Commencement

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2023 Commencement audience at the Mondavi Center.
UC Davis Law graduates entering the Mondavi Center.

Commencement will be on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at the Mondavi Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  

For more information, please contact the Law Commencement team at commencement@law.ucdavis.edu.

Directions 

Please use the directions below to arrive at the Mondavi Center. You may also enter the Mondavi Center’s address, 523 Mrak Hall Dr, Davis, CA 95616 into a GPS or use Google Maps with the address inputted.

Driving Directions and Parking
  • From Sacramento (I-80 Westbound)
  • Take the UC Davis/Mondavi Center exit and turn right on to Old Davis Road. At the traffic circle, continue forward on Old Davis Road. Turn right into Gateway Parking Structure.
  • From the San Francisco Bay Area (I-80 Eastbound)
  • Take the UC Davis/Mondavi Center exit and turn left on to Old Davis Road. At the traffic circle, continue forward on Old Davis Road. Turn right into Gateway Parking Structure.
  • From Northern California and Sacramento International Airport (I-5 & 113)
  • From I-5, go south on Highway 113 in Woodland. From Highway 113, take the I-80 east off-ramp towards Sacramento. From I-80, immediately take the UC Davis/Mondavi Center exit and turn left onto Old Davis Road. At the traffic circle, continue forward on Old Davis Road. Turn right into Gateway Parking Structure. 

Parking

Parking will be at the Gateway Parking Structure and FREE that day. To acquire your FREE parking permit for you and your guests, please follow the steps below:

  • Step 1: Navigate to parking.ucdavis.edu
  • Step 2: Click on Special Event Parking
  • Step 3: Select Commencement Ceremonies under Event Type
  • Step 4: Select the ceremony you will be attending
  • Step 5: Enter the coupon code GRAD2026
  • Step 6: Select Commencement Parking Permit ($0.00) under Permit Type
  • Step 7: Select the date of the event
  • Step 8: Add your vehicle information
  • Step 9: Review the Permission to Park Agreement and select I agree at the bottom
  • Step 10: Enter your email address and checkout for the $0 amount 

 

  • Parking Registration 
  • Parking is complimentary on the UC Davis campus with registration for all graduates and commencement guests in designated lots. Follow the parking instructions above.
  • Disabled Parking
  • Graduates and guests with a DMV-issued disabled persons parking placard or license plate will be able to park on a first-come, first-park basis in disabled spaces in the Gateway Parking Structure, as well as A, C, and C+ zones. For those who need assistance, we have Mobility Assistance Shuttles available to assist. 

    Visitors with a disabled placard/plate may park without displaying an additional UC Davis parking permit in spaces where UC Davis DSA permits are honored. Disabled placards/plates are not valid in restricted spaces, loading zones, red zones, center core and reserved areas. More information regarding disabled parking on the UC Davis campus can be found on the UC Davis Transportation Services website. 

For Your Safety

Although UC Davis does not anticipate any security problems during commencement, we take special measures to ensure the safety of students, faculty, and guests at our events. All bags will be checked prior to entering the Mondavi Center.

List of prohibited items in the Mondavi Center:

  • No firearms, explosives, or other weapons are permitted.
  • No drugs or alcohol are permitted.
  • Any person found to be intoxicated or carrying drugs or alcohol will be detained or escorted out.
  • No artificial noisemakers, air horns, or megaphones.
  • No balloons or laser pointers.
  • No animals – except assistance dogs – are allowed.
  • No large bags, backpacks, oversized purses, or items larger than 12" x 12."
  • Due to safety concerns, strollers and baby carriages are not allowed on the main floor.
  • Signs/Flags/Banners/Posters may not be larger than 3’ x 2’ or attached to a pole/stick made of wood, metal, plastic, or any other hard material. 

Ceremony

Tickets are general admission seating. TICKETS ARE REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION TO THE CEREMONY AND WILL BE PROVIDED TO GUESTS BY THEIR GRADUATE. The ceremony lasts about 2 hours. 

Livestream 

To view the livestream of the ceremony, click the link here. The ceremony will begin streaming online by 11 a.m. Note that the ceremony will also be recorded and posted online a few weeks after the ceremony.

Photography

A photographer will take your picture immediately off stage. Pictures can be ordered online. Family and friends wishing to take photographs of candidates are requested to do so, either before or after the ceremony. During the ceremony, family and friends will not be allowed to approach the stage or stand in the aisles.

Videotaping the ceremony is allowed as long as the equipment does not obstruct the aisles and other guests' view.

Special Assistance

Wheelchairs are allowed at the Mondavi Center. Ushers will direct guests with limited mobility to their seats and a companion can be seated with them. 

General Information

For general information, the UC Davis Commencement Handbook is available here.