This article has been updated to include new information available. 

Niles West’s class of 2026 graduation ceremony will be held at Northwestern University’s Welsh-Ryan Arena on Wednesday, May 20. Niles West Acting Principal Steve Parnther and Niles North Principal Marlon Felton shared the location in an email the morning of Friday Oct. 3, and the dates were announced during halftime at the West versus North football game that evening. More information is available on the D219 graduation page.

“The venue has ample seating, free parking, accessible restrooms and more to enhance your commencement experience. Complete graduation ceremony information will be available at a later date,” D219 principals said in the email.

After several years of graduation ceremonies held in the Niles West football stadium, the class of 2025 graduation ceremony was held at Northwestern on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. The principals’ announcement indicated that the arena was not available for a weekend ceremony in May 2026, and the final exam schedule for seniors will be adjusted to accommodate the earlier mid-week date.