The CAT 2026 registration deadline is September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM. IIM Indore opened the CAT 2026 application process on August 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM.
The CAT 2026 exam will be conducted on November 29, 2026, in three sessions across approximately 170 test cities. As of now, there is no official notice regarding an extension of the CAT 2026 application date.
Candidates who have not completed their applications should therefore treat September 15 as the final deadline unless IIM Indore announces any change.
Whether the CAT 2026 application date will be extended is particularly relevant because the deadline was extended last year.
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Will CAT 2026 Application Date Be Extended?
At present, CAT 2026 registration has not been officially extended. The application window is scheduled to close on September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
Candidates should not assume the deadline will be extended based only on last year’s change.
Any extension to the CAT 2026 registration last date will be confirmed through an official announcement by the examination authority.
Those who have not submitted the form should complete the application and fee payment before the existing deadline instead of waiting for an extension.
CAT 2026 Registration Last Date: What Happened Last Year?
The previous year’s registration timeline provides some context for candidates wondering about a possible CAT 2026 deadline extension.
For CAT 2025, the original last date to submit the application form was September 13, 2025. The CAT form-filling deadline was subsequently extended to September 20, 2025, at 5:00 PM.
However, this previous extension does not confirm that a similar decision will be taken for CAT 2026.
Candidates should rely on the official CAT 2026 notification and subsequent announcements for the current registration deadline.
CAT 2026 Registration Dates
The CAT 2026 application window opened on August 3 and is currently scheduled to close on September 15. The key dates are given below.
| Event | CAT 2026 Date |
| Registration Starts | August 3, 2026, 10:00 AM |
| Registration Ends | September 15, 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Registration Form Edit Window | After registration closure |
| Admit Card Release | November 4, 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Exam Date | November 29, 2026 |
| Exam Sessions | 3 |
| Test Cities | Approximately 170 |
CAT 2026 Application Form Edit Window
IIM Indore will provide a short edit window after the registration window closes for candidates who have successfully registered and paid the applicable fee within the specified deadline.
The edit facility will be available for selected fields only. Candidates will be able to edit their photograph, signature and test city preferences, if required.
This facility will not be a substitute for submitting the CAT 2026 application form before the registration deadline.
CAT 2026 Application Fee
The CAT 2026 application fee has increased compared with CAT 2025. Candidates belonging to different categories will have to pay the applicable amount while submitting the form.
| Category | CAT 2025 Fee | CAT 2026 Fee |
| Other Candidates | ₹2,600 | ₹2,700 |
| SC, ST & PwBD | ₹1,300 | ₹1,350 |
The CAT 2026 registration fee is payable during the application process and is non-refundable after successful payment.
CAT 2026 Exam Date and Test Details
IIM Indore will conduct CAT 2026 on November 29, 2026 (Sunday). The exam will be held in three sessions across approximately 170 test cities in India.
Candidates can select five preferred test cities while completing the application form.
The final test city will be allotted based on availability and will be mentioned on the CAT 2026 admit card.
What Should Candidates Do If CAT 2026 Deadline Is Not Extended?
Candidates should complete their CAT 2026 registration before September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM rather than depending on a possible extension.
Those who have already registered successfully can use the short edit window for the fields permitted by IIM Indore.
For preparation after completing registration, candidates can use structured practice, mock tests and section-wise analysis to understand their current performance.
MBA Karo CAT Online Coaching can be considered by candidates looking for an organised preparation setup with focused CAT preparation resources and practice support.
As of now, the official CAT 2026 schedule remains unchanged: registration closes on September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM, and the CAT 2026 exam is scheduled for November 29, 2026, in three sessions across approximately 170 cities.
