2026 Massachusetts College Commencement Speakers Announced

College commencement season in Massachusetts features a diverse lineup of speakers for 2026, including entertainers, business leaders, journalists and public figures. Institutions across the state have announced their chosen voices to address graduating students this spring.

Notable Speakers Across Massachusetts Campuses

Several high-profile individuals are set to deliver commencement addresses at Massachusetts colleges and universities in 2026. According to recent announcements, the speaker roster includes:

• Hilary Duff – actress and singer
• Soledad O’Brien – broadcast journalist and host of Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien
• Conan O’Brien – comedian and former late-night talk show host
• Josh Kraft – businessman and philanthropist
• Sheryl Sandberg – former Chief Operating Officer of Meta

These speakers join a broader mix of educators, artists, and public servants selected by institutions statewide.

Campus-Specific Announcements

Babson College

Babson College will feature two business leaders for its May 16 ceremonies. Undergraduate students will hear from C. Dean Metropoulos, a Babson alumnus and founder of Metropoulos & Co., who also holds a minority stake in the New England Patriots. The graduate ceremony will feature Adriana Cisneros, CEO of the multinational Cisneros enterprise.

Bentley University

Bentley University has selected regional business leaders for its May commencement weekend. Jon Bernstein, PNC Bank’s New England regional president, will address graduates of the McCallum Graduate School of Business on May 15. On May 16, Sarah Iselin, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, will keynote the university’s 107th undergraduate ceremony.

Berklee College of Music

At its May 9 ceremony held at Boston University’s Agganis Arena, Berklee College of Music will confer honorary Doctor of Music degrees on three Grammy-winning artists: vocalist and songwriter Jill Scott, multi-instrumentalist and arranger Jacob Collier, and Berklee alumnus Vinnie Colaiuta.

Boston College

Boston College has chosen Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher for its 150th Commencement Exercises on May 18. Gallagher serves as the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, a role that functions as the Catholic Church’s top foreign-policy position.

Other Institutions

Additional announcements include Edward M. Augustus, CEO of UniBank and former Massachusetts state senator, speaking at Anna Maria College on May 9. Assumption University will host Roosevelt Montás, a liberal education scholar at Bard College and author of Rescuing Socrates, on May 17. Boston University has not yet announced its commencement speaker, with the name expected to be revealed at the Senior Breakfast on May 1.

Context and Significance

This year’s commencement speakers reflect a blend of entertainment, journalism, business, academia, and public service. The selections come during a period noted for global challenges, including ongoing conflicts and economic uncertainty, themes that speakers may address in their remarks to graduates.

As institutions continue to finalize their lineups, the 2026 Massachusetts commencement season offers graduating students a range of perspectives from accomplished figures in their respective fields.