CAT exam date 2026, and what we know about CAT 2027
CAT 2026 is on Sunday 29 November 2026, in three sessions, conducted by IIM Indore. Results are expected in the first week of January 2027 (tentative). The score is valid until 31 December 2027.
CAT 2026 key dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration | 3 Aug 2026, 10:00 AM to 22 Sep 2026, 5:00 PM (extended from 15 Sep) |
| Fee payment closed | 24 Sep 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Edit window (photo, signature, test cities) | 5 Oct 2026, 10:00 AM to 6 Oct 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Admit card and official mock | From 6 Nov 2026 |
| Exam | Sunday 29 Nov 2026, three sessions |
| Result | First week of January 2027 (tentative) |
The official notices disagree on a few dates. The Information Bulletin says registration closed on 15 September and admit cards came out on 4 November; later notices and the home page say 22 September and 6 November. We show the later dates.
Exam day
- Three sessions on the same day: forenoon, afternoon and evening. You cannot choose your session, and you get one attempt.
- Session timings are printed on the admit card. In 2025 they were 8:30 to 10:30, 12:30 to 2:30 and 4:30 to 6:30 (coaching reports, not an official 2026 notice).
- About 170 test cities. Candidates picked five in the form.
- New for 2026: face matching at entry, and mobile jammers at some centres.
- Practise the exam screen before the day with our free CAT mock test.
- Fee: ₹2,700 general, ₹1,350 for SC, ST and PwBD.
The paper itself has not changed for 2026: three sections, 40 minutes each, in a fixed order. See the CAT exam pattern.
Eligibility in one paragraph
A bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC, ST and PwBD), or an equivalent professional qualification (CA, CS, ICWA/CMA, FIAI) with the same percentage. Final-year students can apply. There is no age limit.
CAT 2027
Nothing official yet. The IIMs usually announce the next CAT around late July, and the exam has been held on the last Sunday of November or close to it (24 Nov 2024, 30 Nov 2025, 29 Nov 2026). Which IIM runs CAT 2027 has not been announced. We will update this page when the notice is out. A year is enough for a full preparation: see the 6-month CAT study plan, or the 1-month plan if you are sitting CAT 2026.
Common questions
When is CAT 2026?
Sunday 29 November 2026, in three sessions, conducted by IIM Indore.
When will the CAT 2026 result come out?
The official notice says the first week of January 2027, marked tentative.
Which IIM is conducting CAT 2026?
IIM Indore. CAT 2025 was run by IIM Kozhikode.
When is CAT 2027?
Not announced. Going by recent years, expect the notice around late July 2027 and the exam in late November 2027.
Is there an age limit for CAT?
No. You need a bachelor's degree with 50% marks (45% for SC, ST, PwBD), or be in the final year.
Take free CAT mock 1 (full length)
Sources
Last checked 8 Nov 2026. Found an error? Tell us and it goes on the errata page.