Grad Ball is a charity fundraising event for SUSU - Charity Number: 1148683 registered in England & Wales. The proceeds from this event will be used to create a better Southampton University Students' Union
Grad Ball is now SOLD OUT
Grad Ball 2026 is now sold out. If you already have a ticket but can no longer attend, you can resell your ticket safely through our official resale process by contacting the SUSU Reception. Please note that ticket resale is open until 17:00 on Thursday 28 May.
If you don’t currently have a ticket, you can still join the waitlist to be first in line for any tickets that become available through resale.
Grad Ball 2026
Join us for Grad Ball 2026 on Saturday, 06 June, from 19:00 – 02:00, where an evening of glamour, excitement, and celebration awaits.
Important information about your ticket
This year, Grad Ball will use wristbands for entry, making access quicker and smoother on the night.
Collect yours in advance from SUSU’s Reception, B42, from Monday 01 June to Friday 05 June
Grad Ball 2026
As the academic year comes to a close, it’s time to celebrate your incredible achievements and toast to the unforgettable journey you’ve had at university!
Join us for Grad Ball 2026 on Saturday, 06 June, from 19:00 – 02:00, where an evening of glamour, excitement, and celebration awaits.
This year’s Grad Ball promises to be more spectacular than ever! Don’t miss your chance to dance the night away, create lasting memories, and celebrate in true style.
Important Information
What time do I need to arrive?
Doors open at 19:00 and last entry is 00:30, so make sure you arrive in good time!
Where is the entrance to Grad Ball?
There will be two main entrances to access the venue:
- Side Road Entrance (Jubilee Sports Centre): Located on the side road next to the Jubilee Sports Centre. This entrance is best if you are coming from the Portswood direction.
- Main Road Entrance (Crescent/Redbrick): Positioned on the main road leading onto Crescent/Redbrick. This entrance is best if you are arriving from the Interchange direction.
Clear signage and staff will be in place to help direct you to the appropriate entrance on arrival.
What do I need to bring with me?
Please bring your digital Grad Ball ticket and student ID. If you have a guest with you, they will need their digital Grad Ball ticket, a valid age ID, and you will need to arrive at the same time as the person you are accompanying, as they will need to sign you in upon arrival. All our venues are cashless, so make sure you have a card or phone to pay with.
Where is Grad Ball taking place, and where is the entry point?
Grad Ball is at SUSU Building 40 & 42 on Highfield Campus. Entrance will be around Redbrick, exact location to be communicated closer to the time.
Can I bring a guest?
All guest tickets are now sold out. If you have already secured a guest ticket, please collect the guest wristband at the same time as your own.
Your guest must have their wristband on upon arrival, and they will need to be signed in by you on the day to gain entry.
Is there a dress code?
The dress code is ‘Dress to Impress’, but wear whatever you feel comfortable in. Summer dresses, suits, tuxedos – whatever suits you!
Is there a cloakroom?
Yes, there will be a cloakroom available, located in The Locker in B42.
Accessibility
All levels areas of the venue have step-free access available. Disabled toilets are Level 4 (Entry Level) of Building 42, with lifts to access all floors. A First Aid and Wellbeing Room will be available in The Snooker Room in Building 42.
What food is available?
Food will be available at Grad Ball. You will need to purchase a Food Ticket.
This year, you can purchase an £8 Food Ticket to enjoy a tasty hot meal at the event. Food options will include pizza, loaded fries, and curry. There will also be gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options available.
You will receive your food voucher upon entry, and will need to show this to redeem your meal. One voucher per student and/or guest.
What is a food ticket?
This year, you can purchase an £8 Food Ticket to enjoy a tasty hot meal at the event. Food options will include items such as pizza, loaded fries, and curry. There will also be gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options available.
You will receive your food voucher upon entry, and will need to show this to redeem your meal. One voucher per student and/or guest.
Can I leave Grad Ball and come back later?
There are plenty of indoor and outdoor spaces to enjoy at Grad Ball, so hopefully you will not need to leave and re-enter this event. However, if you do need to leave the event and come back, please talk to one of our Event Staff who will be happy to help you. There is no return after 00:30.
I don't have a ticket, can I buy entry on the door?
Tickets for the Grad Ball have now sold out, and we’ve reached full capacity. Unfortunately, this means there won’t be any tickets available to purchase on the door.
What should I not bring?
Do not bring your own food, drink or alcohol; illegal drugs; potential weapons of any kind; any item that an authorised person considers dangerous, hazardous and/or illegal, or that may compromise or otherwise interfere with the enjoyment, comfort or safety of (or pose a hazard to) any person or security at the venue.
What time does Grad Ball finish?
Grad Ball ends at 02:00.
Will the Safety Bus be running?
Yes, the safety bus will be running throughout the event. You will find it located on the right side of the entrance/exit area.
There will be three buses operating during the night, with one providing trips back to Winchester for WSA students. Please queue at the safety bus sign and wait for the next available bus.
The service will run until 3:00am.
Lost Property
Lost property will be handed to the cloakroom throughout the night, and available to collect from Reception in Building 42 the following week.
Smoking/Vaping
Smoking/vaping is only allowed in the designated areas of the event – not anywhere inside Building 40 or 42.
Cup Levy
Having previously been implemented and being a success, we will be proceeding with this initiative again his year
The Cup Levy Scheme is a sustainability initiative aimed at reducing reusable cup waste at Grad Ball. It was successfully introduced last year and will be in place again this year. This initiative helps reduce waste and promotes a more sustainable approach to events. Your participation really makes a difference!
How does it work?
- When you purchase your first drink, a £1 levy will be added to the price.
- Keep your cup and return it to the bar when ordering another drink to avoid paying the levy again.
What can I do with my cup at the end of the night?
You have two options:
- Take it home as a keepsake.
- Trade it for a souvenir at the exit of Grad Ball.
Flash Warning
Warning: Strobe lighting will be used at this event in The Cube.
Based on your feedback, we have tried to keep ticket prices as low as possible for Grad Ball 2024. As you can see by the breakdown below, last year a large portion of the event spend was on free food and drink and event theming. By removing these elements, we hope that the event is accessible to even more people than before!
Grad Ball 2023 ticket prices were:
Early Bird: £30 + booking fee
General Release: £35 + booking fee
Final Release: £40 + booking fee.
