UW graduation weekend 2027: things to do in Seattle

Saturday, 12 June 2027 · ExpectedSeattle, United States

University of Washington Commencement brings parents, grandparents and siblings to Seattle for a weekend. The ceremony takes a morning: this guide covers where to stay, the celebration dinner and what to do with the rest of the time.

Tours in Seattle Hotels for these dates

Know before you go

Confirm the date and ticket rules on the school's commencement page: guest tickets are often limited.
Book the celebration dinner when you book the hotel. Every restaurant in town is full that weekend.

Airport to Husky Stadium

Sea-Tac (SEA) has Link light rail to downtown in 40 minutes.

Link light rail to University of Washington station.

Public transport directions to Husky Stadium

Where to stay by budget

Budget	Where	Why
Budget	University District	Near UW, cheaper.
Mid-range	Downtown and Belltown	Walk to Pike Place.
Splurge	Waterfront	Harbor views.

Three hotels we would book

Budget: Graduate Seattle
Mid-range: Hotel Max
Splurge: Four Seasons Hotel Seattle

Links search the nights from 11 June to 13 June. Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Day plans for the free hours

Built around the usual graduation weekend schedule for Saturday, 12 June 2027. Session times change: check the official timetable and move the blocks around.

Arrival day

Friday 11 June

Check in, walk the campus with your graduate and book a celebration dinner.

FreeOlympic Sculpture Park.
EatPike Place Chowder Chowder

Ceremony day

Saturday 12 June

Ceremonies take the morning. The afternoon is for photos and a long lunch.

EatPiroshky Piroshky Pastries
Easy outingFerry to Bainbridge Island Half day · Low walking
Cheap ferry with views.

The day after

Sunday 13 June

A free day before everyone leaves. A good time for a trip out of town.

Half-daySpace Needle and Chihuly Garden Half day · Family
Glass art and views.
EatCanlis Fine dining landmark

Grandparents and siblings

Low walking and kid friendly.

Family pickMount Rainier day trip Full day · Family
Paradise and glaciers.
Rain or heat backupUnderground tour Half day · Indoor · Family
Pioneer Square tunnels.

Family-friendly picks

Full day · Family

Mount Rainier day trip

Paradise and glaciers.

See times and prices

Half day · Family

Space Needle and Chihuly Garden

Glass art and views.

See times and prices

Half day · Indoor · Family

Underground tour

Pioneer Square tunnels.

See times and prices

Seattle Aquarium.
Pacific Science Center.

Evening and day-trip tours

Full day · Family

Mount Rainier day trip

Paradise and glaciers.

See times and prices

After dark

Capitol Hill.

5 tours worth booking for UW

Tour	Length	Good for
Mount Rainier day trip	Full day	Families
Space Needle and Chihuly Garden	Half day	Families
Ferry to Bainbridge Island	Half day	Tired legs
Underground tour	Half day	Bad weather, Families
Pike Place Market food tour	Half day	Food lovers

Event weeks sell out. Book tours with free cancellation as soon as the session times are published.

Where to eat

Pike Place Chowder Chowder
Piroshky Piroshky Pastries
Canlis Fine dining landmark

Reserve dinner for the nights around the event: restaurants near the venue fill up days ahead.

Rainy-day backups

Half day · Indoor · Family

Underground tour

Pioneer Square tunnels.

See times and prices

MoPOP.
Seattle Art Museum.

Getting around on event days

Link light rail serves UW, downtown and the airport.

Day trips from Seattle

Mount Rainier: 2 hours
Bainbridge: 35 minutes by ferry

Bringing a group?

Corporate hospitality, fan clubs, teams and families travelling together: tell us the dates and group size and we will put together tours, transfers and a group dinner for UW.

Plan a group trip

Questions people ask

When is University of Washington Commencement 2027?

The next edition is Saturday, 12 June 2027, following the usual pattern. The organiser has not confirmed it yet.

How do I get from the airport to Husky Stadium?

Sea-Tac (SEA) has Link light rail to downtown in 40 minutes. Link light rail to University of Washington station.

Where should I stay for University of Washington Commencement?

For most visitors the best base is Downtown and Belltown: Walk to Pike Place.

What else can we do around University of Washington Commencement?

Good short outings in Seattle include Pike Place Market food tour, Space Needle and Chihuly Garden, Ferry to Bainbridge Island. See the day plans on this page for a full schedule.

What is there for kids and families near University of Washington Commencement?

Family-friendly picks: Mount Rainier day trip, Space Needle and Chihuly Garden, Underground tour. Seattle Aquarium.

How far is Husky Stadium from Seattle centre?

About 5 km in a straight line. Link light rail to University of Washington station.

More events in Seattle

27 Nov 2026*Seattle Marathon
Seattle, United StatesMarathon

More University graduations

12 Jun 2027*UC San Diego Commencement
San Diego, United StatesGraduation 13 Jun 2027*Dartmouth Commencement
Hanover, New Hampshire, United StatesGraduation 13 Jun 2027*Stanford Commencement
Palo Alto and Stanford, United StatesGraduation 13 Jun 2027*Northwestern Commencement
Chicago, United StatesGraduation 21 Jun 2027*University of Glasgow Summer Graduations
Glasgow, United KingdomGraduation 28 Jun 2027*University of St Andrews Graduation Week
St Andrews, United KingdomGraduation

Everything we cover in Seattle