2026 Graduation Details
The Class of 2026 will graduate on Thursday, May 21 at 7:00 pm during a ceremony at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts (1601 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108). Congratulations, graduates!
The 2026 graduation ceremony will be watchable via live stream at https://vimeo.com/event/5946052 and on this page, beginning at 6:30 PM on Thursday, May 21.
Ticketing
The 2026 graduation ceremony is a ticketed event, and all guests of all ages must have tickets to attend. All seats at this event are assigned (there is no general admission or first-come, first-serve seating).
For Family and Guests of Graduates:
You will receive your tickets from your graduate. Students receive their set of paper tickets to distribute to their guests in mid-May. Please reach out directly to your graduate with questions.
For Graduates:
While you do not need a ticket yourself, you are responsible for making sure your guests have tickets to graduation. You have received directions about reserving tickets and submitting your guest list from Bailey Page. If you have additional questions about tickets, please reach out to her at [email protected] or ask her your question during a Senior Updates session.
While you do not need a ticket yourself, you are responsible for making sure your guests have tickets to graduation. You have received directions about reserving tickets and submitting your guest list from Bailey Page. If you have additional questions about tickets, please reach out to her at [email protected] or ask her your question during a Senior Updates session.
For EMKS Staff and Community Guests:
EMKS staff and community guests receive invitations via Greenvelope by mid-April and are asked to RSVP by May 1. If you have questions about attending graduation, contact Bailey Page at [email protected]. EMKS staff and community guests receive their digital tickets or directions about picking up paper tickets mid-May.
EMKS staff and community guests receive invitations via Greenvelope by mid-April and are asked to RSVP by May 1. If you have questions about attending graduation, contact Bailey Page at [email protected]. EMKS staff and community guests receive their digital tickets or directions about picking up paper tickets mid-May.
Transportation and Parking
Parking for the event is available at the Arts District Garage (287 W 17 St, Kansas City, MO 64108). The Kauffman School will cover the cost of parking for graduation guests. Say that you're here for EMKS graduation or show your ticket when you park in order to have your parking cost covered.
Public transportation is also available to attend this event, most notably via the streetcar. If you travel via streetcar, use the Kauffman Center stop at 16th & Main.
Venue Rules and Safety Regulations
The Kauffman Center's website includes full details about the policies and procedures that will be in place during graduation. Review the information here: https://www.kauffmancenter.org/the-center/policies/
Bag checks and security screenings will be performed on all guests upon entering the venue. The following information is excerpted from the Kauffman Center's Policies and Procedures page: "All persons and items entering the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts are subject to search. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts management reserves the right to refuse any item deemed a potential safety or security risk or with the potential to be a distraction to the event being held. Screenings will be performed by trained professional contracted security staff, and may include, but are not limited to:
- Visual screening
- Bag, case, coat, and hat screenings
- Hand-held magnetometers
- Walk-through magnetometers and/or threat detection systems
Certain types of bags and/or cases are prohibited, including but not limited to:
- Backpacks
- Luggage
- Computer Bags
- Camera Bags/Cases
- Instrument Cases
- Briefcases
- Large Totes and Duffel Bags
All items entering the Kauffman Center will be screened at the point of entry. Items prohibited in the Kauffman Center include, but are not limited to:
- Firearms of any size or type*
- Other weapons and knives of any size or type
- Pepper spray, mace, or other chemicals
- Alcohol, illegal substances, or drug paraphernalia
- Professional-grade audio, photo, or video recording equipment
- Cans, bottles, or outside food and beverages"
Other FAQs
What time should I arrive?
The Kauffman Center will admit guests into the venue as early as 5:30 PM, and the Muriel Kauffman Theater (where EMKS's graduation will be held) will begin seating guests at 6:30 PM. Our graduate processional is scheduled to begin at 7:05 PM. Please give yourself enough time to park, enter and find your seat so that we can start on time.
Do babies need tickets?
The Kauffman Center's policy is that all individuals of any age require a ticket, regardless if they will sit in a seat. If you plan to bring an infant to graduation, they must have a separate ticket. This requirement is not flexible.
We are excited to offer simultaneous interpreting in Spanish for the 2026 graduation ceremony. Guests wishing to take advantage of this service can check out a transmitter in the lobby to listen to the translated ceremony.
What other accomodations will be available?
Read more about accessibility at the Kauffman Center here. Please check in with Bailey Page ([email protected]) if you have any additional questions or need to ensure you've received an ADA seat.
What time does my graduate need to arrive at the venue on the day of graduation?
On graduation day, graduates will have rehearsal from 8 AM-11:30 AM (starting and ending at the Kauffman School) and will check in at the Kauffman Center between 5:45-6 PM that evening. Graduates will check in via the performer entrance on the north side of the building.
The Kauffman Center's Policies and Procedures page has the most comprehensive list of items that are / are not allowed in the venue. In general, if a guest tries to bring in a disallowed item, provided that it is not a safety threat, they will be permitted to return it to their vehicle or leave it in a designated space outside the theater. Here is guidance on some specific items people may consider bringing to graduation:
- Cameras: Cell phone cameras and small "point-and-shoot" or digital cameras are allowed. DSLR cameras or other professional camera equipment is not allowed in the venue.
- Signs: Guests are permitted to bring signs into the theater provided that they do not obstruct the view of anyone around them.
- Noisemakers: Noise makers and airhorns are prohibited and will be taken to Coat Check by Security for storage where they can picked up after the ceremony.
- Balloons: Balloons are not permitted inside the Kauffman Center and guests with balloons will not be able to bring them in.
- Flowers: Flowers may be brought into the building but may not be taken into the venue (for odor reasons and the allergic reactions they can create for others). They can be left on tables in the lobby where cards, pens and tape will be available for labeling.
What is graduation dress code?
We invite guests to dress formally, in a way that celebrates the significance of our graduates' accomplishments! Graduates will wear their EMKS-blue caps and gowns. Graduates' outfits will be mostly covered by their cap and gown, but we invite them to wear something dressy underneath. Graduates will need to choose shoes that they can comfortably go up and down stairs while wearing.
What time will the ceremony be over?
We expect the ceremony will end around 9:00 PM. The Kauffman Center asks that attendees leave within 30 minutes of the ceremony ending.