CAT Exam Dates 2026: Registration, Important Dates & Complete Exam Schedule 

CAT Exam Dates 2026 have been officially announced with the release of the CAT 2026 Information Bulletin by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). As per the official schedule, the CAT Exam 2026 registration window opened on August 3, 2026, and will close on September 15, 2026. The CAT exam will be conducted on Sunday, November 29, 2026, in three sessions across approximately 170 test cities. Candidates can download their admit cards from November 4, 2026, while the CAT 2026 result is expected to be declared in the first week of January 2027.

• The CAT Exam 2026 notification has been released with the complete schedule for registration, admit card, examination, and result declaration.
• CAT Exam Sessions, The examination will be held in three sessions 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM, and 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM.
• Candidates should follow the official CAT Exam 2026 timeline to complete every stage of the admission process within the prescribed deadlines..
• Staying updated with the latest CAT Exam 2026 dates helps candidates avoid missing important events throughout the examination cycle.

CAT Exam Dates 2026

The CAT Exam Dates 2026 have been announced with the release of the official Information Bulletin. The examination cycle spans more than five months, covering key events such as registration, admit card release, the CAT examination, and result declaration.The table below presents the complete event-wise schedule for CAT Exam 2026

CAT Exam 2026 Notification (Released)

The CAT Exam 2026 notification was released on July 26, 2026, on the official CAT website. The notification confirms that the CAT 2026 exam will be conducted on November 29, 2026 (Sunday) in three sessions. It also provides complete details on the CAT Exam eligibility criteria, registration schedule, application fee, reservation policy, test cities, admit card, result declaration, and admission process. CAT scores will be accepted by the participating IIMs and several non-IIM institutions for admission to MBA and other management programmes.

CAT Exam 2026 Schedule and Session Timings

The CAT 2026 will be conducted in computer-based test (CBT) mode across approximately 170 test cities in India. The examination will be held in three sessions, and each candidate will be allotted a specific session and test centre through their admit card. Candidates should carefully check their reporting time, test venue, and session details once the admit card is released to ensure a smooth examination process.

The session-wise timings for the CAT Exam Date 2026 are provided below:

Note: Candidates should download their admit cards from November 4, 2026, to check their allotted session, reporting time, and examination centre. Since candidates will not be allowed to choose their preferred session, they are advised to carefully verify the details mentioned on the admit card and reach the test centre well before the reporting time on November 29, 2026.

CAT Exam 2026 Registration Dates

The online registration process for the CAT Exam 2026 will commence at 10:00 AM on August 3, 2026, and conclude at 5:00 PM on September 15, 2026. Candidates must complete the application form and fee payment within the stipulated timeline, as applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.

During the registration process, applicants will be required to provide their personal details, academic qualifications, category information, work experience (if applicable), and communication details. They will also have to select five preferred test cities, following which one city will be allotted based on availability. If none of the selected cities can be allotted, the authorities may assign a nearby test centre.

CAT Exam 2026 Registration Schedule

CAT Exam 2026 Application Process

Candidates can complete the CAT Exam 2026 application process online through the official CAT website from August 3 to September 15, 2026. Before filling out the CAT Exam application form, candidates should keep all the required documents and information ready to ensure a smooth registration process.

CheckCATApplication Process

CAT Exam Admit Card Date 2026

The CAT Exam 2026 admit card will be released on November 4, 2026, on the official CAT website. Only candidates who successfully complete the CAT Exam 2026 registration can download the hall ticket by logging in with their User ID and Password. The admit card is a mandatory document and must be carried to the examination centre along with a valid photo ID.

CAT Exam 2026 Admit Card Schedule

CAT Exam Result Date 2026

The CAT 2026 result is likely to be declared in the first week of January 2027. Candidates will be able to download their scorecards from the official CAT website using their login credentials. According to the Information Bulletin, CAT scorecards will remain valid until December 31, 2027. The authorities may also inform candidates about the result through SMS.

CAT Result 2026 Highlights

CAT Exam 2026 Registration Fee

Candidates must pay the registration fee online to successfully submit the CAT 2026 application form. The fee is payable only once, irrespective of the number of IIMs or participating institutions selected during the application process. The CAT authorities have clarified that the registration fee is non-refundable under any circumstances. SC, ST, and PwBD candidates must upload valid category certificates while completing the registration.

Also Check: CAT 2026 Mock Test

• Colleges in India Accepting CAT

CAT Exam Dates 2026 FAQs