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For all those graduating in 2020, Facebook and Instagram are hosting a virtual celebration, with stars like Oprah Winfrey and Jennifer Garner giving the commencement address. The broadcast, #Graduation2020, begins on May 15 and will feature a number of celebrity hosts and musical performances. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect from this star-studded event.

Cardi B arrives at the Spring-Summer 2020 Chanel fashion show.
Cardi B | CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP via Getty Images

Oprah Winfrey will start the celebration with a commencement speech

Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, high school and college seniors aren’t getting the processions and parties they were expecting for graduation. But to celebrate their acknowledgment, even in this time of uncertainty, Facebook and Instagram have put together a virtual graduation with dozens of celebrity guests.

The #Graduation2020 festivities will begin on May 15, at 2 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on Facebook Watch and the Facebook app. Sheryl Sandberg will introduce Oprah, who will kick off the celebration with a commencement speech. And celebrities like Awkwafina, Jennifer Garner, Lil Nas X, and Simone Biles will join in for the commencement address.

Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak will co-host the virtual graduation

Along with Oprah, Cardi B, Mindy Kaling, and B.J. Novak will also virtually host the graduation event. Dozens of other notable celebrities will jump in for the festivities, including Hugh Jackman, Matthew McConaughey, and Andy Cohen. 

Some of the This Is Us cast, including Milo Ventimiglia, Sterling K. Brown, and Chrissy Metz will also be there, along with notable Hollywood names like Kristen Bell, Marlee Matlin, and Charles Melton. Queer Eye stars Antoni Porowski, Karamo Brown, Jonathan Van Ness, and Bobby Berk are also scheduled to join in.

Miley Cyrus will join in to perform her hit song, “The Climb.” And throughout the broadcast, other musical talents including, Selena Gomez, Usher, Gloria Estefan, Diplo, and DJ Khaled will appear. 

Reality stars La La Anthony, Lisa Vanderpump, and Kandi Burruss will also join in for the festivities, as will comedians Nick Kroll, Steve Harvey, and Iliza Shlesinger. Professional athletes Tim Tebow, The Miz, Sasha Banks, Chris Paul, and Chiney Ogwumike will also make appearances.

How to watch if you missed the live event

Along with sharing Oprah and other celebrities’ words of wisdom, the virtual celebration will individually recognize high schools and colleges from all over the country and include video messages from principals and deans. For those who missed the event, Instagram will be posting highlights on their @instagram account, as well as to contributing celebrities’ pages. 

Both social media platforms have also created a variety of experiences for graduates to celebrate and share their success. Instagram is rolling out features like graduation stickers, new AR effects, and the custom hashtag #Graduation2020 for seniors to share their successes.

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Similarly, Facebook has created a virtual graduation hub for graduates to celebrate together online. Users can host virtual graduation ceremonies on Facebook Live. And they can also use the platform’s graduation-themed AR Effects and graduation speech filters that come with college-themed stoles and customizable tassels.

With so much uncertainty in the air, it’s comforting to see people, including celebrities, pause to celebrate and acknowledge young graduates for their hard work. It may not be the graduation they expected, but with Oprah leading the commencement, it will still be pretty special.

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