CAT 2026 Notification is expected to be released in the last week of July. CAT 2026 will be conducted by IIM Indore. The notification PDF will contain complete details on eligibility, registration process, exam pattern, syllabus, fees, and important dates. It will be released on the official website iimcat.ac.in.
- Over the last four years, it has been released on last Sunday of July. Therefore, this year it is expected to be released on July 26, 2026
- CAT 2026 registration is expected to start on 1st August 2025
- Most probably admit card can be downloaded from 5th November 2025
- The CAT registration fee is to remain same. That is Rs. 2,600 for General/EWS/OBC Candidates and Rs. 1300 for SC/ST/OBC Candidates.
- As per last year CAT Exam is expected to be conducted in 170 cities
CAT 2026 Exam Date is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, 29 November 2026.
Related Links:
- CAT 2026 Registration: How to Apply, Fees & Documents Required
- CAT 2026 Admit Card Download @iimcat.ac.in
CAT Notification 2026: Release Date
The CAT 2026 notification is an official document released by the IIM’s. This year it will be released by IIM Indore around July 26, 2026. Notification is an official announcement for the exam. It has information on eligibility criteria, exam fees, a list of test cities, and reservation policies.
- It also lists the specific deadlines for filling out the form, downloading the admit card, and the final exam date.
Students planning to apply must download this PDF to ensure they follow the official rules and guidelines.
Also Read: CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026
CAT Notification 2026: Previous Year Release Trend
CAT Notification is released by exam conducting authorities. Over the years they have preferred final Sunday of July.
- By this pattern, we can estimate that the official advertisement for the 2026 will become public on July 26, 2026.
CAT Notification Release Date: Previous Year Trends
We have provided the previous year trends of CAT Notification to estimate the various CAT exam dates.
| CAT Notification Trends | Date Of Release | Conducting IIM |
|---|---|---|
| CAT Notification 2025 | July 27 2025 | IIM Kozhikode |
| CAT Notification 2024 | July 28, 2024 | IIM Calcutta |
| CAT Notification 2023 | July 30, 2023 | IIM Lucknow |
| CAT Notification 2022 | July 31, 2022 | IIM Bangalore |
| CAT Notification 2021 | August 1, 2021 | IIM Ahmedabad |
| CAT Notification 2020 | August 2, 2020 | IIM Indore |
| CAT Notification 2019 | July 28, 2019 | IIM Kozhikode |
| CAT Notification 2018 | July 29, 2018 | IIM Calcutta |
| CAT Notification 2017 | August 9, 2017 | IIM Lucknow |
How to Download CAT Notification 2026 PDF
- Visit the official website: iimcat.ac.in.
- Look for the “CAT 2026 Notification” or “Advertisement” link (usually highlighted on the homepage).
- Download the PDF (available in English and other languages).
- The notification will also be published in leading newspapers.
CAT Exam Date 2026
CAT 2026 Exam Date is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, 29 November 2026.
- CAT is always conducted on the last Sunday of November. This means in 2026 it will be on 29 November 2026
- The exam will be held in three sessions (morning, afternoon, and evening) across 170+ test cities in India.
The official confirmation of the exact date will be given in the CAT 2026 Notification.
Also Read: CAT 2026 Exam Dates
CAT Notification 2026: Tentative Schedule
Mentioned below are dates for the entire expected schedule of CAT 2026.
| CAT 2026 Important Dates & Timeline | Important Dates |
|---|---|
| CAT 2026 Notification Date | Last week of July 2026 (Tentative) |
| CAT 2026 Registration Starts | First week of August 2026 (Expected) |
| CAT 2026 Registration Last Date | Third week of September 2026 (Expected) |
| CAT 2026 Exam Date | Last Sunday of November 2026 (Tentative) |
| CAT 2026 Result Date | First week of January 2027 (Tentative) |
Who will set the CAT 2026 paper?
The CAT 2026 question paper will be set by IIM Indore. IIM Indore will lead the process but a committee of faculty members from various IIMs may contribute to the paper-setting process.
- Every year, one of the older IIMs is responsible for conducting the CAT exam on a rotational basis.
- Mostly from the group of IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Indore, Kozhikode, and Lucknow
- The conducting IIM takes full responsibility for setting the question paper, finalizing the exam pattern, difficulty level, and overall conduction of the test.
For CAT 2026, IIM Indore has been confirmed as the conducting body ( IIM Kozhikode conducted CAT 2025).
CAT Notification 2026: Details Mentioned
CAT 2026 notification awares the candidates of various updates and information tabulated below:
What is the Last Date for CAT Registration 2026?
The last date for CAT 2026 registration is expected 3rd week of September 2026, most likely between 17 September to 23 September 2026.
- Registration is done only online through the official website iimcat.ac.in.
- The registration fee is usually ₹2,500 for General/EWS and ₹1,250 for SC/ST/PwD category candidates.
CAT 2026 Registration Dates (Tentative)
| Event | Tentative Dates |
|---|---|
| Registration Start Date | 1st week of August 2026 (August 1–5) |
| Last Date to Apply | 17–23 September 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 23–25 September 2026 (expected) |
Also Read:
CAT Notification 2026: Reddit Discussion
CAT 2026 aspirants are actively discussing the CAT 2026 registration dates and application fees on Reddit.
- Students are worried about last-minute server issues and strongly recommend completing registration in the first 7–10 days.
- Many final-year students are asking whether they should register for CAT 2026 or wait for better preparation.
- Queries regarding fee payment, whether it will remain ₹2600 (General) or increase.
Tentatively, it is expected to start from 1st week of August 2026 (likely 1–5 Aug).
The exact dates and fees will be confirmed in the CAT 2026 Official Notification.
Ques. Is CAT registration open for 2026?
Ans. No, the registration portal for CAT 2026 is currently closed. The registration process is expected to begin in the first week of August. Once the official portal is live, candidates will have until the third week of September 2026 to fill out their details
Ques. Is it possible to score 100% in CAT ?
Ans. Yes, scoring 100 percentile is possible in the CAT exam. But it is rare. On average, only about 9 to 11 candidates out of over 2 lakh achieve this score each year. Scoring 105–115 marks out of the total 198 marks is enough to secure a 100 percentile
Ques. How to get a 100% scholarship in IIM?
Ans: Securing a 100% full fee waiver at IIM relies on your family's financial profile.Not only on CAT rank alone. If your gross annual family income falls below the low income boundaries (between ₹4.5 Lakhs and ₹15 Lakhs depending on the specific campus), the financial aid committee can grant up to a full 100% scholarship.
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