Spring 2027 runs two ceremonies: Doctoral, MFA, and Medical Professional candidates at the Kohl Center, Friday, May 7 at 5:30 p.m.; Bachelor's, Law, and Master's candidates at Camp Randall Stadium, Saturday, May 8 at noon. Camp Randall seating is general admission, first-come first-served, with no guest limit — arrival time is a real strategic decision here.
Two ceremonies, two venues, one weekend
UW-Madison splits its Spring 2027 commencement across two days and two venues:
- Friday, May 7, 5:30-7:30 p.m. — Doctoral, MFA, and Medical Professional Commencement, Kohl Center (601 W Dayton St).
- Saturday, May 8, 12:00-1:30 p.m. — Bachelor’s, Law, and Master’s Commencement, Camp Randall Stadium (1440 Monroe St).
The scale is real: the most recent Spring ceremony (2026) drew more than 64,000 graduates, families, and friends into Camp Randall — one of the largest single commencement crowds documented anywhere in this project.
Why arrival time actually matters here
Camp Randall’s guest seating is general admission, first-come first-served, with no guest limit per graduate. There’s no assigned-seat ticket system smoothing out arrival — the family that shows up earlier gets the better view. Combined with a crowd in the tens of thousands, this is one of the few campuses in this project where we’d tell you arrival time is a genuine strategic decision, not just a courtesy.
What we haven’t verified yet
We don’t yet have confirmed, dated guidance on specific parking-lot locations or road closures for the Spring 2027 ceremony — UW-Madison’s Office of the Secretary of the Faculty and Commencement office typically publish this closer to the date. Check their planning guide directly as May 2027 approaches.
Where this fits with your hotel plan
If you’re still choosing where to stay, see the verified epicenter hotel rules or the ring towns, including Wisconsin Dells — with general-admission seating for tens of thousands of people, a predictable, early arrival matters as much as where you sleep the night before.
Live availability near campus
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Frequently asked questions
What time is UW-Madison's 2027 Camp Randall commencement?
Saturday, May 8, 2027, from 12:00-1:30 p.m., for Bachelor's, Law, and Master's degree candidates. The prior evening, Friday, May 7 from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Doctoral, MFA, and Medical Professional candidates are recognized separately at the Kohl Center.
Do I need to arrive early for Camp Randall commencement seating?
Guest seating is general admission, first-come first-served, with no guest limit per graduate. Combined with the scale of the event — the Spring 2026 ceremony drew more than 64,000 graduates, families, and friends — arriving well before the noon start is a real strategic decision, not just a courtesy.
How we verified this
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