<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:ns2="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
        <submissionType>144</submissionType>
        <filerInfo>
            <filer>
                <filerCredentials>
                    <cik>0001998826</cik>
                    <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
                </filerCredentials>
            </filer>
            <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



        </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
        <issuerInfo>
            <issuerCik>0000936395</issuerCik>
            <issuerName>CIENA CORPORATION</issuerName>
            <secFileNumber>001-36250</secFileNumber>
            <issuerAddress>
                <ns2:street1>7035 RIDGE ROAD</ns2:street1>
                <ns2:city>HANOVER</ns2:city>
                <ns2:stateOrCountry>MD</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                <ns2:zipCode>21076</ns2:zipCode>
            </issuerAddress>
            <issuerContactPhone>(410) 694-5700</issuerContactPhone>
            <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>BRODIE GAGE</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
            <relationshipsToIssuer>
                <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
            </relationshipsToIssuer>
        </issuerInfo>
        <securitiesInformation>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
                <name>Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>1 New York Plaza</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:street2>8th Floor</ns2:street2>
                    <ns2:city>New York</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>NY</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>10004</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
            <noOfUnitsSold>350</noOfUnitsSold>
            <aggregateMarketValue>28899.50</aggregateMarketValue>
            <noOfUnitsOutstanding>141367218</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
            <approxSaleDate>07/15/2025</approxSaleDate>
            <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
        </securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>06/20/2024</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>350</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>06/20/2024</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Not Applicable</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>BRODIE GAGE</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>7035 RIDGE ROAD</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>HANOVER</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>MD</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>21076</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>06/16/2025</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>319</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>23159.40</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>BRODIE GAGE</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>7035 RIDGE ROAD</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>HANOVER</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>MD</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>21076</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>06/16/2025</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>31</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>2250.60</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>BRODIE GAGE</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>7035 RIDGE ROAD</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>HANOVER</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>MD</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>21076</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>05/15/2025</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>350</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>27534.50</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>07/15/2025</noticeDate>
            <planAdoptionDates>
                <planAdoptionDate>09/06/2024</planAdoptionDate>
            </planAdoptionDates>
            <signature>/s/ Brodie Alexander Cage</signature>
        </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
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144
0001998826
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0000936395
CIENA CORPORATION
001-36250
7035 RIDGE ROAD
HANOVER
MD
21076
(410) 694-5700
BRODIE GAGE
Officer
Common
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services
1 New York Plaza
8th Floor
New York
NY
10004
350
28899.50
141367218
07/15/2025
NYSE
Common
06/20/2024
Restricted Stock
ISSUER
N
350
06/20/2024
Not Applicable
N
BRODIE GAGE
7035 RIDGE ROAD
HANOVER
MD
21076
Common
06/16/2025
319
23159.40
BRODIE GAGE
7035 RIDGE ROAD
HANOVER
MD
21076
Common
06/16/2025
31
2250.60
BRODIE GAGE
7035 RIDGE ROAD
HANOVER
MD
21076
Common
05/15/2025
350
27534.50
07/15/2025
09/06/2024
/s/ Brodie Alexander Cage