CMAT 2026 Exam Date
The CMAT is counted among the top national tests for aspiring MBA students in India, and the exam date for CMAT 2026 is most probably going to fall around January 24, 2026, therefore the candidates have commenced the preparation stage. Every year this test paves the way for more than 1,000 management institutes, which are recognized by AICTE, to the students across the country.
In case you are considering CMAT 2026, then it is very important for you to monitor events like CMAT significant dates 2026, CMAT 2026 Notification Release Date, last date for registration, admit card release date, and result declaration date so that you don’t have to deal with last-minute problems. This blog has identified all these crucial pieces of information that will allow you to get ahead of the schedule and organize your preparation in a smart way.
CMAT 2026 Important Dates
The following table outlines the expected timeline for CMAT 2026 based on historical patterns and projections from authoritative education portals.
| Event | Tentative Date |
|---|---|
| CMAT 2026 Notification Release Date | October 17, 2025 |
| CMAT 2026 Registration Start Date | October 17, 2025 |
| CMAT 2026 Registration Last Date | November 17, 2025 (till 11:50 PM) |
| Last Date for Application Fee Submission | November 18, 2025 (till 11:50 PM) |
| Application Form Correction Window | November 20–22, 2025 |
| Announcement of Exam City | To be announced by NTA |
| CMAT 2026 Admit Card Release Date | To be announced (expected early January 2026) |
| CMAT 2026 Exam Date | To be announced (expected late January 2026) |
| CMAT 2026 Answer Key Release | To be announced (likely early February 2026) |
| Last Date to Challenge Answer Key | To be announced with answer key release |
Key Highlights of CMAT 2026
The CMAT 2026 exam is a national level MBA entrance exam organized by the National Testing Agency (NTA) which will offer admission to MBA and PGDM programs accredited by AICTE throughout India. The timing of the exam has been shifted from May to January in recent years and the CMAT 2026 is expected to be at the end of the cycle which is in-line with academic cycles and early admissions timing.
The exam will last for 180 minutes (3 hours) and it will be an online test. Candidates will need to get their admit cards from the official website roughly four days prior to the exam date. The city selection slip will likely be made available around January 17, 2026, which will give the candidates enough time to organize their travel and logistics.
CMAT 2026 Notification Release Date
The CMAT 2026 Notification Release Date was October 17, 2025, as officially confirmed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) through the CMAT portal.
On the same day, the CMAT 2026 registration process began at cmat.nta.nic.in. The registration window will remain open until November 17, 2025, while the last date to pay the application fee is November 18, 2025. NTA has also announced that the application correction window will be available from November 20 to 21, 2025.
CMAT 2026 Registration Last Date
As per the latest official notification released by the National Testing Agency (NTA), the CMAT 2026 registration last date is November 17, 2025 (till 11:50 PM). Candidates can complete their registration process exclusively through the official CMAT website (cmat.nta.nic.in). The last date for paying the application fee is November 18, 2025, offering one additional day for transaction submissions. Applicants are strongly advised not to wait until the final day to apply, as the NTA portal often observes heavy traffic close to the deadline.
CMAT Exam Registration and Application Process
CMAT 2026 registration has begun on 17th October 2025 and will go on until 17th November, 2025 11:59pm. Interested candidates must visit the official NTA portal at cmat.nta.nic.in to fill out the application form, pay the required fee, and upload necessary documents. In late November 2025, a correction window will be offered for changing personal or academic information in submitted forms.
All graduates regardless of the discipline from accredited universities, including the final year students, will qualify for the test. Besides, there is no age limit for sitting in CMAT, which makes it open to professionals as well as career changers
CMAT 2026 Admit Card Release Date
The NTA has not yet confirmed the exact date for the CMAT 2026 Admit Card Release. Nonetheless, according to the official exam schedules and consistent past years’ patterns, the CMAT 2026 admit card is likely to be available from around January 20, 2026 – about 4-5 days prior to the test date, which is tentatively set for the end of January 2026. Using their application number and date of birth, candidates can log in via the NTA CMAT portal to download their admit card.
The admit card will have essential information like exam date, time, location, and instructions for the test. Candidates are advised to check all the information right after the download and if there are any mistakes, to call the NTA helpline before the exam day.
CMAT 2026 Result and Next Steps
A February 2026 announcement of the CMAT 2026 result is probable right after the final answer key release. One of the advantages of this scorecard is its validity for 12 months and that it will be accepted by over 1,400 participating institutes which includes the top B-schools such as JBIMS, SIMSREE, and GIM.
Candidates should pay attention to all the CMAT important dates 2026 so they can avoid losing out on critical deadlines and have a hassle-free application and examination process.
CMAT 2026 Exam Date: Conclusion
The CMAT 2026 exam is a ticket to the most prestigious management programs in India, and it is a prerequisite to be informed about the deadlines. The first step towards success is being aware of the CMAT 2026 Notification Release Date and registration that are likely to be announced very soon.
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