The University Commencement and Reunion Council began exploring ticketing and other security measures for controlled access after the shooting at another university at a large outdoor gathering in early fall 2025. Plans for updated security for Brown’s graduation weekend and reunions were accelerated in light of the Dec. 13 mass shooting on our campus and Brown’s current building security posture, which requires Brown ID for entry. 

By implementing a ticketing system for key Commencement and Reunion events, Brown will be able to better manage crowd sizes and authorized entry for invited guests. The new ticketing approach aims to balance enhanced security with Brown’s community traditions.

The ticketing system will involve a combination of wristbands, traditional tickets and access badges, based on the nature of access-control measures best suited to each event. All graduating students — including undergraduate seniors, master’s and professional, doctoral and medical students — and their guests will be ticketed via a scannable wristband.

Wristbands should be worn throughout Commencement and Reunion Weekend (from Friday through Sunday), and are required for access to Commencement ceremonies held on the central campus greens on both Saturday and Sunday. This includes access to the College Green, Simmons Quad and Front Green areas, including for the Master’s Ceremony on Saturday and the University Procession, College Ceremony and University Ceremony on Sunday.

Brown faculty participating in Commencement must RSVP to be registered for a scannable wristband they will wear to access ceremony sites and the greens. Faculty should wear wristbands even if they have a separate access badge provided through their department.

Brown staff members, students who are not graduating and vendors working Commencement and Reunion Weekend will receive separate access badges for event locations, depending on their roles.

Some events may require a separate ticket — in addition to any wristband or access badge — so be sure to check the ticketing policies for any additional ceremonies and events you plan to attend, including departmental ceremonies.

Graduating Brown students must request wristbands for themselves and their guests, including family members, friends and nongraduating students who will be supporting them at Commencement, via an online registration system, available in April. Wristbands will be distributed at designated locations leading up to Commencement in May.

Students are strongly encouraged to request no more than eight wristbands each to help manage crowd size and maintain equity. 

We recognize that some students have a greater number of guests who may already have made arrangements to attend, and those with larger numbers of guests will be able to register for the number of tickets they need.

Academic and administrative departments will receive a precise number of access badges, upon request, for staff and faculty who will attend based on their roles as participants or guests.

All graduating students participating in Commencement must register for wristbands, and must register their guests for wristbands, including undergraduate midyear completers and “.5ers” and graduate students who completed their degrees in October or February.

If students encounter any issues while registering, they should email commencement@brown.edu for assistance.

Brown alumni will continue to register for Reunion activities in the same way they have done in past years and receive access badges for events, including the University Procession, through Alumni Relations. Registration for Reunion has not changed. ​Non-Reunion alumni who wish to participate in the University procession will have the opportunity to register in advance as well. Visit the Reunion website for the most up-to-date information for alumni.

Email commencement@brown.edu for assistance. Please include “wristband” in the subject line.

If you lose or damage a wristband, or have any other questions about wristbands, please visit a Guest Services station located outside of the College Green area for assistance. Please plan ahead and give yourself as much time as possible to address the issue so that you and your guests are able to arrive on time to your events. 

As in previous years, the University will livestream the Commencement ceremonies, so guests who do not wish to or are unable to travel to campus or participate in person may view the events from any location on campus or throughout the world. 

Community members can view livestreamed events from anywhere using a computer or mobile device. Visit the Livestream page for a schedule of livestreamed events and links to watch.

Additionally, guests are invited to watch via livestream at locations on campus, listed on the Guest Services page. Wristbands are required to access these spaces.