On the day - Graduand Guide

Your graduand e-ticket email contains a QR code which you should use to: 

• check in and collect your gown (if applicable) on the day in the Junior Common Room, Sherfield Building.

• access the Royal Albert Hall and see your seat number.
• attend your Faculty Reception (if applicable).

Any guest Faculty Reception passes you bought were sent as a separate email, subject line: Guest Faculty Reception passes | Commemoration Day 2026.

Your graduand e-ticket email was sent two weeks before your ceremony. All required information is in the body of the email. You need to show the entire e-ticket, so please have this easily accessible on the day. You can also download your e-ticket via the link in your e-ticket email.   Search your mailbox for the email address: Imperial-College@idloom.events or subject line: Graduand e-ticket | Commemoration Day 2026.

Guest e-tickets are sent by email two weeks before graduation day. Search for the email address: e-tickets@royalalberthall.com. 

For any queries relating to your guest e-tickets please email contact@royalalberthall.com or visit the box office at Door 12 on the day. 

The check-in and gowning area in the Junior Common Room, Sherfield Building, is only accessible to graduands. We kindly ask that your guests wait elsewhere on campus, or in one of the many cafes and bars that are open. Situated near the Junior Common Room is Pret a Manger, Dalby Court, which will be open from 06.00. The Library Café, Abdus Salaam Library, is also nearby and will be open from 07.00.

All buildings are marked on the Commemoration Day 2026 map.

We want to ensure all our graduands and guests have the best experience possible as they celebrate completing their studies. 

You were asked to indicate your requirements when registering for the ceremony. If your guests have any additional accessibility requirements, please call the Royal Albert Hall box office when booking to ensure seats are appropriate and they can plan for any assistance required. The Royal Albert Hall is wheelchair accessible and has hearing loop capabilities.  We will also have live captions during the ceremony. 
 
For more information on accessibility at our South Kensington Campus, please visit Imperial’s Accessibility page.

Please note our closest ‘Changing Places’ facilities are located at the Science Museum.  

You can contact the Graduation Events team via email for any queries. Please ensure you contact the team as early as possible prior to your graduation ceremony. 

Professional photography will be offered by Tempest Photography in the Queen’s Tower Rooms, Sherfield Building, on Commemoration Day 2026. There will also be alternative photography studios located at the Smith Centre, Science Museum. The entrance to the Smith Centre can be found on Imperial College Road. 

You can visit the photography studio at any point after checking in on your ceremony day. Queues are likely, so you must ensure that you have enough time to get to your ceremony. Academic dress will not be provided by Tempest, so you will need to collect your graduation gown at check-in before visiting photography. Family and friends are welcome to attend photography with you if you would like a group photograph. Photography is open as follows:

For more information, please visit our dedicated Photography page.  

There will photographers from Imperial College London capturing images around the South Kensington Campus and the Royal Albert Hall on Commemoration Day 2026. 

Imperial College London uses professional photography to communicate about and promote Imperial and its work. This includes, but is not limited to, publishing images on the university’s website, its social media channels, in its print publications and in other marketing material.

Our photography is stored in Imperial’s Asset Library which can be accessed by members of the university community, who can download images for use in promoting Imperial and its work.

Use of and access to your photo will be in accordance with Imperial’s retention policy.

You can contact photography@imperial.ac.uk at any time to stop using your images, or to have your image erased. Alternatively, if you are at an event please speak to the photographer.

To find out more about data protection and your rights please visit Imperial's Data Protection Policy.

Please arrive at the Royal Albert Hall with your e-ticket and wearing your gown. Doors to the Royal Albert Hall open 45 minutes before your ceremony, and we recommend being seated 30 minutes before your ceremony begins. Note that the Royal Albert Hall reserves the right to search bags, so be prepared for your bags to be checked. To avoid delays, please do not bring large bags. Entry to the Royal Albert Hall after a ceremony has started cannot be guaranteed.

Our South Kensington Campus has no cloakrooms or left-luggage facilities, so please do not bring large bags or bulky items. During your ceremony, you can use the Royal Albert Hall's cloakroom. To provide a safe and comfortable environment for all visitors, the Royal Albert Hall has a one bag per person policy in the auditorium. Bags should be no more than 25L in capacity (approx. 40cm x 30cm x 20cm). Acceptable bags include regular-sized handbags, satchels, briefcases, and small rucksacks. Any additional bags, or bags larger than allowed, must be checked into the cloakroom at £2 per item. 

Out of respect to graduands and for the enjoyment of all our guests, we ask that you remain in the hall until the entire ceremony has concluded. Please keep mobile devices switched off or on silent mode. The use of flash photography in the Royal Albert Hall and the taking of selfies on the stage are not permitted.

Graduands and guests are expected to behave respectfully throughout the graduation ceremony. Their behaviour should not disrupt the ceremony, negatively affect others’ experience, or reflect poorly on the university. 

The Graduation Events team may take action if these expectations are not met, including asking a graduand and/or guests to leave the ceremony or restricting access to graduation-related events. 

The team may also refuse entry to, or ask anyone to leave, if they appear intoxicated or behave inappropriately, including at ceremonies held at the Royal Albert Hall and Faculty Receptions on campus. 

Graduation ceremonies are formal occasions and smart clothing is required to be worn under your academic dress. Traditional or national dress is also welcome if worn under your hood and gown. Shorts, jeans, and trainers are not permitted when crossing the stage. We also encourage guests to dress smartly during the ceremony. You can learn more about the gowns and hoods worn on the day on our Academic dress page.

If you arrive after check-in has closed for your ceremony, please make your way to the Junior Common Room, Sherfield Building and make yourself known to a Graduation Volunteer (look for their turquoise volunteer t-shirt) outside the venue. They will take you straight to the late check-in desk inside. We cannot guarantee entry to late arrivals.

Family and friends who can’t attend your ceremony can watch you graduate via the live stream on our website: www.imperial.ac.uk/graduation.

For guests who were unable to get tickets to the Royal Albert Hall, we will be showing this live stream at the Union Concert Hall, in the Imperial College Union building, Beit Quad. This venue is accessible and directly next to the Royal Albert Hall, so guests can still celebrate with you before and after your ceremony.   

Please note that the live stream venue will operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and doors will open 45 minutes before the ceremony.

All graduands must follow the guidelines outlined in the Student Code of Conduct and the Commemoration Day 2026 terms and conditions regarding their participation in the event. 

All bags are subject to search by security personnel on entry to the Royal Albert Hall. For everyone’s security and safety, the following items are NOT allowed inside either the Royal Albert Hall or in the Faculty Receptions on campus. Anybody found to be carrying any of these items will be asked to leave them with security, or may be refused entry to or removed from the venues:

• Flags (including items with flags on them such as: scarves, t-shirts etc.)  

• Sticks or rods   

• Confetti cannons   

• Tripods  

• Noisemakers or air horns  

• Alcohol  

• Helium balloons  

• Pyrotechnics  

• Laser pointers 

• Weapons 

• Paint, paint powder or similar substances 

• Any other items that may disrupt the ceremony 

Receptions will start shortly after your ceremony ends. Please see the location of your Faculty Reception below. Please note that passes must have been bought in advance; registration for these are now closed and you cannot buy Faculty Reception passes on your graduation day.

Imperial merchandise and gifts will be available to buy at the following locations:

• Imperial College Union Shop, Level Two, Sherfield Walkway
• Annotated Studios, Level One, Sherfield Foyer

There will also be limited merchandise available at the Royal Albert Hall by Door 6.

There are plenty of photo opportunities around the campus on the day, which can be used as the perfect backdrops for your own personal photographic memories. These include: 

Share messages on social media using #OurImperial to see them appear on our screens in the Royal Albert Hall.
Post photos on a public X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram account using #OurImperial to share your memories and your inspirations, and make sure everyone knows what graduation means to you. 

You can return your Ede & Ravenscroft gown and hood to the drop-off point in the City and Guilds Building, by the University Main Entrance. Please note that this drop-off point is different from the location where you collected your gown during check-in.

Gown return is open as follows: 

 
Please make sure to return your academic dress on time to prevent any additional charges from the hire provider.  

As an alumnus, you can access a wide range of exclusive services and benefits, including careers support and networking opportunities, membership of Imperial libraries, and the chance to keep in touch at events around the world. Visit the alumni stand after check-in and Gown Collection in Ethos Sports Centre or visit  www.imperial.ac.uk/alumni to learn more.