Opening Convocation Ceremony
136th Opening Convocation Ceremony
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. PDT
Frost Amphitheater | Livestream
President Jonathan Levin will welcome new undergraduate first-year and transfer students and their families to Stanford at the 136th Opening Convocation Ceremony, the formal inauguration of the academic year. Together with their new classmates, students will participate in celebrating the beginning of Stanford's New Student Orientation at this time-honored tradition, held in Frost Amphitheater.
Tickets (free) are required to attend this event. Student tickets will be provided in their NSO materials at check-in. Guest tickets (maximum of 4 guests per student) must be ordered in advance. See Guest Ticket information below.
2026 Guest Tickets (Free) - Order by September 1
Tickets are required for this event. Family members of new students are invited to attend Convocation and must order their free tickets in advance by Tuesday, September 1.
Parents & Families: Ticket ordering information will be shared on/around July 1. Tickets are free and must be ordered in advance. Tickets are limited to 4 guests per new student; children aged 2 and under attending with a parent do not need a ticket. Tickets are non-transferable and cannot be given to other students for additional family members. Guests will be provided an individual digital ticket with QR code to scan for entry to the event. Please be prepared to show a photo ID with your ticket.
General Event Information
For the comfort of families and guests, the following suggestions may make Convocation more enjoyable:
Frost Amphitheater is located at 351 Lasuen Street, Stanford, CA 94305. Directions to Frost.
Complimentary nearby parking is available in the Galvez Parking Lot on this day.
The general Guest Entrance is at the Galvez Gate where tickets (digital QR codes) and photo IDs will be checked. For an accessible entrance (step-free route to seating area), please use the Lasuen Gate, as the Galvez Gate is not an accessible entrace for those using wheelchairs/mobility devices and/or have limited mobility.
The Student Entrance is at the Lasuen Gate where student tickets will be checked (tickets will be provided in NSO materials). Students should walk to the event with their residence student leaders and dormmates.
Seating inside Frost is open within the Student Section and Guest Section. Most students will sit with the dorms in the Student Section. If you would like to sit with your student, please enter via your respective gates and have your student meet you and sit with you in the Guest Seating Section inside Frost.
Frost Amphitheater has a clear bag policy. Small personal items such as purses and handbags are allowed. Backpacks, large bags, and suitcases are not allowed - we will not have a bag check on site, so please do not bring these items with you.
Dress for the heat; light clothing is advisable. Hats, visors, and sun block are highly recommended.
Water filling stations will be available. Guests may bring their own reusable small water bottle, if desired.
Umbrellas will not be permitted, as they block the view of other guests.
Smoking is prohibited in outdoor spaces holding events during the weekend.
Accessibility Information
Accessible Entrance
The accessible entrance (step-free route to seating area) to Frost is via the Lasuen Gate near the corner of Lasuen Street and Roth Way. Once inside the gate, proceed through the tunnel to enter Frost. Review Frost's Accessibility & Services information. NOTE: The Galvez Gate is not on an accessible route to enter Frost for those using wheelchairs/mobility devices and/or have limited mobility.
Seating
Wheelchair seating and a limited mobility seating area is available and staff will assist guests as needed once inside the Lasuen Gate. Seating is outside - some seating will be in direct sunlight and some will be shaded. All seating is first come, first served.
Live Captioning & Assistive Listening Devices
Live captioning and assistive listening devices will be provided at the venue.
Accessibility Questions
For additional disability access information or if you or anyone in your party require wheelchair seeting, limited mobility seating, and/or other disability-related accommodations (sign language interpreter, large-print/Braille materials, etc.), please contact the Diversity and Access Office at disability.access@stanford.edu or call (650) 725-0326.
Questions
If you have questions about NSO or Convocation, please contact Approaching Stanford, approaching@stanford.edu. A detailed schedule for NSO events on Tuesday, September 15, will be posted on/around September 1.
