Venues
Commencement is a pinnacle milestone for CSU students. CSU teams are working tirelessly to ensure a welcoming and celebratory experience for graduates and their families.
In response to feedback about the cost implications for guests of last year’s four-day commencement celebration, planning for 2026 has prioritized creating a two-day schedule that allows families to attend both college recognition ceremonies and the University-wide Commencement with only one overnight stay.
To hold all ceremonies within two days, recognition ceremony groups were combined and venue options expanded. Three on-campus venues have the capacity to accommodate commencement needs: Moby Arena, the Lory Student Center Grand Ballroom, and the professionally installed commencement tent.
All recognition ceremony venues
All three recognition ceremony venues provide:
- An accessible experience for all guests.
- Nearby transit stops.
- Full production quality with professional staging, audio/visual, and livestreaming.
- CSU Commencement branding and florals to elevate the celebratory environment.
- Event and graduate photography.
- Indoor restroom facilities.
Moby Arena
- Capacity for 900+ graduates.
- Seating for approximately 6,300 guests.
- Clear bag policy with mobile lockers available.
Lory Student Center Grand Ballroom
- Capacity for 230 graduates.
- Seating for approximately 1,380 guests.
- Overflow space in Longs Peak room.
Ceremony tent
A commercial-grade, pavilion-style, professionally built tent, located on campus, about halfway between Moby Arena and the LSC, just east of The Rec at the corner of Plum & Meridian.
- Capacity for 320 graduates.
- Seating for approximately 1,920 guests.
- Structured tent with siding and professional lighting.
Venue FAQ
How were commencement venue decisions made?
The University works to provide a welcoming, celebratory, and supportive experience for graduates and their guests. This year (2026) provided an opportunity to reassess how we honor our graduates, learn from peer institutions, and incorporate feedback from students, faculty, staff, and families.
A recurring theme in that feedback from 2025 was the financial and logistical strain caused by ceremonies spread over multiple days. In response, 2026 planning has prioritized creating a two-day schedule that allows families to attend both college recognition ceremonies and the University-wide Commencement with only one overnight stay.
To make this possible, while still ensuring every graduate receives an individual moment of recognition, venue options were expanded. Informed by the best practices of peer institutions, three campus venues were identified that can accommodate ceremony needs this spring: Moby Arena, the Lory Student Center Grand Ballroom, and the professionally installed, pavilion-style ceremony tent.
How are the commencement ceremony schedule and locations determined?
Each year, the commencement planning team works through a collective decision-making process to identify the best times and locations for recognition ceremonies based on meeting the needs of each group. This process includes representatives from all colleges at multiple levels of leadership to ensure holistic and thoughtful decisions.