Convocation
Your official welcome to The Ohio State University.
Convocation 2026
Monday, August 24, 2026, 11:00 a.m. - noon
Value City Arena, Schottenstein Center
Convocation is Ohio State's official welcome ceremony for new students and takes place the day before the autumn semester begins. This signature Ohio State tradition marks the start of your college journey and welcomes you to the Buckeye community.
Convocation is a student-only event, giving new Buckeyes the opportunity to come together as a class before the academic year begins. As the only time prior to graduation that the entire incoming class gathers in one place, Convocation creates a memorable shared experience and a strong sense of connection to Ohio State and your fellow Buckeyes.
During Convocation, students will:
Celebrate the start of their Ohio State journey
Connect with other new students
Learn about Ohio State traditions
Enjoy giveaways and special surprises
Hear messages from university leaders
Following the ceremony, students will join in a traditional walk through Ohio Stadium on the way to Buck-i-Frenzy.
Family members and supporters
You can still be a part of the experience by watching Convocation via livestream and celebrating this important milestone alongside your student. Live stream will be available on Monday, August 24, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. See video below.
Accessibility
If you require an accommodation such as live captioning or interpretation to participate in this event, please contact us at askfye@osu.edu or 614-292-3324. Requests made one week in advance of the event will generally allow us to provide seamless access, but the university will make every effort to meet requests made after this date.