In Photos: Harvard's 375th Commencement Services

housands of graduates, along with Harvard faculty, friends, and family members, filled Harvard Yard on Thursday for the University’s 375th Commencement Exercises. The day was steeped in tradition – speeches, celebration, and occasional strike chants from outside the Yard.

Middlesex County Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian, preceded only by the Bedford Minutemen, high fives students lining the aisle at the beginning of the faculty processional. Koutoujian traditionally serves as the civic official who opens Harvard’s Commencement Exercises by calling the proceedings to order and formally initiating the ceremony.

As the faculty processional opened Commencement festivities, President Alan M. Garber ’76 smoothed his flyaways before taking the stage.

Following closely behind Garber was comedian and Commencement speaker Conan O’Brien ’85. He took the chance to shake hands and congratulate students along the way. The faculty processional featured prominent members such as Dean of the College David J. Deming and Dean of Undergraduate Education Amanda Claybaugh.

Garber opened Harvard’s 375th Commencement with a speech on academic freedom and open inquiry, pushing back against growing criticism of the University’s campus climate.

Kiesse Nanor ’26 delivered the Latin Salutatory, Noah J. Eckstein ’26 delivered the Senior English Address, and Andrew J. O’Donohue ’18 delivered the Graduate English Address. All three were selected through the Orations Competition, in which a panel of judges chooses students to deliver an address from memory at Commencement.

Pro-Palestine activists hung a banner from a second-floor window of Sever Hall calling for Harvard to divest from Israel midway through the annual senior English address Thursday morning.

The banner read: “Israel bombs, Harvard profits. Divest.”

In response to O’Donohue’s address where he mentioned his union affiliation, some graduating students held up “FAIR CONTRACT NOW” signs in support of the Harvard Graduate Student Union-UAW amid their ongoing strike.

Prior to Commencement exercises, Harvard Graduate Student Union-United Auto Workers picketers gathered near Widener and Boylston gates. They chanted as they circled the gated Harvard Yard holding signs, beating a plastic bucket drum, and handing out fliers and pins.

In attempts to disrupt remarks throughout Thursday’s Commencement exercise, more than 50 picketers used noisemakers, sirens on megaphones, and cowbells outside Loeb House.

Around 32,000 attendees gathered in Tercentenary Theatre and surrounding seating areas, including Widener steps, to watch the ceremony of their graduating family members and friends.

As Harvard Divinity School Dean Marla F. Frederick introduced the graduating class, students waved colorful ribbons in celebration.

Harvard Law School Dean John C.P. Goldberg was met with raucous cheering and waving gavels as he took the stage.

Dental students stand as Harvard School of Dental Medicine Dean William V. Giannobile presents the school’s degree candidates to President Alan M. Garber.

Harvard Business School Dean Srikant M. Datar was met with applause from the school’s class of 2026 as he presented them for conferral.

Harvard Graduate School of Design students, who decorated their graduation caps with toy building blocks representing their architectural education, jumped with excitement when Dean Sarah M. Whiting introduced them.

Harvard Graduate School of Education Dean Nonie K. Lesaux presented the school’s graduating class as they brandished children’s books in the air.

Harvard School of Public Health Dean Andrea A. Baccarelli spoke over the boisterous sound of red hand-shaped noisemakers his students waved in the air.

Harvard Kennedy School students tossed small inflatable globes, symbolizing the school’s commitment to international leadership, as Dean Jeremy M. Weinstein spoke.

Harvard College’s Class of 2026 leapt to their feet and embraced as Dean of the College David J. Deming introduced them.

Garber conferred five honorary doctorate degrees during Commencement exercises to historian Noel Malcolm, Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan, Nobel-prize-winning physicist Geoffrey Hinton, Broadway star Audra McDonald, and comedian and Commencement speaker Conan O’Brien ’85.

During his Commencement address, O’Brien poked fun at the Trump administration’s legal battles with Harvard, mocking its efforts to restrict international students. He urged graduates to seek “modesty and connection” in what he called “a period of extreme narcissism,” and shouted out his former dorm, Mather House, to cheers from Matherites.

Following his address, O’Brien was met with roaring applause from attendees, including his fellow honorary degree recipients.

As Morning Excercises were drawn to a close, students and their families made their way out of Tercentenary Theater, marking the end of Harvard’s 375th Commencement Exercises.