May 2026 Commencement Ceremony

The May commencement will be held May 9, 2026 at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall with three separate ceremonies.

• The 8 a.m. ceremony will celebrate graduates of the Sykes College of Business.
• The 12:30 p.m. ceremony will celebrate graduates of the College of Natural and Health Sciences.
• The 4:30 p.m. ceremony will celebrate graduates of the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education.

All guests must have a ticket to attend the University of Tampa Commencement ceremony at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall. Tickets are distributed electronically to all registered graduates to give to invited guests at their discretion.

All graduates will be assigned to participate in a ceremony based on their college or school. Graduates who wish to participate in commencement must attend their assigned ceremony. 

Dates and deadlines will be posted by mid-January 2026.

Hotel Information

Guests attending the May 2026 Commencement ceremonies are encouraged to make lodging arrangements early, as local accommodations fill quickly during graduation weekend.

Hotel Tampa Riverwalk

Hotel Tampa Riverwalk is offering a special discounted rate for families and guests attending the 2026 May Commencement ceremonies. Use group code 92F when making your reservation. Book by April 8, 2026, to take advantage of this special rate.

Courtyard Tampa Downtown

Families and guests attending the University of Tampa’s May 2026 Commencement Ceremonies can enjoy a special discounted rate at Courtyard Tampa Downtown. Enter the reservation code University of Tampa when booking to access this offer.

Hampton Inn by Hilton Tampa Downtown Channel District

Families and guests attending the University of Tampa’s May 2026 Commencement Ceremonies can enjoy a special discounted rate at Hampton Inn by Hilton Tampa Downtown Channel District. Enter the reservation code University of Tampa when booking to access this offer.

Home2 Suites

Families and guests attending the University of Tampa’s May 2026 Commencement Ceremonies can enjoy a special discounted rate at Home2 Suites. Enter the reservation code University of Tampa when booking to access this offer.

Hyatt Place Tampa Airport/Westshore

Families and guests attending the University of Tampa's May 2026 Commencement Ceremonies can enjoy a special discounted rate at Hyatt Place Tampa Airport/Westshore. Enter the reservation code 24922 when booking to access this offer.

Palihouse Hyde Park Village

Families and guests attending the University of Tampa’s May 2026 Commencement Ceremonies can enjoy a special discounted rate at Palihouse Hyde Park Village. Enter the reservation code UOFTAMPA when booking to access this offer. 

Residence Inn Tampa Downtown

Families and guests attending the University of Tampa’s May 2026 Commencement Ceremonies can enjoy a special discounted rate at Residence Inn Tampa Downtown. Enter the reservation code University of Tampa when booking to access this offer. 

Venue Location

To get to the Florida State Fairgrounds please use the address 4800 US-301, Tampa, FL 33610. This will take you to the gate on US-301. Graduates, families, and guests MUST ONLY utilize the US301 entrance.

The venue is about 15-20 minutes from campus without traffic. Please plan for congestion around the fairgrounds area, and at least a 45 minute drive with parking.

Parking is FREE, just let the attendant know that your are attending the commencement ceremony.

Travel Information
Tampa International Airport (airport code TPA) is served by most major airlines and is consistently ranked as one of the top airports in the nation.

Family Communication Philosophy

While we understand family members and guests are excited to celebrate their student's achievements at commencement, we are only able to provide general information about the ceremony as opposed to student-specific information. Please visit the Student Affairs Family Communication Philosophy for more information. 

Questions?

Please contact Orientation and Family Engagement at commencement@ut.edu or (813) 257-1999.