Triangle college graduations are happening this weekend. See when and where

Across the Triangle this weekend, college students will take to the stage to accept their diplomas, a raft of events that will bring celebrating families from across the country into the area. This weekend is historically one of the busiest at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and traffic is expected to be heavy.

Whether you’re attending a graduation or intending to avoid the traffic, read on to find out all the details on when and where the ceremonies will take place.

Plus, find out who will be at the microphone delivering the inspiring commencement address. Football star Ray Lewis, country icon Eric Church and Sen. Thom Tillis are among the orators.

NC State University

• When: Saturday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Where: Carter-Finley Stadium
• Commencement speaker: NC State alum Harry Sideris, CEO of Duke Energy. Last week, a man was arrested and accused of threatening to hurt Sideris at the graduation.
• Class size: NC State will confer 7,808 degrees on Saturday, including 5,000 bachelor’s, 1,773 master’s, 338 doctoral and 91 associate degrees.
• What to know if you’re attending: The stadium will open at 8 a.m. Parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the stadium. NC State says to expect heavy traffic. Only clear bags smaller than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches are permitted, with an exception for clutch bags smaller than the size of a hand and diaper bags.

UNC-Chapel Hill

• When: Saturday, May 9 at 7 p.m.
• Where: Kenan Stadium
• Commencement speaker: Country star and North Carolina native Eric Church. He’s an Appalachian State University alum, but apparently a big Tar Heel fan. Church is also a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, and in recent years has dedicated his charitable efforts toward Hurricane Helene recovery.
• Class size: UNC will confer 7,183 degrees on Saturday, including 4,453 bachelor’s, 1,608 master’s, and 981 doctoral degrees.
• What to know if you’re attending: Gates to the stadium will open at 6 p.m. Saturday. Only clear bags are permitted. The parking locations with shuttle service to Kenan include Bowles Lot, Cardinal Deck, Jackson Deck, Manning Lot, Williamson Lot, and the Friday Center park and ride.

Duke University

• When: Sunday, May 10 at 9 a.m.
• Where: Wallace Wade Stadium
• Commencement speaker: Duke alum Amy Hood, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Microsoft. Hood will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.
• Class size: Duke will award nearly 7,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees on Sunday. Of those, 1,785 are bachelor’s degrees, including 300 to students from North Carolina.
• What to know if you’re attending: Guests are required to have digital tickets to enter the stadium. Seating is general admission. No bags bigger than 12 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches are permitted. Science Drive Parking Garage is the main parking venue for graduation. Shuttles will run from 7:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. to transport visitors and graduates.

NC Central University

• When: NC Central’s commencement will take place across two days. On Friday, May 8 at 9 a.m., NC Central will confer degrees for graduate, professional, and doctoral students. On Saturday, May 9 at 9 a.m., the school will award degrees in the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities. Later that day, at 2 p.m., students in the College of Health & Sciences, the School of Education, and the School of Business will take the stage.
• Where: McDougald-McLendon Arena
• Commencement speaker: Each ceremony will have a different speaker. On Friday, the Rev. Gwendolyn Elizabeth Boyd, first female president of Alabama State University, will speak. Boyd is the first Black woman to receive a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Yale University, and is also a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. On Saturday morning, the speaker will be NC Central alum Dena King, former U.S. attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. King was the first person of color to hold this title. On Saturday afternoon, Ray Lewis, pro football hall-of-famer and author, will speak. Lewis led the Baltimore Ravens to Super Bowl wins in 2000 and 2012.
• What to know if you’re attending: Only clear bags less than 12 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches are permitted, with exceptions for small clutches and bags with medical or child care purposes.

Shaw University

• When: Saturday, May 9 at 10 a.m.
• Where: Raleigh Convention Center
• Commencement speaker: Edwina Dickerson, an actress known for her roles on The Wire, Veep, and Fear the Walking Dead. She’s also an author and cofounder of a national nonprofit “focused on purpose-driven leadership.”
• What to know if you’re attending: Tickets are not required to attend the commencement. Guests can park in the McLaurin parking deck on Lenoir Street. No signs or noisemakers are permitted. The venue will open at 8 a.m. on Saturday.

Meredith College

• When: Saturday, May 9 at 9 a.m.
• Where: Johnson Hall Courtyard
• Commencement speaker: Duke alum Valerie Bauerlein, an author and reporter for the Wall Street Journal who writes about politics, economics, and culture in the American South. Bauerlein was formerly a congressional correspondent for The News & Observer.
• What to know if you’re attending: Tickets are required, and each student gets five guest tickets to the ceremony. Guests can park in any campus lot except for Lots 1, 12 or 18, and along Main Campus Drive. Posters and balloons are not permitted at the ceremony.

William Peace University

• When: Saturday, May 9 at 9:30 a.m.
• Where: The university’s main lawn
• Commencement speaker: Orage Quarles, former News & Observer publisher and former Peace trustee
• Class size: Peace will confer 119 bachelor of arts degrees, 31 bachelor of science degrees, and 29 bachelor of science in nursing degrees.
• What to know if you’re attending: The main lawn will open at 7 a.m., and tickets are not required. Each graduate is allowed five guests. Parking is available on Delway Street, in the gravel lot, and in public parking decks on North Salisbury Street.

Campbell University Law School

• When: Friday, May 8 at 10 a.m.
• Where: Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, Memorial Auditorium, Raleigh
• Commencement speaker: Sen. Thom Tillis will speak at the ceremony.
• What to know if you’re attending: Tickets are required. Each graduate has 11 tickets to distribute to their guests.

St. Augustine’s University

• St. Augustine’s will not have an in-person commencement ceremony this year, according to spokesperson Demarcus Williams. Last week, the university declared bankruptcy and announced that it would lose its accreditation and all current students must transfer. However, the accreditation won’t expire until May 15, meaning all work and degrees from this semester are still valid.

This story was originally published May 5, 2026 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Triangle college graduations are happening this weekend. See when and where."

Jane Winik Sartwell

The News & Observer

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Jane Winik Sartwell covers higher education for The News & Observer.