Monday through Sunday, April 6-12, 2026
Our grad students are pretty freakin’ awesome
For all the things you do — all the ways you contribute to the MIT community, to a brighter tomorrow, and to the research enterprise itself — we salute you!
Lip balms & stickers
Available at most in-person events throughout the week
This year, we’re embracing self-care all week long. Swing by an in-person event to grab a lip balm, along with other goodies. We will be releasing a new sticker to celebrate GSAW 2026! Embrace your zen with the help of Tim the Beaver striking a yoga pose. Every year’s sticker is different– collect one for each year of your grad career at MIT!
Do you love the image of Tim on his yoga mat? Want to color your own version? Select events will feature outline templates of the image for you to personalize and create your own button (see event list below)!
Sloan students are invited to visit the Sloan Life Office between 9-5 Monday through Thursday to build your own wellness kit with facemasks, tea, and more.
Monday, April 6
Donuts with Dave and Denzil
3-108, “The Den” / 10-11am
Need a sugar fix? Join MIT’s Vice Chancellor David Darmofal and OGE Director Denzil Streete in The Den for some free coffee, donuts, and a chance to chat with fellow students and GUE staff. Need a conversation starter? Ask Dave about life at the Warehouse (where he lives), or about his interests in cooking, sailing, or music! Ask Denzil about football (he is currently getting excited for this year’s FIFA World Cup!) or what he’s been reading lately.
This event will also feature a station to create-your-own Tim the Beaver button, courtesy of the Rainbow Lounge.
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education.
Chair massages (Registration required)
E23-009 / 12-4pm / Registration opens March 30
Relax and unwind with a free chair massage! Register in advance to secure your 15 minute slot. Your neck and shoulders will thank you. One massage per student, please.
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education and MIT Health.
Tuesday, April 7
Breakfast Club: Grad-Itude Edition
For questions about the event, please reach out to graddiversity@mit.edu.
Join the Office of Graduate Education and GradDiversity for a special Grad Appreciation Week edition of our Breakfast Club! Come start your day with us as we celebrate you. Enjoy delicious breakfast bites, lighthearted conversation, and a relaxed space to connect with friends, peers, and the GradDiversity team. This gathering is all about nourishment—of body, spirit, and community.
Check your email for an invitation from GradDiversity with registration details. Space is limited. Breakfast Club is a people‑of‑color–centered, queer‑ and trans‑affirming space that welcomes graduate students of all abilities and bodies. Our goal is simple: to help students begin their day in a supportive environment where connection comes naturally.
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education.
GradSupport Open House (Register for lunch)
Building 3-136 / 11am-1pm / Registration opens March 30
All are welcome to build your own sensory grounding kit and say hi to the GradSupport team! You can also enter our raffle for a chance to win one of five 30-minute massages.
We will have grab-and-go lunches for those who register. Be sure to pick up your lunch by 11:45am, otherwise lunches will be available on a first-come, first-served basis to drop-in attendees. We can’t wait to see you!
This event will also feature a station to create-your-own Tim the Beaver button, courtesy of the Rainbow Lounge.
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education.
Chair massages (Registration required)
E23-009/ 12-4pm / Registration opens March 30
Relax and unwind with a free chair massage! Register in advance to secure your 15 minute slot. Your neck and shoulders will thank you. One massage per student, please.
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education and MIT Health.
MIT Museum Author Talk: Separation of Powers
MIT Museum/ 6:30-8:30pm
Join the MIT Museum for an urgent and illuminating conversation with Cass R. Sunstein, Holberg Prize winner, bestselling author, and one of the world’s most influential legal scholars, as he presents his new book, Separation of Powers. Interested students can email museumregadmin@mit.edu to claim a free ticket (supplies limited, first come first served). MIT student ID required.
Sponsored by the MIT Museum.
Wednesday, April 8
Plant your own lucky bamboo
Bush Room (10-105) / 12-1pm
Fill a glass vase with your choice of pebbles and shoots of bamboo. Will you choose 1 stalk for truth or commitment? 2 stalks for love? Or 3 stalks for happiness or a new beginning? Plant your choice and bring some luck to your home or workspace! No reservation needed. Available while supplies last.
This event will also feature a station to create-your-own Tim the Beaver button, courtesy of the Rainbow Lounge.
Sponsored by the Office of the Chancellor.
Mocktails & masterpieces: Grad student crafternoon with CAPD
MIT Makerspace (4-409)/ 2-4pm / Registration opens March 30
Learn the simple but elegant art of glass etching! Choose a piece of glassware that catches your fancy and make it yours with an etched design. You’ll also receive a single-serve mocktail kit! Please RSVP to allow for an accurate headcount- etching available while supplies last.
Sponsored by Career Advising & Professional Development.
Plant It, Paint It, Love It! (Registration required)
Register for location / 3-5pm / Registration opens March 30
Open to international graduate students
Take a break and get creative! Stop by to decorate your own pot and take home a cute succulent as a little reminder to nurture yourself along with your new plant.
Come for the fun, a free plant, and some snacks – stay for the good vibes and new friends! You can sit & paint or grab your succulent and go. Snacks will also be served.
Sponsored by the International Students Office.
Restore & Recharge with GradSupport
4pm / Registration opens March 30
Step away from stress and into relaxation with this all-levels, 45-minute, restorative yoga session designed to help you slow down, reset, and recharge. No prior yoga experience is needed as the class will guide you through gentle, supported poses and mindful breathing. Plus, enjoy a selection of wellness goodies to take home and continue your self-care beyond the session. We can’t wait to see you there!
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education.
Thursday, April 9
Paint, Sip, Relax (Registration required)
W20-401 / 11am-1pm / Registration opens March 30
Join GradThriving for a special Grad Appreciation Week Paint, Sip, Relax event—a space to unwind, create, and celebrate YOU. Take a break from the grind, tap into your artistic side, and enjoy time connecting with your grad community. Paint something fun, sip a refreshing mocktail, and enjoy some light bites. It’s all about good vibes, creativity, and community care.
Create your own mini masterpiece while savoring handcrafted mocktails and grazing on cheeses, tea sandwiches, and fresh crudités—all in a relaxed, welcoming environment designed to support your well-being and creative expression.
Space is limited. Please register to reserve your spot.
This event is open to all graduate students and is designed as an affirming, inclusive space that welcomes students of all identities, abilities, and levels of artistic experience. No painting background needed—just come ready to relax, create, and celebrate grad appreciation week.
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education.
Crochet and Croissants in the Muddy Charles
Muddy Charles / 3:30-5:30pm
Dip your toe in the fiber pool. Have you been itching to try crochet, but don’t know where to start? Pop into the Muddy Charles to learn amigurumi, the Japanese art of crocheting small, adorable yarn creatures. We will have yarn, crochet hooks, and some pastries to enjoy, as well as staff from around the Institute to show you how to get started.
It’s also a yarn swap. Already a fan of yarn art? Have extra yarn, or looking for found fiber to craft? Stop by to drop off any yarn you don’t need, or pick up a skein or three for free.
It’s in a pub. Be sure to bring both your MIT ID and a US issued ID card or foreign passport to get in the door; you must be 21 years or older to enter. The Muddy serves beer and nonalcoholic beverages; whether you wish to sip water, lager, or ginger ale, pull up a chair! Guests will purchase their own drinks, so please bring some cash.
This event will also feature a station to create-your-own Tim the Beaver button, courtesy of the Rainbow Lounge.
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education.
MIT Museum After Dark: Trip Into Deep Time
MIT Museum/ 6-9pm
After Dark is a monthly adults-only, after-hours event at the museum. Full of science and surprises, expect demonstrations, tastings, conversation and interactive play. Our galleries will be open for you, and we’ll always have live music, cash bar, and bites for purchase by culinary specialists from around the city. Interested students can email museumregadmin@mit.edu to claim a free ticket (supplies limited, first come first served). MIT student ID required.
Sponsored by the MIT Museum.
Friday, April 10
Chair massages (First come, first served)
Punj Conference Room (W35-108) / 12-4pm
Relax and unwind with a free chair massage- no registration necessary! Your neck and shoulders will thank you. One massage per student, please!
Sponsored by the Department of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation (DAPER).
Saturday, April 11
The Nutty Science Spectacular
W20-401 / 10am-12pm/ Registration opens March 30
Join GradFamilies for an interactive science show followed by hands-on exploration stations. Show highlights include giant static electricity, dry ice experiments, and an air cannon. Children will be invited to participate as volunteers during the show, and all attendees can explore science stations. This event is intended for grad parents and their children aged ‘toddler’ through 14.
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education.
Walking tour of Boston (Registration required)
2-4pm / Registration opens March 30
Get outdoors and enjoy some early spring weather! Join former MIT staff member and professional city tour guide Ed Ballo for a two hour walk along Boston’s Freedom Trail. We’ll meet up in a local coffee shop if you’d like to bring a warm beverage or snack on the trail. Wear walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing!
Space for this event is limited, and sign-up is required. Please let us know if you can’t make it so the spot can be opened to someone on the waitlist.
Rain date: Sunday, April 12
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education.
MIT Museum Secret Talks: The US Military, Einstein’s Relativity, and the Global Positioning System
MIT Museum/ 3-4 PM
How did Einstein’s mind-bending ideas about space and time make their way into the technology in your phone? Join MIT physicist and historian of science David Kaiser as he reveals the hidden story behind the creation of the Global Positioning System (GPS).
Interested students can email museumregadmin@mit.edu to claim a free ticket (supplies limited, first come first served). MIT student ID required.
Sponsored by the MIT Museum.
