Mixing Humor, Humility, Conan O'Brien Addresses Harvard Graduates

Mixing humor and humility, Conan O'Brien addresses Harvard graduates in 2026 commencement speech.

On Thursday, the 1985 Harvard graduate and former president of the Harvard Lampoon also received an honorary degree before giving his speech.

During his remarks, he urged students not to let Harvard define them and defended the value of international students at a time of outside pressure on the university.

This coincided with the sixth week of the longest strike in the history of the Harvard Graduate Student Union.

Union members picketed outside more than a dozen entrances to Harvard Yard, with bullhorns punctuating the commencement speeches for nearly three hours.

 (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP via Getty Images)