2026 Graduation Day: 23/05/2026

In preparation for Graduation Day on 23 May 2026, we thought it might be useful to include some frequently asked questions (FAQs), which we will update continually.

Our aim is to provide you with enough information about both the afternoon Official Graduation Ceremony and the evening Graduation Gala Party, so you can start planning your graduation day celebration with your family and friends.

If your question isn't here? No problem, please just contact us directly and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

1.General Questions

1.1 Are there two graduation events on Saturday 23 May 2026?

Yes, there are two separate events on Saturday 23 May 2026.

Event 1: The Official Graduation Ceremony kicks off at around 14:00 (exact time to be confirmed closer to the date) at the SwissTech Convention Center, is free of charge and is organised by ISL. This event will finish at approximately 18:00 after a short celebratory toast.

Event 2: To continue the celebration, Y13 parent volunteers on the Graduation Committee are organising a Graduation Gala Party at Hotel Beau-Rivage Palace from around 19:00 (exact time to be confirmed closer to the date).

Note: Timings may change. An official email will be sent to all parents closer to the date with a detailed programme.

1.2 What can I do now to prepare for Graduation Day?

Here are a few things you can do now to get ready for Graduation Day:

Save the date and share with others! Graduation is on Saturday 23 May 2026—make sure it's marked in your calendar!
Start thinking about who you'd like to invite to celebrate with you at the Official Graduation Ceremony at the SwissTech Convention Center and at the evening Graduation Gala Party at the Beau-Rivage Palace!

1.3 Who is on the 2026 Graduation Committee?

Every year a group of Y13 parents generously volunteer to organise the evening Graduation Gala Party that follows the official afternoon Graduation Ceremony organised by ISL.

The 2026 Graduation Committee is made up of the following members:

Chair — Susy Nathan (Sophia’s mum)
Ingrid Arkesteijn (Amy’s mum)
Elzbieta Armatys Jach (Jan’s mum)
Lieve Baetens Beeckmans (Andres’ mum)
Elena Hatzidaki Martini (Pavlos’ mum)
Livia Lotti Maistrello (Francesco’s mum)
Iwona Olczak (Konrad’s mum)

As the 2026 Graduation Committee, our mission is to create a joyful and meaningful celebration that brings the ISL community together to honour the end of our children’s journey at the school and the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. We are a small group of committed Y12 (next year's Y13) parent volunteers, working closely together and putting our best effort to deliver un unforgettable experience that will leave lasting memories on all those who attend.

2. Official Graduation Ceremony at SwissTech

2.1 For the Official Graduation Ceremony in the afternoon, how many people can I invite?

All Diploma students, teachers and staff, parents, family and friends are invited to attend the official Graduation Ceremony at the SwissTech Convention Center at EPFL in Lausanne on Saturday 23 May 2026 from 14:00 - 18:00 approximately, with the exact times to be confirmed closer to the date. This is a free event, sponsored and organized by ISL. The event includes short speeches from the Director and Chair of the Board, individual speeches about each graduate as they receive their diploma, a speech by the class representatives delivered on behalf of the graduating class, student musical pieces and the annual leavers video to be produced by ISL staff for the Class of 2026.

Most families invite up to 12 guests, but more may be able to be arranged upon request. An email will be sent out from school in April 2026 asking for reservations and seats will be allocated by a lottery drawing.

The event will also be livestreamed for anyone who cannot attend.

Immediately following the official Graduation Ceremony, the school will host a celebratory toast at the same venue (SwissTech Convention Center). During this time, families will also have the opportunity to take graduation photographs. The toast is expected to conclude at approximately 18:00.

3. Graduation Gala Party at Beau-Rivage Palace

3.1 What should I expect at the Gala Party on Saturday 23 May 2026?

The Graduation Gala Party will begin at around 19:00, with the exact time to be confirmed closer to the date. This night is all about celebrating with great food and drinks, mingling with friends, family and some teachers, and making memories. It’s a cocktail dînatoire and party for graduating students, not a sit-down formal dinner! We’ll have numerous standing tables and some larger round tables, chairs and sofas available for anyone needing a quick break or for the comfort of our elderly guests. But we hope you won’t linger in your seats for too long! The ever-popular DJ Kudos will be on hand to open the dance floor later in the evening—so get ready to party and enjoy the dynamic energy of the evening.

The celebration will take place in the two connecting elegant ballrooms of the Beau-Rivage Palace—‘La Rotonde’ and ‘Salle Sandoz’. If the weather is kind, we’ll also enjoy the stunning lakeside gardens, offering a magical backdrop for the evening. Guests will be greeted with a welcome drink, followed shortly by circulating waiters offering a delightful selection of beverages, warm and cold dishes, and sweet treats, all complemented by buffet stations. After the meal, coffee and tea will be served. To keep the celebration going, the bar in 'Salle Sandoz' will remain open with a variety of drinks available for purchase.

3.2 How many people can I invite to the Graduation Gala Party and when can I purchase tickets?

Tickets for the Graduation Gala Party at the Beau-Rivage Palace do need to be purchased in advance.

The number of guests allowed per family will be communicated to you in January 2026 when tickets will be available to be purchased.

To support planning and budgeting, the Graduation Committee will ask all families in October 2025 to indicate the number of guests they would provisionally like to invite. Based on this information, and the overall capacity limit of 500 attendees (including students, teachers, family and friends) at the Beau-Rivage Palace, we will determine the maximum number of guests each family may invite. Please note that each graduating student will be guaranteed a minimum of 5 tickets for themselves and their immediate family. Our goal is to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of tickets among all families.

3.3 How much does a ticket cost for the Graduation Gala Party and what will it include?

In October, we will share a sign-up form to help estimate the number of guests attending the Graduation Gala Party. This information, along with the event’s budgeted expenses, will help us determine the exact ticket price. We expect to confirm ticket prices in November. Please note that tickets for graduating students and children will be priced lower than those for adults, with adult tickets estimated at around CHF 200.

Please rest assured that we are carefully managing expenses to stay within budget and keep the cost as affordable as possible for all families.

Ticket price will include:

The rental of the two elegant connecting ballrooms, ‘La Rotonde’ and ‘Salle Sandoz’, at the Beau-Rivage Palace, as well as access to the hotel’s beautiful gardens
A welcome drink
Delicious hot and cold food, including amuse-bouches, served with wine, beer or soft drinks for a limited time, followed by desserts, coffee and tea
Photo booth & photographer, floral arrangements and decorations
DJ, lighting and entertainment
The cost of inviting our wonderful teaching staff to join the celebration!

3.4 Will there be special hotel room discounts for Graduation Gala Party guests staying at the Beau-Rivage Palace hotel?

Yes, there will be a special discount on the hotel rooms at the Beau-Rivage Palace for guests attending the Graduation Gala party as well as at the Hotel Angleterre, located next to the Beau-Rivage Palace. The exact discount and the reservation links will be shared with you at a later date.

3.5 Why was the Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne chosen for the Graduation Gala Party?

After carefully reviewing several venues across Vaud for both availability in May 2026 and the capacity to host over 350 guests, the Graduation Committee shortlisted three options and entered into negotiations with each. Ultimately, the committee selected the majestic Beau-Rivage Palace — a legendary five-star hotel, renowned as one of Europe’s finest — for its unique blend of elegance and functionality as well as the most compelling value-for-money proposition among all the shortlisted venues.

The venue offers an ideal combination of spacious and sumptuously decorated rooms which combined with its charming gardens create a majestic, grand and truly unique setting for an occasion of this significance, honoring our graduates. With a capacity of up to 500 guests, it also provides the ideal space for a celebration of this scale. Moreover, its central location in Lausanne, just a five-minute walk from Ouchy metro station, ensures easy access via public transport and places it conveniently close to the SwissTech Convention Center. Finally, with 168 luxurious hotel rooms, as well as a spa and wellness center, Beau-Rivage Palace is well-suited for out-of-town guests who may wish to stay overnight.

Please note that times and programme details may change but will be confirmed in final communications sent to families closer to the date.

If you have any pressing questions, take a look at our FAQ section and feel free to contact us.

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