CAT 2026 Important Dates: Exam, Admit Card and Deadlines

CAT 2026 calendar and current status

Use the status column to distinguish a completed window from the next action. The older July bulletin still contains September 15 as the registration deadline; the current official website and September notices establish the later September 22 cutoff.

What should a registered candidate do now?

Retain your submitted application and payment confirmation. The next scheduled portal milestone is admit-card download on November 4. Open the candidate login from iimcat.ac.in and use the centre, session and reporting instructions on your own admit card.

Do not book travel on the assumption that a preferred city is the final allotted centre. The bulletin says city allotment is subject to availability and permits a nearby city in exceptional cases. Check the complete venue address once the admit card is issued.

• Keep the email address and mobile number used for CAT active.
• Save an offline copy of the application and successful-payment record.
• Set a reminder to check the official portal on November 4.
• Continue mocks and revision while waiting; an admit-card announcement is not an extension of registration.

Why do different websites show different registration dates?

July 26 documents initially listed September 15. The official website subsequently moved the final registration deadline to September 22 at 5:00 PM. The September 22 media release then allowed only already-registered candidates to finish paying by September 24.

A separate September 29 notice announced limited edits on October 5–6 for successfully registered, fee-paid applicants. It did not allow new applications. When dates conflict, compare the notice date and the exact action covered instead of choosing the latest-looking headline.

What if you missed registration or corrections?

As of this review, new CAT 2026 registration is closed and the announced edit window has ended. The September 29 notice expressly said no further extension would be granted beyond that edit deadline. Do not assume an old application link or an unofficial promise creates another opportunity.

If an already-submitted application has an unresolved problem, contact the helpdesk shown on the official CAT website with your application reference and relevant records. A helpdesk query is not a guarantee of reopening or changing the form. For other MBA exams, check their own official calendars separately.

Result date and score validity are different

The bulletin says results are likely in the first week of January 2027. That is an indicative period, not a confirmed result day. CAT 2026 scores remain valid until December 31, 2027 according to the same document.

A valid score does not mean every college application stays open until that date. Each IIM and non-IIM programme sets its own admission calendar and selection requirements.

Sources and verification notes

Official sources were checked on 7 October 2026. Later dated notices take precedence over the original bulletin where a deadline has changed. Study plans and worked examples are editorial guidance, not official exam rules.

Related guides