"What I’ve learned is that life itself has a much bigger and better imagination than we do," Lynch told the crowd in Barton Hall. "The best things that ever happened to me, without exception, are things I could never have planned, would have never had the audacity to put on a list. So, yes, aim for something—but then loosen your grip; have a little faith."

Other highlights of the season included a special event in Barton for those earning PhDs and a ceremony in Statler Auditorium where ROTC grads were commissioned as officers—with many having the insignia pinned on their epaulets by friends and family.

President Mike Kotlikoff claps in the stadium
President Kotlikoff applauds the grads.

At Saturday's Commencement ceremony, following longstanding Big Red tradition, the address came from Cornell's own leader. This year, President Mike Kotlikoff's Commencement's speech explored connections to another 2026 milestone: the U.S.'s 250th birthday on July 4th.

"Universities are the training grounds, the playing fields, for our democracy," he told the more than 8,000 members of Cornell's 158th graduating class. "It’s where students learn to exercise the right of free expression—and to understand their responsibility, as part of a society, to protect those rights for everyone."

Here's a photographic look at Commencement 2026!

Senior Convocation

Actress and comedian Jane Lynch gives the 2026 Convocation address in Barton Hall on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
Students laugh during the Convocation speech
Balloons float in Barton Hall
Two female student pose with Touchdown in Barton Hall

PhD Recognition Ceremony

A PhD grad gives a thumbs-up to the Barton crowd
PhD grads celebrate as one man holds up his certificate
President Kotlikoff addresses PhD grads in Barton
A woman in a PhD robe and a supporter get their photo taken in Barton Hall

ROTC Commissioning

A young man in an Army uniform has insignia pinned on both epaulets

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A line of Airforce and Spaceforce officers in the audience in Statler Hall
Parents congratulate a young man in an Army uniform
A young woman in an army uniform has her insignia pinned on an epaulet

The Academic Procession

Grads carrying a banner that says Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration
A grad in the procession has a pink umbrella, dress, and purse shaped like an anime character
The grad procession carrying umbrellas and reflected in the wet pavement
A grad wears a mortarboard decorated with Lincoln Logs in the shape of a cabin

On Schoellkopf Field

Several female grades wave and cheer
Volunteer Tony Chen on the field at Commencement
A grade waves a small 2026 pennant above a sea of black umbrellas
A grad in a rain jacket wearing a pair of novelty ears shaped link small red mortarboards

Battling the Elements

A sea of umbrellas and people in clear ponchos
A family in ponchos under umbrellas in the stands
A far-away view of Schoellkopf Field with people under an overhang in the foreground
A graduate uses a pennant to cover her head from the rain

(All images by Cornell University photographers Devin Flores, Sreang Hok, Jason Koski, and Ryan Young.)

Published May 27, 2026

Comments

  1. Dr. Tish Oney, Class of 1992
    2 Jun, 2026

    I beg your pardon…1992! The class of ’92 sustained the worst torrential rain ALL DAY LONG of any Commencement in Cornell’s history (look it up). Even president Frank T. Rhodes several decades later remembered that memorably unpleasant weather whenever he encountered a ’92 grad… The rain gave no breaks when we could take pictures like these that don’t show torrential downpours. The fact that photos exist this year of people not completely drenched all the time and rain pelting them for the entire day proves that this was a light sprinkle compared with what we endured. Not even that weather could dampen our spirits, though! It’s a supremely happy day in my memory, even with the soggy weather.

    Reply

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