Washington and Lee's own academic calendar confirms Baccalaureate Wednesday, May 26, 2027, and Commencement Thursday, May 27, 2027. VMI's 2027 date is not yet published; its 2026 ceremony was Sunday, May 17.
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What’s confirmed
Washington and Lee’s own 2026-2027 academic calendar confirms Baccalaureate on Wednesday, May 26, 2027, and Commencement on Thursday, May 27, 2027, both at 10 a.m. on the Front Lawn of the main campus. VMI has not yet published its 2027 date; its most recently confirmed date, Sunday, May 17, 2026, at Cameron Hall, is shown here as a labeled reference point only.
Two neighbors, two separate weekends
Washington and Lee and VMI sit directly adjacent to each other on a shared Lexington, VA hillside, but hold separate commencement weekends — meaning this small town’s hotel crunch happens twice each spring rather than once.
Where this fits with your hotel plan
See where to stay for The Georges and the Hampton Inn, or sold out, now what for Staunton.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Washington and Lee's 2027 commencement schedule?
Baccalaureate on Wednesday, May 26, 2027, at 10 a.m., followed by Commencement on Thursday, May 27, 2027, at 10 a.m. on the Front Lawn of the main campus — confirmed directly on W&L's own 2026-2027 academic calendar.
What about VMI's 2027 graduation?
Not yet published as of this writing. VMI's most recently confirmed date, Commencement at Cameron Hall on Sunday, May 17, 2026, is shown as a labeled reference point only.
Why do two separate schools' calendars matter here?
Washington and Lee and VMI sit directly adjacent to each other in one small downtown, sharing a genuinely limited hotel base across two separate spring commencement weekends rather than one.
Where does everyone stay for the weekend?
See [where to stay](/lexington-va/where-to-stay) for The Georges and the Hampton Inn, or [sold out, now what](/lexington-va/sold-out-now-what) for Staunton.
How we verified this
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