Information to award recipients and distinguished teachers
Welcome to the Annual Celebration 16-18 October 2025. On this page you find the programme for the event. You will also find information about what is expected of you, as an award recipient or distinguished teacher, and things you and your guests need to know.
Before the Annual Celebration
Your registration
An invititation will be sent to you in June and registration closes 15 August. You register the following via a link in the email:
participation at the Vice-Chancellor’s reception
participation at the Banquet
participation as a spectator at the Ceremony for honorary doctors and professors
scientific award recipients enter their lecture title
teaching award recipients and distinguished teachers register for the The Teaching Awardee Panels.
Note that it is during the lecture or the The Teaching Awardee Panels that you will receive your diploma. In order to attend the Ceremony, Banquet and the Vice-Chancellor’s reception, it is required that you hold a lecture or participate in the The Teaching Awardee Panels.
Prepare your attire according to the dress code
The Annual Celebration Ceremony requires a certain dress code for guests of honor, but also for your guests. This means that you need to wear formal attire for some of the events. You can purchase, hire or borrow clothes. Please make sure to prepare well before the Annual Celebration.
Registration of guests and potential costs for the banquet
The registration of guest is sent by e-mail after you, yourself, have registered.
A confirmation of the guest registrations is sent by e-mail after you register.
You can register one guest for the The Vice-Chancellor’s reception and one or more guests for the banquet. You can also reserve seats for guests at the ceremony.
The university will pay for you and one accompanying guest to attend the Annual Celebration Banquet. For additional guests, you need to cover the cost of their cover charge: SEK 1050 per adult and SEK 650 per person under 18 years.
After the Annual Celebration, you will receive an invoice to the address you have stated in your registration.
Cancellations to the banquet
If any of your guests can not participate in the banquet you must report this to arshogtid@umu.se. We will charge a cover fee for cancellations made after Friday 3 October at 13:00.
Ceremony programme
The attire is optional unless otherwise stated.
Thursday, 16 October
The Teaching Awardee Panels 10:15–12:30 in Ljusgården Atrium, the Teacher Education Building
The teaching award recipients and distinguished teachers participate in panel discussions and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Cathrine Norberg will hand out diplomas.
The event is open to the public.
Friday, 17 October
Grand opening of the University Library exhibition 11:00–12:00. Location is announced at a later date.
An exhibition of the honorary doctors, new professors and award recipients is presented in the University Library in the Social Sciences Building.
It would be nice of you to attend, however it is optional.
12:00 The Faculty luncheon in Hjortron, Universum
Each faculty will host a luncheon for their honorary doctors, new professors, award recipients and distinguished teachers. An invitation will be sent from your faculty.
18:00–20:00 The Vice-Chancellor’s reception in P5, Väven Dress code: Semi-formal attire
The Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University invites new professors, award recipients, distinguished teachers, honorary doctors and Medal of Merit recipients to a reception the evening before the Annual Celebration Ceremony. Hosts, faculty marshals and University and Faculty management are invited as well. You are welcome to bring one guest to the event. Drinks and snacks are served.
Registration is required.
Saturday, 18 October
9:00–12:00 Lectures by the new professors, scientific award recipients and honorary doctors in Samhällsvetarhuset and Humanisthuset.
It is tradition at Umeå University that honorary doctors, new professors and scientific award recipients each deliver a lecture aimed at the general public. The lecture is 20 minutes long and focuses on the field of research, the work or similar subjects of interest. The scientific award recipients will receive their diploma after their lectures.
The general public is welcome to attend.
More information about the lecture programme will be sent to you by the end of September.
17:00 The Annual Celebration Ceremony for honorary doctors, new professors and Medal of Merit recipients in Aula Nordica Dress code: Formal attire (white tie) (for spectators not attending the Banquet the attire is optional)
At the start of the ceremony, the honorary doctors and new professors will enter the auditorium in procession and take their seats on stage.
The opening addresses will be followed by the conferment of honorary doctors, and the inauguration of new professors. Lastly the Medals of Merit are handed out. The ceremony is open to the public.
As an award recipient, you are welcome as a spectator at the ceremony which usually lasts 1.5-2 hours, but participation is optional. Registration is needed if you wish a reserved seat in the auditorium.
Ca 19:00 The Annual Celebration Banquet in Restaurant Lingon, Universum Dress code: Formal attire (white tie)
The Annual Celebration Banquet for registered guests starts with a glass of bubbly beverage straight after the Ceremony. Starter, main course and dessert will be served with wine or non-alcoholic options. Pre-registered speeches will be held over the course of the evening. After coffee is served, the dance floor opens up to music by Renhornen.
Registration is required.
Children at the ceremony and banquet
The ceremony takes about 1.5–2 hours and we do not recommend young children to attend. However, if younger children still need to attend the ceremony it is important to request special seating, so that the child can easily be brought outside if necessary.
The banquet lasts 3–4 hours and it can be a long time for a child to sit quietly and still. But children are different and as a parent you are best at determining what your child is capable of. At the banquet, children are served the same food as adults, except for the alcoholic beverages.
