Salisbury, MD — Salisbury University’s 2026 Commencement ceremonies will be held on campus following a successful return to SU last May for the first time since the 1970s.
The Graduate Commencement ceremony will be held in SU’s Maggs Arena on Wednesday, May 20. The Undergraduate Commencement ceremony will return to Sea Gull Stadium on Thursday, May 21.
“We received overwhelmingly positive feedback from graduates, families, and others attending last spring’s ceremonies,” said Kelly Cowger, SU Commencement Committee chair. “Consulting with multiple University constituencies, it was clear keeping Commencement on campus was the most popular option.”
SU’s Spring Commencement traditionally was held on campus until the 1970s, when class sizes began to outgrow the University’s facilities. It then was moved to the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center, where it remained for the better part of 50 years. (This included both the original Civic Center, which was destroyed by fire in 1977, and the current building, opened in 1980.)
The relocation back to campus last May was for both practical and sentimental reasons, as 2025 marked the University’s 100th graduating class. The move also gave students the opportunity to end their SU experience on the same campus where it began, rather than graduating from an off-campus location.
SU will continue partnering with the Civic Center, and with the Wicomico County recreation, Parks and Tourism Department, which operates the facility, for events including the University’s annual spring concert, the Governor’s Challenge Basketball Tournament, and the 2027 NCAA Men’s Volleyball Division III Finals, among others.
The Commencement ceremony also is expected to continue making a positive impact on tourism and economic growth in the region, as many families in attendance patronize area businesses including hotels and restaurants while visiting for the event.
SU’s 2025 Spring Commencement marked the beginning of the University’s year-long SU Centennial celebration, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the institution’s founding in 1925. The 2026 ceremony will mark the culmination of those festivities, celebrating the 100th anniversary of SU’s first graduating class in 1926.
Learn more about SU and opportunities to Make Tomorrow Yours at www.salisbury.edu.
