The University of La Laguna will officially commence the 2026/27 academic year tomorrow, Friday, September 11th, at 11:00 AM in the Paraninfo. The ceremony will be presided over by the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, alongside the institution's Rector, Francisco J. García Rodríguez. The event will be broadcast live via streaming through the institutional website.
Approximately 200 attendees are expected, representing the academic, political, institutional, cultural, and social spheres of the islands. Among them are the President of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila; the Mayor of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez; the Minister of Universities, Migdalia Machín; the rectorial team of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and most of the former rectors of the ULL.
This event marks the formal beginning of the new academic year, although classes for the approximately 20,000 students enrolled in the institution's 55 undergraduate and double degree programs began on Tuesday, September 8th. New offerings include the double degree in Nautical and Maritime Transport and Marine Technologies, along with three microdegrees in artistic creation.
The ceremony will commence with the entry of the academic delegation and the presentation by the Secretary-General, Juan Antonio García, who will provide a summary of the previous academic year's key data. Following this, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nieves Luisa González González, will deliver the inaugural lecture titled “Health Risks for Pregnant Women and Their Offspring in the 21st Century”.
The program includes a contemporary jazz performance by Judit Mendoza (vocals) and Carlos Costa (double bass). After the musical interlude, the Rector will deliver an opening address, reviewing current affairs and future projections for the university.
The event will conclude with a speech by the President of the Canary Islands, who will officially open the academic year on behalf of the King of Spain, followed by the university and autonomous community anthems.
