The Harvard Kennedy School Class of 2026 celebrated Commencement May 26-28, 2026. From HKS-specific events to the Harvard-wide ceremony, HKS students were able to bask in their accomplishments, celebrate with loved ones, and hear from various speakers.
Our graduates will continue to make an impact all over the world, carrying with them the knowledge they gained at HKS wherever they go. Meet some of our graduating students and explore the Commencement festivities below.
Meet Our Graduating Students
Learn more about a few of the 632 graduates who make up the Class of 2026.
For Sisay Lelissa MPA/ID 2026, opportunity comes with responsibility
Sisay Lelissa MPA/ID 2026 reflects on the journey that brought him from Ethiopia to Harvard Kennedy School—and on his commitment to turning opportunity into impact for communities across Africa.
A vital link between astronauts and mission control
After a year at the Kennedy School, Grier Wilt MC/MPA 2026 returning to NASA ready for next lunar missions.
The obligation of talent
Simone Ginanneschi MPA 2026 believes talented people have a moral responsibility to give back to their communities.
Believing in the power of the people
Paige Swem MC/MPA 2026 believes real change happens when institutions share power with the people.
Ready to move mountains
Aïssata Lam MC/MPA 2026 on leaving government office for HKS, becoming a mother, and her next phase of impact.
Meals, friendship, and the economics of belonging
Gabriella Fleischman PhD in Public Policy 2026 traces how a simple dinner invitation in rural Malawi can ease loneliness, spark new livelihoods, and reshape our understanding of inequality.
Class of 2026 Class Day Awards
The HKS community came together for the Class of 2026 Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, May 27 in John F. Kennedy Memorial Park to celebrate the achievements of members of the Class of 2026 and the faculty and staff members who supported them along the way.
Address to Graduates by Zanny Minton Beddoes
Editor-in-chief of The Economist and HKS alumna Zanny Minton Beddoes MPA 1992 gave the 2026 HKS graduation address. In her remarks, Beddoes discussed the fast-paced changes in public policy; explained how her work has shifted over the thirty years since graduating from HKS; and expounded on one piece of advice about how to enact real-world change: “Periods of dramatic upheaval can feel overwhelming. Don't be overwhelmed.”
HKS Commencement 2026
HKS graduates embody the HKS mission that skilled, bold leadership and smart public policy can improve lives everywhere.
