CAT 2026 Important Dates: Complete Schedule from Correction Window to Result & IIM Admissions

Last updated: October 5, 2026

CATKing is a Mumbai-based MBA entrance exam coaching company founded by Sumit Singh, offering preparation for CAT, XAT, NMAT, SNAP, CET, GMAT, and GRE through online and offline classes. With CAT 2026 registration closed, the application correction window closing on October 6, 2026, and the admit card releasing on November 4, 2026, one question matters most right now: which CAT 2026 dates can an aspirant not afford to miss? This article lists every important CAT 2026 date in one place, from the IIM Indore notification to the result, the WAT-PI process and final admission offers.

Key Takeaways

• CAT 2026 exam date: Sunday, November 29, 2026, conducted by IIM Indore as a computer-based test in three slots.

• Registration: ran from August 3 to September 22, 2026 (5:00 PM IST), after IIM Indore extended the original September 15 deadline. It is now closed.

• Correction window: open from 10:00 AM on October 5 to 5:00 PM on October 6, 2026 for editing photograph, signature and test city preferences only.

• Admit card: released on November 4, 2026 at iimcat.ac.in and downloadable until exam day.

• Result: expected between the last week of December 2026 and the first week of January 2027; WAT-PI rounds follow around February to March 2027.

• As of October 5, 2026, the admit card is 30 days away and the exam is 55 days away.

When Is the CAT 2026 Exam?

CAT 2026 will be held on Sunday, November 29, 2026. IIM Indore is the conducting institute, and Prof. Aditya Billore, Professor of Marketing at IIM Indore, is the CAT 2026 convener. The exam is a 120-minute computer-based test held in three slots across approximately 170 test cities in India. Each candidate is allotted exactly one slot, which is shown on the admit card. The CAT is conducted by the six older IIMs on a rotational basis, and IIM Indore is in charge this year.

What Are All the Important Dates for CAT 2026?

The table below is the complete CAT 2026 timeline, from notification to final IIM offers. Dates marked “expected” are based on the CAT notification and past-year patterns, and IIM Indore may revise them.

 

What Were the CAT 2026 Registration Dates?

IIM Indore released the CAT 2026 notification on July 26, 2026. Online registration opened at 10:00 AM IST on August 3, 2026, and closed at 5:00 PM IST on September 22, 2026, after IIM Indore extended the original September 15 deadline by one week. The application fee payment window ran until September 24, 2026. Registration is now closed, so candidates who did not register cannot appear for CAT 2026.

When Does the CAT 2026 Correction Window Close?

The CAT 2026 application correction window opened at 10:00 AM on October 5, 2026 and closes at 5:00 PM on October 6, 2026, which gives candidates roughly 31 hours. Reports indicate that IIM Indore will not extend this deadline. Candidates who registered and paid the fee successfully can log in to iimcat.ac.in with their User ID and password and edit only three fields: the photograph, the signature and the test city preferences. Personal, academic, contact and category details cannot be changed.

This window is also the last chance to rearrange test city choices before allotment. Read how allotment works in our guide to CAT 2026 test city allocation.

When Will the CAT 2026 Admit Card Be Released?

The CAT 2026 admit card is scheduled for release on November 4, 2026 at iimcat.ac.in. It remains available for download until exam day, November 29, 2026. The admit card is the official confirmation of the allotted slot, test city and exact test centre address, and candidates should carry a printed copy to the exam centre. There is no separate centre allotment notice before it. Full download steps are in our CAT 2026 admit card release guide.

When Is the CAT 2026 Official Mock Test?

IIM Indore releases a free official mock test on iimcat.ac.in every year to familiarise candidates with the question types and the exam interface. The CAT 2026 official mock test is expected in the second week of November 2026, around the admit card release. In 2025, the official mock was released on November 12. The exact date will be announced on the official website.

What Are the CAT 2026 Exam Day Slot Timings?

CAT 2026 is held in three slots on November 29, 2026. Each session lasts 120 minutes, and your slot is fixed on the admit card.

 

When Will the CAT 2026 Answer Key and Response Sheet Be Released?

The response sheet and provisional answer key are expected in the first week of December 2026, within days of the November 29 exam. IIM Indore usually opens a short objection window after release, and a fee is charged per objection. Candidates can use the key to estimate their raw score before the result.

When Will the CAT 2026 Result Be Declared?

The CAT 2026 result is expected between the last week of December 2026 and the first week of January 2027. The CAT 2025 result was declared on December 24, 2025, so a late-December announcement is possible. The scorecard shows overall and sectional percentiles and is published on iimcat.ac.in. Always treat the result date as tentative until IIM Indore confirms it.

What Happens After the CAT 2026 Result? WAT-PI and Final Admission Dates

Once the result is out, IIMs and other CAT-accepting B-schools release shortlists based on CAT percentile and their own selection criteria. The Written Ability Test and Personal Interview (WAT-PI) process is expected around February to March 2027, and final admission offers around April to May 2027. Each institute publishes its own calendar, so candidates should track every B-school they apply to.

CAT 2026 Important Dates: Quick-Reference Rules

The table below summarises the questions aspirants ask most often.

 

Note: These dates reflect IIM Indore's CAT 2026 notification and notices as reported on October 5, 2026. Dates marked “expected” are tentative. IIM Indore reserves the right to revise any date, so candidates should re-check iimcat.ac.in regularly.

What Should CAT 2026 Aspirants Do Now?

• By 5:00 PM on October 6: log in to iimcat.ac.in, check your photograph, signature and test city order, and fix any error. This window will not reopen.

• Mark November 4 on your calendar: download the admit card the day it is released and verify your name, slot and centre.

• Do not book travel or stay early: wait for the admit card to confirm your city and centre before spending money.

• Take the official mock in mid-November: use it to learn the interface, then practise full-length mocks in your own slot timing.

• Plan for the result window: keep late December and early January free for the result, percentile analysis and B-school shortlisting.

• Use the next 55 days well: follow a structured, mock-driven preparation plan with CATKing instead of worrying about the calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions About CAT 2026 Important Dates

What are the most important CAT 2026 dates?

The most important CAT 2026 dates are: registration closed on September 22, 2026 (5:00 PM IST); the application correction window for photograph, signature and test city closes on October 6, 2026 (5:00 PM IST); the admit card is released on November 4, 2026; and the CAT 2026 exam is on Sunday, November 29, 2026, in three slots. The result is expected in late December 2026 or the first week of January 2027.

When is the CAT 2026 exam date?

CAT 2026 will be held on Sunday, November 29, 2026, as a computer-based test in three slots: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM, and 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Each candidate is allotted one slot, which is printed on the admit card.

Who is conducting CAT 2026?

IIM Indore is conducting CAT 2026. The six older IIMs conduct CAT on a rotational basis, and IIM Indore is responsible for the notification, registration, admit card, exam, answer key and result this year. Prof. Aditya Billore of IIM Indore is the CAT 2026 convener.

Is CAT 2026 registration still open?

No. CAT 2026 registration opened on August 3, 2026, and closed on September 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM IST, after IIM Indore extended the original September 15 deadline by one week.

When does the CAT 2026 application correction window close?

The CAT 2026 application correction window opened on October 5, 2026, at 10:00 AM IST and closes on October 6, 2026, at 5:00 PM IST. Reports indicate that IIM Indore will not extend this deadline, so candidates should finish their edits early.

What can be edited in the CAT 2026 correction window?

Only three things can be edited: the uploaded photograph, the signature, and the test city preferences. Personal, academic, contact and category details cannot be changed. The facility is available only to candidates who registered and paid the application fee successfully.

When will the CAT 2026 admit card be released?

The CAT 2026 admit card is scheduled to be released on November 4, 2026, on iimcat.ac.in. It can be downloaded until the exam day, November 29, 2026, and shows the allotted slot, test city and exact test centre address.

What are the CAT 2026 exam slot timings?

CAT 2026 has three slots on November 29, 2026: Slot 1 from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, Slot 2 from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM, and Slot 3 from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. The exam is 120 minutes long, and your allotted slot appears on your admit card.

When is the CAT 2026 official mock test released?

The official CAT 2026 mock test is expected in the second week of November 2026 on iimcat.ac.in, close to the admit card release. In 2025, the official mock test was released on November 12. IIM Indore will confirm the exact date on its website.

When will the CAT 2026 answer key be released?

The CAT 2026 response sheet and provisional answer key are expected in the first week of December 2026, shortly after the November 29 exam. A short objection window usually follows. Exact dates will be announced on iimcat.ac.in.

When will the CAT 2026 result be declared?

The CAT 2026 result is expected between the last week of December 2026 and the first week of January 2027. The CAT 2025 result was declared on December 24, 2025. The result and scorecard, with overall and sectional percentiles, are published on iimcat.ac.in.

When do IIM WAT-PI rounds and final admissions happen after CAT 2026?

After the CAT 2026 result, IIMs and other B-schools shortlist candidates for the Written Ability Test and Personal Interview (WAT-PI) process, which is expected around February to March 2027. Final admission offers are expected around April to May 2027. Each institute publishes its own schedule.