Information to teaching award recipients and distinguished teachers
Welcome to the Annual Celebration 15-17 October 2026. On this page you find the programme for the event. You will also find information about what is expected of you, as a teaching award recipient or distinguished teacher, and things you and your guests need to know.
Before the Annual Celebration
Register before 17 August
Registration opens in late June and last day to register is 17 August.
Registration is for
the teaching awardee panels
the Vice-Chancellor’s reception
the ceremony and the banquet.
You must participate in the teaching awardee panels to be able to attend the Vice-Chancellor’s reception and the banquet.
Registration of guests before 4 september Possible costs for the banquet
Once you have registered for the Annual Celebration, you will receive a link via email where you can register your guests. The deadline for registration is 4 September.
The university invites you and one guest to the Vice-Chancellor’s reception and the banquet.
You can register additional guests for the banquet for:
1,200 SEK per adult
700 SEK per person under 18 years of age.
The invoice will be sent to your email address after the Annual Celebration.
You invite your guests yourself and inform them of what they need to know. You and your guests sit together at the banquet. The number of guests at the banquet usually does not need to be limited.
Seats at the ceremony You will sit on stage during the ceremony. All guests you invite to the banquet will receive a reserved seat in the auditorium for the ceremony. You can also register guests who only want to attend the ceremony. They will then be placed near your banquet guests. You can invite as many guests as you want to the ceremony.
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.
need to change anything after you have submitted your own registration or the registration of your guests
if you or any of your registered guests can not attend.
Please note that we will charge a cover fee for cancellations to the Banquet made after Friday 2 October at 13:00.
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.
The Teaching Awardee Panels 09:00–12:30 in Ljusgården Atrium, the Teacher Education Building
The teaching award recipients and distinguished teachers participate in panel discussions in Swedish and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Cathrine Norberg will hand out diplomas to the teaching award recipients.
As a teaching award recipent or distinguished teacher you will receive more information from the moderators in the fall and yoy are required to participate in the panels in order to receive an invitation to the Ceremony and Banquet.
The event is open to the public.
Friday, 16 October
Grand opening of the University Library exhibition 11:00–12:00. Vardagsrummet, Humanisthuset.
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.
The Faculty luncheon 12:00 in the restaurant in Hotel Björken
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.
The Vice-Chancellor’s reception 18:00–20:00 in restaurant Bygden, Bildmuseet Dress code: Semi-formal attire
The Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University invites award recipients, distinguished teachers, new professors and honorary doctors 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, 17 October
Lectures by the new professors, scientific award recipients and honorary doctors 9:00–12:00 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 general public is welcome to attend.
The lecture programme will be published in September.
The Annual Celebration Ceremony for honorary doctors, new professors and scientific award recipients 15:00 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, new professors and scientific award recipients 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 scientific award recipients receive their diplomas. The ceremony is open to the public.
As a teaching award recipient or distinguished teacher, 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.
Bus transport for guests registered for the banquet After the Ceremony from Aula Nordica to Restaurant Äpplet
After the ceremony, there will be bus transportation to restaurant Äpplet for registered guests who will be attending the banquet. Of course, it is also possible to take your own car or other private transportation to Äpplet.
The Annual Celebration Banquet 18:00 in restaurant Äpplet Dress code: Formal attire (white tie)
Dinner will be preceded by a gathering and a welcome toast for the guests. The toastmaster will give notice when it is time to take your seat at the table.
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.
You and your guests are seated together at the banquet.
