LEXINGTON, Ky. — The spring semester is coming to a close, and Wildcats students will soon be able to claim tickets for their in-person Commencement ceremonies being held this May.

Tickets for the University of Kentucky's May 2021 Commencement ceremonies will be available online on Thursday, April 22 at 10 a.m. UK will host 10 in-person Commencement ceremonies the weekend of May 14-16. The ceremonies, divided by campus colleges and professional schools, will celebrate not only May 2021 grads, but also all 2020 graduates.

Graduates can reserve their tickets online, using the link appropriate for their respective commencement ceremony to access the Ticketmaster event. Health and safety protocols, including mask requirements and physical distancing, will be enforced at the in-person ceremonies, and seating will be limited.  

Participating grads can bring up to four guests to their ceremony. All seats are reserved, and UK asked all those participating to secure seats early.

All students should reserve tickets no later than Friday, May 7. Ticket sharing with another graduate is not allowed, the university said.

The ceremonies will be livestreamed for any guests who cannot attend and will be posted to the Commencement website to allow any student who cannot attend the opportunity to participate virtually. A schedule of ceremonies can be found here.

Commencement ticketing instructions: 

• To reserve your tickets, go to https://commencement.uky.edu/tickets and use the link appropriate for your Commencement ceremony to access the Ticketmaster event.
• Your 8-digit student ID number (usually beginning with 1 or 0) will be required as the offer passcode to unlock seating.
• Once seats have been selected, proceed to checkout.
• Tickets are complimentary; however, they must be reserved online in advance and will not be available at the door.
• To ensure physical distancing between parties, all seating will be reserved and it will be important for guests to sit in their assigned seats. Graduates will be seated on the floor and do not need to obtain a ticket for themselves. 

Helpful tips:

• You will need to create or sign in to a Ticketmaster account. It is recommended you do this in advance of the ticket offering to ensure a smooth transition through checkout.
• There is a strict four (4) ticket limit and you must select all 4 tickets in the grouping. Note: Tickets cannot be shared with other graduates. Tickets are assigned in groups of 4 for the health and safety of each family.
• Once orders have been completed and tickets are in your Ticketmaster account, you will be able to transfer them to your guests as needed. All tickets will be distributed via mobile delivery, and your guests will need to access them on a smartphone for entry into Rupp Arena. Note: You can no longer access tickets once they are transferred and accepted.
• If your student ID number is not working: double-check that you are in the correct ceremony date and time. If so, did you RSVP to participate in commencement? If you did not RSVP, or are experiencing issues, please contact commencement@uky.edu .
• If you are experiencing trouble, please contact the Central Bank Center Ticket Office at 859-233-3535. Note: Staffing is limited and you may experience longer call times. For additional Commencement questions, please reach out to commencement@uky.edu.

Rupp Arena policy permits guests to bring in one clear bag (no larger than 12"x12"x6") or one small clutch purse, with or without handle or strap (no larger than 4.5"x 6.5") for their personal items. All bags and items will be searched. More information about arena policies can be found here.