UW-La Crosse's commencement page states "Winter Commencement: Sunday, December 20, 2026" and "Commencement will be held at the La Crosse Center." "There will be one ceremony." "11 a.m. | All graduating students". Its future-dates page gives Spring 2027 as "Sunday, May 16, 2027", and the new-student calendar repeats it. Both are Sundays. The spring time and any ceremony split were not published at this check (Spring 2026 ran three ceremonies), and the spring venue is not explicitly assigned, though the December round is at the La Crosse Center downtown. Standing rules from the same pages: "Tickets are not necessary", "A maximum of 6 guests per graduating student is recommended", parking is in the ramps near the La Crosse Center, and the ceremony streams on YouTube. About 1,980 graduated in Spring 2026. Three hotels stand within a block of the venue.
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Two Sundays, on three university pages
“Sunday, May 16, 2027” on UWL’s commencement future-dates page. “Commencement: Sunday, May 16, 2027” on the new-student important-dates page. And for winter, the commencement page itself: “Winter Commencement: Sunday, December 20, 2026.” All Sundays, all checked against the calendar.
A Sunday ceremony is rarer than a Saturday one and it shifts the whole weekend: arrive Saturday, sleep Saturday, graduate Sunday, drive home Sunday evening or Monday.
The venue is downtown
“Commencement will be held at the La Crosse Center,” per the commencement page, at 300 Harborview Plaza on the riverfront. Not on campus. Families who book near the university are a mile and a half from the ceremony; families who book downtown are across the street. The spring page does not restate the venue, and this page treats the La Crosse Center as UWL’s stated venue rather than assuming it for May.
For December the page adds: “There will be one ceremony.” and “11 a.m. | All graduating students.” For May 2027 the time and any split were not published at this check; Spring 2026 ran three ceremonies at the same building.
No tickets, a recommended six, ramps, YouTube
The commencement page is plain: “Tickets are not necessary.” It adds: “A maximum of 6 guests per graduating student is recommended.” A recommendation, not a cap, but the arena is finite.
Parking: the ramps near the La Crosse Center, per the parking and transportation page. The ceremony streams on YouTube; the live-streaming page carries the link.
About 1,980 students graduated in Spring 2026.
December, the week before Christmas
Sunday 20 December 2026, 11 a.m., one ceremony, La Crosse Center. The Saturday night, five days before Christmas, in a city whose downtown hotels will also be hosting holiday travellers.
Three hotels within a block
The Radisson is adjacent to the arena; the Courtyard and Home2 are a block away; all three are on UWL’s own lodging list. The where to stay page has the addresses, the honest absence of room counts, and the ring from Onalaska to Winona.
Live availability near campus
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Frequently asked questions
When is UW-La Crosse's Spring 2027 commencement?
Sunday 16 May 2027, per the commencement future-dates page and the new-student important-dates page, read on 14 September 2026. 16 May 2027 is a Sunday.
Where is it held?
The December 2026 round is at the La Crosse Center, 300 Harborview Plaza, downtown, per the commencement page. The spring venue is not explicitly assigned on the future-dates page; the La Crosse Center is UWL's stated commencement venue.
What time?
December: 11 a.m., one ceremony for all graduating students. Spring 2027: not published at this check; Spring 2026 ran three ceremonies through the day. UWL posts the schedule on the commencement page.
Do we need tickets?
No. "Tickets are not necessary", per the commencement page, and "A maximum of 6 guests per graduating student is recommended."
Where do we park?
In the parking ramps near the La Crosse Center, per UWL's parking and transportation page. Downtown, not on campus.
Can we watch online?
Yes. UWL streams commencement on YouTube; the link is on the commencement live-streaming page.
When is the December round?
Sunday 20 December 2026 at 11 a.m., one ceremony for all graduating students at the La Crosse Center, per the commencement page. The Saturday night, the week before Christmas.
How we verified this
Last verified:
- UW-La Crosse, Commencement ("Winter Commencement: Sunday, December 20, 2026"; "Commencement will be held at the La Crosse Center."; "There will be one ceremony."; "11 a.m. | All graduating students"; "Tickets are not necessary."; "A maximum of 6 guests per graduating student is recommended.")
- UW-La Crosse, Commencement future dates ("Sunday, May 16, 2027")
- UW-La Crosse, new student and family important dates ("Commencement: Sunday, May 16, 2027")
- UW-La Crosse, parking and transportation ("Parking ramps located near the La Crosse Center")
- UW-La Crosse, commencement live streaming (YouTube)
- UW-La Crosse news, UWL commencement is set for May 16 ("Three ceremonies will celebrate 1,980 graduates at the La Crosse Center"; Spring 2026)
This page is verified in two stages. Every fact is checked against the primary sources listed above, then the page is reviewed and signed off by our editor, A. Hassan. Corrections and enquiries: hello@graduationstay.com