We’ve uploaded a full gallery of professional photos from the College of Fine Arts Commencement Ceremony! From backstage hugs to stage-crossing swagger to those “we actually did it” moments, the album is packed with memories from an unforgettable day.
View and download photos at the link in bio.
Huge thanks to photographer Jessica Alexander for all of her hard work.
From a small mountain town in Appalachia to Broadway, film and television, commencement 2026 speaker Kimberly Belflower shared the winding path that led her to becoming a Tony-nominated playwright.
Her message to graduates: don’t hide the parts of yourself that make you who you are. And sometimes the meandering path is the one that leads exactly where you need to go.
Watch her full commencement speech.
One of our favorite commencement traditions? Watching College of Fine Arts put their own creative spin on crossing the stage.
From dance moves to backflips to full-on splits, this year's graduates understood the assignment. Congratulations to the Class of 2026 for making the walk unforgettable.
Congratulations to the College of Fine Arts Class of 2026! The day was full of joy, and we loved celebrating your success today. We want to extend gratitude to playwright and alumna Kimberly Belflower (@kbelflower ) for her inspiring commencement address. The future is bright for #ut26! #HookEm
We asked our 2026 grads to share a favorite memory from their time in the College of Fine Arts and the answers did not disappoint. Congratulations to the Class of 2026! Thanks for the memories!
You've only got until this weekend to catch "Proof of Life: 2026 Senior Art Exhibition," the undergraduate show on view at the top floor of the Visual Arts Center. With commencement around the corner, now is the perfect time to celebrate the work of 62 undergrads in our department!
The last day to see "Proof of Life" is this Saturday, May 9. The VAC is free and open to the public every Tuesday-Saturday from 12–5 PM. See you soon!
Tomorrow is the big day!
Before graduates and guests head to the College of Fine Arts commencement ceremony, take a moment to review this important information. A little planning now can help the day go smoothly, so you can focus on celebrating this incredible milestone.
We can’t wait to celebrate the Class of 2026 with you. Hook ’em!
Friends: join the other @utstudiomfa grads and me today from 3–5 p.m. in the Visual Arts Center @visualartscenter for an Artist Led Walkthrough of the MFA Thesis Exhibition, Half a Second or Less.
Friday, April 24 3–5 p.m.
Visual Arts Center
2301 San Jacinto Blvd
Austin, Texas
The exhibition will remain up through May 9, 2026.
