The CAT 2026 notification has not been released yet. As of today, IIM Indore (the expected conducting institute) has not published the official update on iimcat.ac.in. Based on the last several years of patterns, the CAT 2026 notification is expected around July 26, 2026. Here’s exactly what to expect.
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Is the CAT 2026 Notification Out Yet?
No. IIM Indore has not published the CAT 2026 notification yet. Here’s the current status at a glance:
| Detail | Status |
| Notification released? | Not yet |
| Conducting IIM confirmed? | IIM Indore (Expected) |
| Exam date confirmed? | November 29, 2026 (Expected) |
| Registration open? | Not yet, expected to open around August 1, 2026 |
Also Read: CAT Registration 2026 in detail
What Will CAT 2026 Notification Confirm?
When it’s released, the notification will officially confirm:
- Exact exam date: November 29, 2026 – Expected
- Registration start and end dates
- Registration fee: CAT 2025 fee was ₹2,600 for General/EWS/OBC and ₹1,300 for SC/ST/PwD
- Eligibility criteria: minimum 50% in graduation, 45% for SC/ST/PwD; final-year students eligible
- List of participating IIMs and programmes
- Test cities and city-preference options
Also read: CAT Eligibility 2026
Expected CAT 2026 Timeline After the Notification
Once the notification is out, here’s roughly how the next four months are expected to play out, based on the CAT 2025 cycle:
| Event | Expected Timeline |
| Notification release | July 26, 2026 |
| Registration opens | August 1, 2026 |
| Registration closes | Third week of September 2026 |
| Admit card release | Early November 2026 |
| CAT 2026 exam | November 29, 2026 |
| Result declaration | Late December 2026 / early January 2027 |
Not sure which prep track fits your timeline? Get a plan mapped to the expected CAT 2026 dates.
What Should You Do While You Wait?
The notification date doesn’t have to be the day your CAT 2026 preparation actually starts. Most toppers start their CAT Preparation 3-4 months before CAT notification is released.
- First-time aspirants: Use these two weeks to lock in a study plan and start with fundamentals in QA and VARC, so registration week doesn’t eat into prep time. Career Launcher’s CAT Crash course 2026 is already running and structured around the expected exam date.
- Repeaters: If you attempted CAT 2025, use your scorecard to identify the section that cost you the most percentile, and start targeted practice now rather than waiting for registration to open.
- Non-CAT aspirants deciding whether to apply: Take a free CAT mock test this week. A real percentile estimate, not a guess, is the fastest way to decide if you are actually ready for CAT 2026.
- Everyone: Keep testing under real exam conditions. Career Launcher’s CAT 2026 Test Series and the OPEN CDC all-India mock to simulate actual test-day conditions, so you’re not adjusting to exam pressure for the first time in November.
When Will CAT 2026 Notification Be Released?
Over the last several admission cycles, the conducting IIM has consistently published the notification on the last Sunday of July. The table below shows a fixed pattern.
| Year | Notification Date | Conducting IIM | Exam Date |
| CAT 2024 | July 28, 2024 | IIM Calcutta | November 24, 2024 |
| CAT 2025 | July 27, 2025 | IIM Kozhikode | November 30, 2025 |
| CAT 2026 (expected) | July 26, 2026 | IIM Indore (expected) | November 29, 2026 (expected) |
Conclusion
The CAT 2026 notification isn’t out yet, but you don’t need it to start preparing. Based on a consistent multi-year pattern, expect it around July 26, 2026, with registration opening August 1 and the exam itself on November 29, 2026. Use the next two weeks productively, take a free mock, review your fundamentals, and lock in a structured plan. So, that when the notification does drop, you’re registering with a head start instead of a scramble.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is CAT 2026 notification out yet?
A: No. As of now, the CAT 2026 notification has not been released. It is expected around July 26-28, 2026.
Q2. When will CAT 2026 notification be released?
A: Based on the last several years of pattern (last Sunday of July), the CAT 2026 notification is expected on July 26, 2026.
Q3. Which IIM is conducting CAT 2026?
A: IIM Indore is expected to conduct CAT 2026, based on the rotation sequence, though this is officially confirmed only in the notification.
Q4. When will CAT 2026 registration start?
A: CAT 2026 registration is expected to open on August 1, 2026, and close in the third week of September 2026.
Q5. What is the CAT 2026 registration fee?
A: The exact CAT 2026 fee will be confirmed in the notification. In CAT 2025, the fee was ₹2,600 for General/EWS/OBC candidates and ₹1,300 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
