• How much to graduation tickets cost? Tickets are FREE. Do not pay for them. Each Graduating Senior will automatically receive 4 tickets. Those tickets are for guests. Seniors will have their own entry/ticket.
• Are seats assigned for Graduation? No, seats are first come, first served. This will be a full event. Expect all seats to be filled.
• Where do Seniors pick up our graduation tickets? Graduation tickets will be picked up by Graduating Seniors during their Senior Check-out Day on June 11, 2026. Tickets will be part of their sign out responsibilities on that day. Seattle Public Schools will not distribute tickets to schools until End of May/Early June.
• What if our address is not up to date; will we not get our tickets sent to us? Pick up is the only option for tickets. We do not have funding to send them in the mail. Each Graduate will have to sign for their tickets.
• I asked for additional tickets on the form. When do we find out about how many extra tickets we get? The family member who made the request will receive an email with details on Friday, April 3., 2026 More details about the actual # of additional tickets will be included in the email to families. Additional ticket requests will be honored as we are able. More communication will come to both graduating Seniors via email, school announcements, and class meetings & families will receive updates via email.
  • Questions: Graduation Coordinator: Laura Lehni; lllehni@seattleschools.org
• What do we do if our family has ADA needs? Look for additional information from Ms. Lehni, Principal Hunt, and Ballard ASB around specific ADA requests for attendees. These attendees will still need a ticket and these are not additional tickets.
• What do I do if I asked for more tickets and I made a mistake or someone else requested tickets? You should be able to resubmit the form if you made an error. Any Graduating Senior who has more than one submission under their name will receive direct communication from Ms. Lehni before the end of March regarding the issue.

SPS | McCaw Hall Expectations | FAQ

Getting to McCaw Hall

• What is the address and phone number for McCaw Hall? McCaw Hall is located on Mercer Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues, on the north edge of the Seattle Center campus, approximately 2 miles north of the downtown Seattle business district. Hall’s street address is 321 Mercer Street, Seattle, WA 98109.
  • Refer to the McCaw Hall Website
  • Seattle Center / McCaw Hall Customer Service: 206-684-7200
• Where can I check for Transportation updates? Transportation affecting access to and from Seattle Center can be found at the Seattle Center website.
• Is parking available for guests Parking is available at nearby garages, including the Mercer Street Garage. Details and directions.
• What is the impact of the World Cup on Graduations at McCaw Hall On June 15, a World Cup match will take place at noon at Lumen Field, and graduation ceremonies are scheduled for 2, 5 and 8 p.m. that day. Seattle Center will also host fan celebrations. Seattle Center will likely experience especially high foot traffic that day.
• Is McCaw Hall ADA accessible? Yes. ADA-accessible routes, seating, and restrooms are available. The Sky Bridge will be open to provide ADA access while minimizing elevator use. ADA seating is located in the lower rows on the far-right side of the hall.
• How does ticketing and security work? McCaw Hall team will manage security at the guest entry and guest relations at the door, including bag checks and wanding. SPS will partner to provide additional security as needed.

Entering McCaw Hall

• Where do guests enter McCaw Hall? Guests will enter through the Mercer Street North Entrance, which serves as the main public entrance, and show their ticket to enter. Ushers and signage will direct guests to appropriate seating areas.
• Where can families wait if they arrive early? Guests may wait in the Mercer Street Main Lobby. Students will gather separately in the Lecture Hall prior to the ceremony.
• How do I drop off my graduate? Ballard HS Seniors should follow instructions given at the Mandatory Rehearsal. Some schools are encouraging families to park and then walk along Mercer Street to the closest entrance to the Lecture Hall.
• Where do graduates enter the venue? Ballard HS Seniors should follow instructions given at the Mandatory Rehearsal. Some schools graduates may enter through the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall Entrance. Some students may gather in the Lecture Hall prior to the ceremony with staff and teacher supervision and will then be escorted into the Main Hall.
• What if a graduate arrives late? Ballard HS Seniors should follow instructions given at the Mandatory Rehearsal. Some late-arriving graduates may follow the same process as other graduates and enter through the Nesholm Lecture Hall Entrance.
• Where do graduates go after the ceremony? Ballard HS Seniors should follow instructions given at the Mandatory Rehearsal. Graduates will exit directly outside the venue and proceed west to the Founders Court. Families will be asked to remain seated until all graduates have exited, after which families may follow.
• Where are graduates seated during the ceremony? Graduates will be seated in the lower-level seating area.
• Will the ceremonies be live-streamed? The graduations will be live streamed during the events and available on the SPS Graduation webpage after the ceremonies.
• Will ASL interpretation be available? Yes. Live ASL interpretation will be provided for ADA seating sections. Ushers will guide guests who require ASL services to the appropriate seating area.

McCaw Hall Procedures and Expectations

• Are bags allowed? There will be bag checks and screening upon entry. Small bags (typically around 4.5″ x 6.5″ or 4″x 6″x 1.5″) will be allowed. Not allowed liquids, weapons, and large bags. Cameras are allowed.
• Are signs, balloons, air horns, or poppers allowed? No. Items that obstruct views or disrupt the ceremony—such as helium balloons, air horns, poppers, and similar items—are not allowed inside McCaw Hall.
• Is food allowed inside the hall? Food and beverages are not allowed in the venue. Water bottles are allowed in the lobby.
• What if I lost something in McCaw Hall If you realize you have lost an item while attending an event, please inquire with any of the usher staff or House Manager for assistance locating the item.
  • Lost and Found items are taken to the Seattle Center Customer Service office inside the Armory. Call 206-684-7200 to inquire about a lost item. It may take between 24 and 48 hours for a found item to be transferred from McCaw Hall to the Customer Service office.