Berea College Commencement Set for May 10 With Governor Andy Beshear as Speaker

BEREA, Ky. — Berea College will welcome graduates, families, and visitors to campus on Sunday, May 10, for a full day of commencement events celebrating the Class of 2026.

The day begins with the Baccalaureate Ceremony at 10:30 a.m. in Phelps Stokes, followed by the main Commencement Ceremony at 2:00 p.m. in the Main Arena at the Seabury Center. Doors for guests will open at 1:00 p.m., with graduates lining up at 1:20 p.m. in Hager Gym before the ceremony begins.

🎓 A High-Profile Send-Off

This year’s commencement will also bring a high-profile speaker to campus. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is scheduled to deliver the commencement address, sending off Berea College’s Class of 2026 as they prepare for their next chapter.

For Berea, commencement is much more than a campus event. It is one of those days when the college and the town feel especially connected. Families arrive to celebrate graduates, local restaurants see extra visitors, and the area around College Square, Boone Tavern, Main Street, and the Seabury Center becomes buzzing with activity.

🅿️ Parking and Planning Your Visit

Anyone attending should plan ahead, especially when it comes to parking. Visitor parking passes are required and may be obtained for free from the Office of Public Safety, located on the first floor of the Woods-Penniman building at 232 Scaffold Cane Road. The office is open 24/7, and visitors just need to bring their license plate information along with the vehicle’s make, model, and color.

Guests should use designated college parking areas and check Berea College’s campus parking map before arriving. Boone Tavern lots remain strictly off-limits for general parking, and vehicles without proper decals or passes may be subject to citations.

📺 Livestream and Final Details

For those who cannot attend in person, the commencement ceremony will be livestreamed online. Graduates will also receive a link to high-resolution, downloadable photos in the weeks following the ceremony.

With Baccalaureate in the morning, Commencement in the afternoon, and Governor Beshear on campus, Sunday, May 10, is likely to be one of the busiest days in Berea this spring. Residents should expect extra traffic near the college, and families attending the ceremony should allow extra time for parking, walking, and finding seats.

For the graduates and their families, though, the busy day is all part of the celebration. Commencement marks the close of one chapter and the start of another, and Berea College’s Class of 2026 will do that surrounded by family, friends, faculty, and a community that knows exactly how important these moments are.

Upcoming Events in Berea & Beyond

🌿 Community, Arts & Outdoors

• Berea Farmers Market (Chestnut Street Pavilion) — Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• Eastern Kentucky University Commencement — May 7–8
• Berea College Commencement — Sunday, May 10
• Madison Central High School Graduation (Alumni Coliseum) — Friday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m.
• Model Laboratory School Graduation — Friday, May 22
• Madison Southern High School Graduation (Alumni Coliseum) — Saturday, May 23 at 10:00 a.m.

🎭 Theater & Performance at The Spotlight Playhouse

(Tickets and info for all shows: thespotlightplayhouse.com)

• Madagascar: A Musical Adventure JR. (Ages 9–14) — Final Weekend! Closes May 10
• The Secret Garden (The Bluegrass Players) — Final Weekend! Closes May 10
• Annie: The Musical (The Bluegrass Players) — May 15–24
• Annie KIDS (Spotlight Acting School) — May 29–June 7
• Creative Arts Camp (“New York, New York”) — June 8–12
• “Oh, Those Summer Nights” Intergenerational Intensive — June 14–27
• Macbeth (The Bluegrass Players) — June 19–28
• Film Acting Camp (Rising 6th–Age 18) — June 29 – July 3
• Seussical the Musical (Ages 14–18) — July 31–Aug. 9