What to Students & Families Need to Know about Georgia Tech Graduation (2026)
Georgia Tech Commencement 2026: Full Schedule, Venues & What's New
- Fall 2026 Commencement takes place December 17–19, 2026. Confirm your ceremony early, schedule varies by college
- Venue breakdown and schedule: This varies year to year so I encourage you to triple check as the time gets closer! Not announced yet - This is based on spring 2026.
- PhD ceremony: Thursday December 7, McCamish Pavilion, 10–11:30am (no tickets required) Gatech
- Bachelor's (Computing + Ivan Allen Liberal Arts): Thursday December 7, McCamish Pavilion, 6–8:30pm (tickets required) Gatech
- Bachelor's (Design, Business, Sciences, select Engineering): Friday December 8, McCamish Pavilion, 10am–12:30pm Gatech
- Master's: Saturday December,ber 9, Bobby Dodd Stadium, 9–10am Gatech
- Ticketing policy: Bachelor's and Master's have guest limits! Make sure you meet registration deadlines
- Where to watch: Georgia Tech commencement is live-streamed, click here to watch
- Your name is announced and displayed on the jumbotron as you receive your diploma, so try to capture that moment on camera.
Planning Your Georgia Tech Graduation Weekend (Hotels, Getting There & Day-Of Tips)
- Book hotels EALRY: Midtown sells out for graduation weekend
- Best hotel areas ranked:
- Midtown (walkable to McCamish + Bobby Dodd)
- Downtown Atlanta (budget-friendly, short Uber, can be less safe at night)
- Buckhead (nicer stay, 15-min drive)
- Specific hotel callouts: Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center, Atlanta Marriott Suites Midtown, The Georgian Terrace
- Getting there
- Midtown MARTA Station is the closest: the GT Stinger Bus Gold Route runs continuous pickups to campus; exit at Ferst and Fowler, walk three blocks north to McCamish
- Drop-off at McCamish is at the Moon Entrance on Fowler Street; Bobby Dodd drop-off is off Techwood Drive between 4th Street and Bobby Dodd Way
- Uber/walking is preferred over parking on graduation weekend
- Avoid walking south, southeast, or west of campus at night if possible. Midtown past Tech Square is all pretty safe for a family.
- Clear bag policy: only clear purses, clear totes, small clutches, or medical bags are permitted, all attendees go through metal detectors (don’t get your stuff taken!)
- What to wear: Most guests will be wearing suits/dresses (it's the South!)
- Day-of timeline for families: arrive 30–60 min early, seats are general admission so you can hold a seat to get your group together.
- For the grad: commencement is long so sit by a friend with your same major, bring a disposable water bottle, and charge your phone
Where to Eat: Best Restaurants for a Georgia Tech Graduation Dinner in Atlanta
- Upscale celebration (Midtown): Patria Mezcalaria, Cooks & Soldiers, Drawbar (rooftop), Yeppa Beltline, Rowdy Tiger, Barcelona Wine Bar
- Fun + group-friendly: Ponce City Market food hall, Mary Mac's Tea Room, Muchacho
- GT classics and budget picks: Antico Pizza, Velvet Taco
- Make reservations, graduation weekend is busy!
Georgia Tech Graduation Photos: How to Make Them Unforgettable
- The ceremony photos aren't enough. You're allowed one angle for $40, so most GT students like to book a Georgia Tech Graduation photographer. If you're wondering how much you should pay, here's a guide.
- When to book: ideally 6–8 weeks before graduation. Late April/Mid December dates sell out fast, can be hard to reschedule for weather, & may not get your photos back in time
- Best photo spots on Georgia Tech's campus:
- Luckily, most of the iconic spots are nearby!
- Tech Tower: the iconic shot, but contrary to popular belief, don't go right up to it if you want it in the frame
- Walkways around old campus
- Harrison Square - steam engine, GT sign, psych building doorway
- Further: The Campanile, GT sign by Bobby Dodd
- See full lighting & GT photo spots blog here
- Lighting tips: the closer to sunset, the more forgiving the light is. With a professional, earlier works great with the natural shade from our beautiful trees
- What to wear: I highly recommend white for ladies and black/navy slacks with a navy or gold tie for guys
- Family photos: some photographers will include a family photo in their grad session!
- Book your Georgia Tech graduation session
- See GT graduation galleries for inspo
Georgia Tech Graduation Checklist: What to Do Before Leaving Campus
- Apply for graduation + confirm degree status
- Clarify your name's pronunciation (it's computerized)
- Senior bar crawl - Thursday night unofficial but very popular event at the Buckhead bar district. Expect to see huge crowds of GT students
- Have your Stage Pass screenshot ready, you'll present it before going on stage
- Register your email here
- Update diploma mailing address in OSCAR
- You can order your transcript now or later, no rush
- Email + system access: understand what expires and when
- You will lose your GT email after about 3 months
- Download academic records before losing access
- Update your LinkedIn
- Follow @gtalumni on Instagram
Life in Atlanta After Georgia Tech: For Grads Staying Local
Best Midtown + surrounding neighborhoods for young professionals:
- Virginia Highlands
- Inman Park (by the BeltLine)
Popular companies hiring GT grads in Atlanta
- McKenny's, Home Depot, UPS, Southern Company, Deloitte
Tap early into the GT alumni network, which is one of the most active in the Southeast. Football games are a great way to stay connected!
Things to do in Atlanta as a non-student
- So many run clubs/social clubs
- Walking areas/parks, water activities @ Chattahoochee & Lake Allatoona
- Outdoor shopping - Buckhead village, Avalon
- 1-2 day trips: Blue Ridge, Nashville, Savannah, Ashville, Charleston, Cloudland Canyon
For Families: How to Make the Georgia Tech Graduation Trip Special
Turn commencement into a full Atlanta weekend!
Suggested family itinerary:
- Day 1: Arrive, dinner in Midtown, walk around campus
- Day 2: Graduation ceremony, take photos at the classic spots, eat a special dinner, and then head over to a bar/speakeasy/biergarten like Ladybird to hang out with other new grads
- Day 3: Atlanta BeltLine, Georgia Aquarium, Ponce City Market (click here for rooftop event schedule and costs), Piedmont Park, Botanical Gardens ($26/person)
GT traditions: the Ramblin' Wreck, the whistle (you'll hear it), and the Order of Engineers
Gift ideas for GT grads - GT Kitchen Towel ($27), GT Spatula ($11), GT Tie ($35), GT Pint Glasses ($33)
Book a graduation photo session with family photos included (click here)
Georgia Tech Graduation FAQs
When is Georgia Tech Graduation Fall 2026?
Georgia Tech Graduation Fall 2026 is December 17-19.
Can I decorate my cap for Georgia Tech commencement?
Officially, for GT commencement you're not supposed to decorate your cap or have any regalia not provided by the school, but both are fairly common as this is not strictly enforced.
GT provides stoles for few extracurriculars, so you may want to buy one if you'd like to rep your student org!
Where is Georgia Tech commencement held?
If it's the same as 2025, then McCamish Pavilion (PhD + Bachelor's) and Bobby Dodd Stadium (Master's)
Do you need tickets for Georgia Tech graduation?
GT bachelor's ceremonies require tickets for guests.
The GT PhD ceremony is not ticketed as per Gatech
How many guests can attend GT graduation?
This varies by ceremony and year so check ticketing policy on GT's commencement site! Typically for bachelor's commencement each person gets 4 tickets and can typically get 2 more at will call on the morning of the event. If you'd like more than 4 guaranteed tickets you'll have to buy them from another student!
What are the best photo spots at Georgia Tech?
Luckily, I have a blog I spent hours creating after doing 200+ GT grads' photos! You can view all the best spots here!
The best spots for grad photos include Tech Tower Lawn, The Campanile, the GT Sign, and the walkways around old campus.
When should I book a Georgia Tech graduation photographer?
I recommend booking 4-8 weeks before graduation. Late April is the most popular and books very fast, and if you wait you may not get your photos back before graduation! Looking for a GT grad photo specialist? View my timeslots here.
Note: the weekend of graduation, campus gets very busy for photos from online students who are visiting
Where should families stay for Georgia Tech Graduation?
Georgia Tech Hotel
Marriott Suites Midtown
The Georgian Terrace
Hotel Indigo
Is there parking at McCamish Pavilion for GT Graduation?
Spaces are limited and traffic is CRAZY, so I highly recommend not planning to drive.
MARTA takes Apple Pay now, and if you MARTA, the Midtown Station will put you closest to McCamish, while North Avenue puts you closest to the rest of campus.
Getting a hotel close to GT is best, but otherwise Uber is strongly recommended Gatech
Is Georgia Tech graduation live-streamed?
Yes, Georgia Tech graduation is live-streamed. Click here for the links to watch.
What is the weather like in Atlanta during graduation?
May in Atlanta averages 80°F+ with humidity; dress accordingly, bring water
December in Atlanta was ~55°F in 2025, but can get down to ~30°F
How much does a Georgia Tech graduation photographer cost in Atlanta?
Georgia Tech graduations photographers range in cost based on expertise. I break down a comparison of different price ranges here.
If you're on a budget, I recommend doing a group session with a professional rather than compromising on quality!
Will I get photos at my Georgia Tech Graduation Ceremony?
There is a photographer and a backdrop, but you will have to pay $40+ for the image if you'd like it.
If you're quick, you can take a picture of the Jumbotron or screenshot of the livestream when your grad is walking across the stage.
