Convocation 2026

Convocation 2026

Ignition: The Science of Beginning

Caltech's annual Convocation ceremony will take place on Friday, September 25, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in Beckman Auditorium. Convocation marks the Institute's formal and official welcome to all incoming undergraduate and graduate students.

We invite all members of the Caltech community, including new and returning students, faculty, staff, and postdocs, to come together to celebrate the beginning of the academic year and help welcome our new students.

The ceremony will begin with all new students processing into Beckman Auditorium from the south end of Beckman Mall. Current faculty, staff, students, and postdocs are encouraged to arrive by 8:45 a.m. to take their seats in the auditorium and be part of the warm welcome for the incoming students as they enter.

This year's program will include remarks from Vice President for Student Affairs and Faculty Dean of Students Kevin Gilmartin and a welcome from President Ray Jayawardhana, along with a keynote address from Tammy Ma (BS '05), Director of the Livermore Institute for Fusion Technology at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and a member of the team behind the historic 2022 fusion ignition breakthrough at the National Ignition Facility. The discussion will explore the pursuit of ambitious scientific goals, as well as the opportunities and challenges that come with tackling some of the world's most complex problems.

A community brunch will follow immediately after the event on Beckman Mall.

For more information, please email [email protected] or visit Caltech Convocation 2026.