College graduation ceremonies this year reflected the complex mix of anxiety, hope, and political tension shaping the experience of the class of 2026. From coast to coast, speakers including politicians, artists, athletes, and business leaders addressed graduates amid ongoing economic uncertainties, evolving technology like artificial intelligence, and deepening cultural divisions.

At Yale University, author and journalist Min Jin Lee acknowledged the multitude of challenges confronting young people today—rising inflation, climate change, conflict, and disease—and called the graduates the “so-called anxious generation.” She urged them that, with time, they would gain clarity beyond the prevailing “fear mongering and anxiety provoking chaos.” In contrast, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, who spoke at New York University, encouraged students to build resilience by embracing challenges, even as some students protested his views on “cancel culture” and questioned his selection as a speaker.

Several commencement addresses emphasized the importance of perseverance and self-trust. Queen Latifah, addressing North Carolina A&T graduates, recounted her own humble means of traveling across New York City to pursue live music, urging students to embrace a certain “delusion” to achieve their goals. Actors Hugh Jackman and Harrison Ford, speaking at Ball State University and Arizona State University respectively, shared similar anecdotes about uncertain career beginnings and encouraged graduates to follow their instincts. At Rice University, author John Green spoke of adulthood as a balance of navigating failures and hardships alongside hope and progress.

Artificial intelligence emerged as a dominant theme, eliciting mixed reactions. Magic Johnson told Tuskegee University graduates to adopt new technologies rather than fear them, warning that individuals unfamiliar with AI risk being replaced in the workforce. In contrast, speakers at the University of Central Florida and the University of Arizona faced boos when discussing AI’s transformative role, with audiences expressing unease over its broad impact.

Political and social issues also featured prominently. Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser described Howard University’s class as standing “between democracy and autocracy.” Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi encouraged graduates at Notre Dame de Namur University to channel hope into concrete plans addressing climate change and economic disparities. Meanwhile, Erika Kirk, speaking at Hillsdale College, invoked her late husband Charlie Kirk’s legacy by promoting traditional family values and gender roles grounded in their Christian faith.

At the University of Michigan, historian Derek Peterson highlighted the “hard won” freedoms that came through student activism, citing past civil rights and pro-Palestinian protests. The university’s interim president issued a public apology following Peterson’s remarks, acknowledging differing community responses. Political disputes also led some speakers to withdraw: South Carolina State University rescinded an invitation to Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette after student protests over her prior views on immigration enforcement, and Rutgers University similarly withdrew its offer to CEO Rami Elghandour amid concerns over his social media commentary on Israel.

Despite the challenges of the moment, several speakers exhorted graduates to confront obstacles head-on. Former NFL quarterback Tom Brady told Georgetown University graduates to “fight your ass off” when confronting difficult decisions. At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, YouTube host Sean Evans used humor to connect with graduates as he recounted his journey from a Chicago suburb to interviewing celebrities.

This year’s commencements underscored a generational moment marked by uncertainty but also resilience, as speakers sought to navigate the complexities of the present while offering encouragement for the future.