CMAT Exam Date 2026: Registration, Fee, Admit Card, & Result Dates

Top colleges often lead to top careers—both academically and professionally. And your journey to finding the best MBA colleges in India starts with clearing one of the country’s most respected entrance exams: the CMAT (Common Management Admission Test).

CMAT is a computer-based test consisting of multiple-choice questions, taken annually by thousands of MBA aspirants across India. The good news? The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the CMAT, is expected to release the official notification and important dates very soon.

If NTA follows last year’s schedule, the registration may begin around December 25, 2025, and the exam may be held on January 24, 2026.

So, what are you waiting for? If you hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university, it’s time to gear up. Clearing this moderately difficult exam with at least 50% marks could open the doors to over 1300 AICTE-approved MBA colleges across India.

Since clearing the CMAT is no longer optional—but essential—let’s dive into the key tentative dates for CMAT 2026: including registration, fee deadlines, exam date, and result announcement.

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CMAT Exam Date, Registration, and Result Timeline in one Comprehensive List 2026

If you're serious about clearing the CMAT 2026 exam, you should mark the following dates on your calendar. While these dates are tentative, they are highly likely to be accurate, as most national-level entrance exams follow a consistent pattern year after year.

So, don’t treat the timeline below as “just tentative”—consider it your roadmap to CMAT 2026 preparation. Use it to structure your study plan, stay ahead of deadlines, and maximize your chances of success.

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CMAT 2026 Exam Date & Timings

Since its inception, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has empowered higher education institutions in India by conducting standardized, efficient, and transparent entrance examinations. To ensure the best exam experience for students, the NTA carefully selects the date, timing, and exam sessions to reduce stress and provide maximum convenience.

The same approach applies to the CMAT 2026 exam. The exam is expected to be conducted on a single day, most likely January 26, 2026, in two sessions—morning and afternoon. Candidates will have the flexibility to choose their preferred session during registration, subject to availability.

Each session will consist of 5 sections, with 20 questions per section, making a total of 100 questions. The total exam duration is 180 minutes (3 hours).

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CMAT 2026 Registration Start and End Date

The CMAT 2026 exam is approaching quickly, and with it comes the crucial step of registration. While many students remember the exam date, it’s common to overlook the registration timeline. If you're serious about cracking the CMAT with a high score, early registration is key.

Registering early not only secures your spot but also increases your chances of getting a convenient exam center in your preferred city—saving you time, effort, and travel stress. The CMAT 2026 registration process is expected to begin on November 14, 2025, and may close by December 25, 2025. To register, visit the official NTA website: https://exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT/ You’ll need to create an account and complete the application by providing your personal information, academic details, photograph, and paying the required application fee.

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Last Date to Pay CMAT 2026 Application Fee

Registration and fee payment for the CMAT exam go hand-in-hand. This means that applicants must complete the fee payment during the registration process, which is expected to be open from November 14, 2025, to December 25, 2025. A registration will be considered successful only after the required fee is paid.

It's important to note that the CMAT 2026 application fee is non-refundable under any circumstances. Additionally, rescheduling or changing the exam session is not allowed once registration is complete.

The CMAT fee varies based on the applicant's category and ranges from ₹1,250 to ₹2,500. For a more detailed breakdown, refer to the table below.

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CMAT 2026 Admit Card Release Date

Please note that the NTA does not send the CMAT admit card to your residential address. So, don’t sit back and relax after completing your registration. It's important to stay alert and take action a few days before the exam. The admit card will be available for download on the official CMAT-NTA website, typically around January 20, 2026, or during the third or fourth week of January. To download your admit card, log in to your account using your application number and date of birth. Make sure to download and print it in advance, as it is a mandatory document for entry into the examination hall.

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CMAT 2026 Exam Day Guidelines and Timings

The day of the CMAT examination is crucial for both students and exam authorities. Since every minute of the test counts, the NTA has outlined specific guidelines to help students make the most of their exam experience. To ensure a smooth exam day, it’s important to know what is allowed and what isn’t. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of do’s and don’ts to keep in mind on the day of the CMAT 2026 examination.

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CMAT 2026 Answer Key Release Date

The National Testing Agency (NTA), in its efforts to support students, releases the CMAT answer key on its official website. This answer key helps candidates estimate their scores and evaluate their performance before the official result is announced. Typically, the answer key is made available 6–7 days after the CMAT exam and 10–12 days before the result declaration. For CMAT 2026, you can expect the answer key to be released around February 1, 2026. To access it, simply log in to the CMAT-NTA website using your application number and password. The answer key can be downloaded from your dashboard once it is officially published.

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CMAT 2026 Result Declaration Date

The CMAT 2026 result is expected to be released on the official NTA-CMAT website around February 12, 2026. To check your result, simply log in to your account—your scorecard will be displayed on the screen. The timing of the result announcement is strategically important, as many top MBA colleges in India begin their admission process shortly afterward. While a good CMAT score is essential, most MBA institutions also require candidates to clear Group Discussion (GD), Personal Interview (PI) rounds, and meet other eligibility criteria to secure final admission.

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CMAT 2026 Counselling and Admission Timeline

Typically, the first round of the MBA admission session begins in late February or early March each year. The second round of admission usually starts between June and July. You can apply for admission in either session, as the CMAT score remains valid for one year. To give you a clearer picture of the counselling and admission timeline after CMAT 2026, we have curated a well-structured table for your reference.

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Writen By:

Pawan Rawat

Pawan Rawat is a full-stack content writer with expertise in crafting research-based educational blogs and articles, paying close attention to detail. He has mastered the art of creating SEO-optimized content for websites. When he's not working to pay the bills, he spends his time lifting weights at the gym, clicking random photos, reading books, or planning his next adventure.