The IADT 2026 Autumn Conferring Ceremony will take place on
Friday 30 October 2026 in the
RDS Concert Hall, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

Your Ceremony will commence at 13:00 pm sharp.

(We recommend that you arrive 1.5 hours before the start time of the ceremony)

All Graduands must confirm if they will be attending or not, by 12.00 Noon on Tuesday 13 October.  Pre-registrations will allow us to manage the capacity of the space for those attending.

Your name on your parchment

Please note that your name will be stated on your parchment, as listed on your invitation email. Please check that detail, and if you require your name to be stated differently on the parchment, you must let us know in advance, via the Conferring Registration Form link at the bottom of this page.  Please remember your parchment is a legal document, so we recommend you use your legal name, e.g. Elizabeth instead of Liz.  Note: There is a charge for parchment reprints.  

Outstanding Fees 

Please note that, if you have fees outstanding, you will not be able to attend the Conferring ceremony.  You will be contacted separately on this matter.  Please ensure that any outstanding fees are paid, in full, by 12.00 Noon on Wednesday 14 October 2026 at the latest.   Do note that we cannot process fees on the day of the conferring.

How many guests can I bring? 

You are allowed to bring a maximum of two guests to the RDS on the day of your ceremony – this is due to the number of attendees, room capacity, and the need to manage health and safety at the event.  Unfortunately, additional guests cannot be accommodated.    

Where is the Conferring Ceremony being held?

The IADT Conferring Ceremony will take place on Friday 30 October 2026 in the RDS Concert Hall, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.
The RDS is located in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 and is easily accessible via car, bus or DART.  Detailed information on how to get to the RDS can be found at: Getting to the RDS.  

Your ceremony will be held in the Concert Hall (Hall 7) – you will enter via the Anglesea Road Entrance into the Registration Room (Hall 6)  and then on to Gowning and Photography.  (The rooms used for IADT conferring are not accessible via Merrion Road)

Is there car parking available on site?

Parking is available at the RDS on a fee-paying basis.  Please refer to: Parking at the RDS for more information. 

When do I have to arrive?

You are required to be registered and robed one hour prior to the ceremony.  We advise that you arrive 1.5 hours before the start time of the ceremony in order allow sufficient time to park, register, collect your robe, photography etc.  At registration, you will be given a seat number ticket which you should keep safely with you. You will also be issued with tickets for your guests.

How will the Ceremony be organised?

The ceremony will be organised as follows:

• You will need to register your attendance (and that of your guests) via this Conferring Registration Form below .  Please ensure you have registered by 12.00 Noon on Tuesday 13 October at the latest.
• You should arrive at the RDS at least 1.5 hours before the start of the ceremony.
• On arrival, you will be directed to sign in for the event.
• You will then be directed to the gowning space where you will receive your gown for the ceremony. 
• If you are having your photos taken by the official photographer, it is recommended that you do this before the ceremony
• All graduands and guests must be seated in the ceremony room at least 10 minutes before the start of the ceremony
• At the start of the ceremony, the IADT President, Registrar, and Heads of Department process into the the room and take their seats on the stage
• Each graduand will be awarded their parchment by the President / Registrar
• A member of the conferring team will organise you in a row, ready to move to the front of the room to accept your parchment from the President when your name is called.  You will then return to your seat.
• When the ceremony concludes, you should leave the room.  Tea and coffee will be served to graduates and their guests
• Please return your gown to the gowning room before you leave to continue your celebrations offsite

Gown Hire

All graduands must wear a gown during the ceremony.  You may also wear a cap if you wish, it is entirely your choice.

Graduates must pre-book robes with the official robe-makers, Phelan Conan Ltd before Midnight on Sunday 26 October 2025.  Robes may be pre-booked on-line at www.phelanconan.com.  The pre-paid hire fee is €40 or pay-on-the-day hire fee is €45.  The pay-on-the-day hire fee can be made by scanning our QR code.  Cash will not be accepted.

Due to the implementation of a personal 3D secure password during the credit card payment process on  www.phelanconan.com, Phelan Conan Ltd staff are no longer able to take bookings over the phone. This has been created to protect your online payments and if you don’t already have a 3D secure password you can activate it by following the simple instructions during the booking process.  If you experience any further problems with 3D secure process, please contact your bank.

Robes can be collected on the day at the times listed below from Hall 6, RDS, Dublin 4

• Friday 30 October between 10:30 am – 12:45 pm for those attending the 13:00 pm ceremony

All gowns must be returned to Phelan Conan Ltd, on-site in the RDS, as soon as possible after the conclusion of your ceremony.

*Note – all hire and payments for gowns and photography are via the respective companies and not IADT directly

Photographs

Lafayette Photography is the official photographer for your conferring. It is advisable to book and pre-pay your photography in advance at www.lafayette.ie.  Payments on the day must be made by debit/credit card only.  The photography studios at the RDS will be open two hours before the ceremony. You can have your photos taken before (scrolls are provided for this purpose) or after the ceremony.  

*Note – all hire and payments for gowns and photography are via the respective companies and not IADT directly

Refreshments

Tea/coffee + biscuits will be served at the end of the ceremony outside the conferring space for graduates and their guests.

Photography + Filming of the Event

Photography and filming may take place throughout the event.   These will be used by IADT for the purpose of promoting its activities and may be published on the Institute’s website and circulated to the press and other media organisations for publication, transmission or broadcast.  If you do not wish to appear in the photographs or films, please avoid the areas where photography/filming are taking place.

Need Help? Contact Us

Refer to the Conferring Page on the IADT website: https://iadt.ie/for-students/graduation/ for more guidance, FAQs and other useful information about the conferring. 

If you have any queries, please contact us at conferring@iadt.ie

Please use the link below to Register your attendance. Note: You may register to join the Alumni Portal first if you wish, or you can Continue as Guest for now, to register and confirm your details.