Convocation 2026 brought together graduates from across Canada and beyond to celebrate our largest celebration in our home community of Athabasca yet!
On June 11 and 12, 2026, we proudly celebrated the Class of 2026 which included 2,127 graduates from 49 programs—with grads located in every province in Canada and 31 international graduates!
Over two unforgettable days, 443 grads and over 1,900 guests filled the region, making our in-person celebration a grand success. After the ceremonies, everyone was invited to experience the AU Campus Celebration where grads and their loved ones enjoyed live music, lawn games, glitter tattoos, booths with activities and free gifts, ice cream and snow cones, the AU store, and more!
Each day, graduates also attended Connect at Convocation—faculty mixers designed to foster connections between graduates, classmates, professors, and staff who have supported their journeys.
Highlights of the ceremonies included inspiring speeches from 2026 Honorary Doctorate recipients, Dr. Sharlene Rutherford and Dr. William Snow, and the presentation of the Governor General's Academic Gold and Silver Medals to Sofia Barkova (gold) and Alison Rowney (silver).
New graduates also flipped their tassels from right to left and shared their proud successes with their families and communities on social media!
Highlights from Convocation 2026
Convocation in pictures
Take a peek at some photos that capture the essence of how we celebrated the Class of 2026!Watch the ceremonies
The two ceremonies have now been posted on .
June 11
- Faculty of Science and Technology
- Faculty of Health Disciplines
- Honorary Doctor of Laws: Dr. Sharlene Rutherford
- Governor General's Academic Gold Medal: Sofia Barkova
June 12
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Business
- Honorary Doctor of Science: Dr. William Snow
- Governor General's Academic Silver Medal: Alison Rowney
Congratulatory messages from supporters
Our graduates bring inspiration to us and those around them. We invited their families, friends, and AU faculty and staff to leave congratulatory messages on a , and the outpouring of support was truly heartwarming!
Class of 2026 at a glance
Sharing the moment
The Class of 2026, their family, friends, and the rest of the AU community joined the celebration on social media, sharing many wonderful moments.