The funny & sometimes inspiring advice celebs gave during 2026 grad speeches
During the 2026 graduation season, several speeches have gone viral for the wrong reasons, mainly for encouraging the newly Gen Z graduates to embrace Artificial Intelligence in their careers. At the University of Arizona, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt was booed when he told graduates to “say yes” to technology, while the University of Central Florida graduates immediately erupted in boos when real estate executive Gloria Caufield declared AI as “the next industrial revolution.”
On the other hand, there have been many celebrity-filled commencement speakers throughout this year’s graduation season that were more popular than the AI-driven speeches. From Hoda Kotb’s powerful message that rejection doesn’t mean failure to Harrison Ford’s advocacy on environmental causes, here are five inspiring and funny celebrity graduation speeches.
Harrison Ford
When he’s not on screen fighting alongside Chewbacca or fighting enemies with a whip, beloved actor Harrison Ford has been a conservationist for over 30 years and serves as Vice Chair of Conservation International. In May, he delivered a speech to Arizona State University graduates, urging them to protect the environment and seize every opportunity. Ford, who received an honorary Doctor of Arts and Humane Letters for his work in Hollywood and conservation, spoke about finding his passion in acting but discovering his true purpose through nature: “Nature doesn’t need people. People need nature to survive,” he said.
Ford also talked about taking advantage of every opportunity that comes to you. Embracing every opportunity allows you to build on leadership skills — to be able to bring people who would normally never be around each other together, Ford said.
“Your generation has far more power than you may realize. And if you harness that power, if you find your leadership, your issues, your voice, the world will not be able to ignore you. You will have to be accommodated.”
Conan O’Brien
In his third speech for Harvard University, comedian Conan O’Brien was up to his normal nonsensical humor at the 2026 Harvard Commencement Address. While humorously poking fun at other Ivy League schools: “AI cannot replace you; they’ll be too busy replacing those creeps in Princeton,” O’Brien emphasized to graduates that their Harvard degree shouldn’t be defining their lives.
After joking that O’Brien is planning on joining the government in suing the school for his freshman form and morning classes, O’Brien centered his speech on how community, spontaneity and his commitment to humility allowed him to build his fruitful life. He credited the people around him who helped him start his career, the constant shifts in his comedy career, and his willingness to embarrass himself at the expense of others for shaping his rich life.
“Much of what has been written about how isolated and siloed we’ve become. But for me, the antidote is quite simple. By deemphasizing what makes us special, in your case a prized degree, we can really find each other. Not as an exercise in virtue, but as a greater path towards greater laughter, love and real growth,” O’Brien said.
Sarah Jessica Parker
She may be defined as the quintessential New York City girl, but Sarah Jessica Parker has her roots in the Midwest. Before her “Sex and the City” fame, Parker was born and raised in Ohio, where her midwestern charm was evident during her Northwestern University Commencement Address. Parker, who was awarded an honorary Doctor of Arts degree, centered on prioritizing empathy and curiosity after graduating.
In a world of uncertainty, Parker used an acting rehearsal technique in her speech to emphasize every opportunity that presents itself: “What if you could maintain your individuality?” “What if you could honor, continue to honor and nurture your curiosity?”
With the world always changing and bounded by traditional, outdated rules, Parker, a self-declared rule breaker, abided by the “Golden Rule:” “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” As Parker challenges graduates to break and make their own rules, she encourages them to hold onto kindness and decency to the people around them.
Colman Domingo
Before starring in his Oscar-nominated roles “Rustin” and “Sing Sing,” Colman Domingo was studying journalism at Temple University. Though Domingo dropped out to pursue acting, he returned to Temple to give the Commencement speech, where he was also awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters. Domingo, who mostly went off-script, delivered an authentic, inspiring speech to Temple graduates.
Similar to O’Brien’s speech, Domingo’s speech focused on prioritizing one’s character over accomplishments. In his speech, Domingo credits Temple for his career and said that where you start doesn’t define where you’ll end up. Domingo, who was on the brink of graduating and worked two jobs, dropped out of Temple to pursue acting. But before becoming a household name, Domingo took on small roles and worked on the side as a bartender and photographer for years. Domingo nearly quit acting when he got rejected to star in “Boardwalk Empire.” However, he soon found his footing and is one of the biggest actors today.
“Success is lovely, awards are shiny, titles are impressive, but character — character — is the legacy,” Domingo said.
Hoda Kotb
With Gen Z facing one of the highest unemployment rates the country has ever seen, NBC “Today”’s Hoda Kotb knew what it was like to be a college graduate uncertain about her future and gave Fordham University graduates a speech to remember. Before becoming one of the country’s most recognizable morning show anchors, Kotb was faced with rejection left and right, where she even faced 27 rejections in 10 days early in her career.
A fresh 1986 Virginia Tech graduate, Kotb was bluntly rejected by every news outlet she visited and nearly threw in the towel. Despite her defeat, Kotb recalls giving her broadcast career one more chance and went down to Greenville, Mississippi. There, she met the news director Stan Sandroni, who took a chance on Kotb and hired her, marking the start of her illustrious career.
“You don’t need everyone to love you. You just need one. Find your Stan,” Kotb said.
Wrap Up
Graduation ceremonies have become notorious for being long and dull. But the commencement speeches are what most graduates look forward to — it’s their last words of wisdom before being sent off to the real world. Whether it’s Conan O’Brien’s compassion over accomplishments speech or Sarah Jessica Parker’s encouragement to always be empathetic and curious, a common thread with all the speeches is to embrace the uncertain and to make up your own path.
Related:
- 10 major differences between community college and university life
- Famous artists who left college with debt
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