Sarah Jessica Parker To Be Northwesterns 2026 Commencement Speaker

EVANSTON, IL — Sarah Jessica Parker will address Northwestern's Class of 2026 at the June 14 Commencement ceremony.

The university announced Parker as its 2026 commencement speaker on Tuesday, adding that the award-winning actress will also receive an honorary Doctor of Arts degree at the ceremony.

“Sarah Jessica Parker has been a strong supporter of the arts and humanities for many years, and I am thrilled she will be our commencement speaker,” said Interim President Henry S. Bienen. “From
starring in and producing film, television and theatre productions to her successful business ventures, Sarah’s iconic and versatile career speaks to the interdisciplinary approach we value and champion at Northwestern. I look forward to hearing her address our Class of 2026.”

Parker, known best for her role as Carrie Bradshaw in "Sex and the City," has a career that spans more than 50 years and has cemented her role as a pop culture icon. Throughout her career, Parker has channeled her talent and influence to elevate the arts and the voices of underrepresented people around the world.

Parker’s television credits include: “Equal Justice” and “Square Pegs.” Other past film credits include “Extreme Measures,” “If Lucy Fell,” “Til There Was You,” “L.A. Story,” “I Don't Know How She Does It,” “Smart People,” “Failure to Launch,” “The Family Stone” and many more.

“I’m truly honored to have been invited to serve as this year’s commencement speaker,” Parker said. “It’s a privilege to celebrate a graduating class whose years of hard work, dedication to their studies, commitment to one another, their community and the larger world deserve real recognition. I’m very much looking forward to addressing the Class of 2026 as they step into what I know will be an exciting and promising future. Congratulations to the graduates, it will be a thrill to celebrate your achievement.”