The 2026-28 MBA cycle is now in front of every serious aspirant. With CAT 2026 by IIM Indore on 29 November 2026, XAT 2026 already conducted on 4 January 2026 by XLRI, SNAP 2026 opening in August, and NMAT 2026 running August to October, the calendar is dense and unforgiving. Miss a notification window and you forfeit a college shortlist. This guide gives you the verified 2026 registration calendar across all four MBA entrance exams, the fees, the exam patterns, and the colleges they unlock.
The 2026 MBA Exam Calendar at a Glance
| Exam | Conducting Body | Notification | Registration Window | Exam Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XAT 2026 | XLRI Jamshedpur | 10 July 2025 | 10 July to 11 December 2025 (closed) | 4 January 2026 (held) |
| CAT 2026 | IIM Indore | Last week of July 2026 (expected) | First week of August to mid-September 2026 | Sunday, 29 November 2026 |
| NMAT 2026 | GMAC | Already announced | 1 August to 18 October 2026 (expected) | 5 November to 19 December 2026 |
| SNAP 2026 | SIU Pune | First week of August 2026 | First week of August to mid-November 2026 | December 2026 (three sessions, 7 days apart) |
CAT 2026: The IIM Gateway
IIM Indore will conduct CAT 2026 on 29 November 2026, a Sunday, across three slots (forenoon, afternoon, evening). The notification is expected in the last week of July 2026 at iimcat.ac.in, with registrations opening in the first week of August. Pattern stays at 66 questions across VARC, DILR, and QA, 120 minutes, sectional time-locking.
Why it matters: CAT score is accepted by all 21 IIMs, plus FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR, IMT Ghaziabad, IMI Delhi, and 1000+ B-schools. A 99+ percentile typically opens up the top six IIMs.
XAT 2026: Already Done — But Mark January 2027
XAT 2026 was conducted on 4 January 2026 by XLRI Jamshedpur. Registration ran from 10 July to 11 December 2025 at xatonline.in, with an extension to that deadline. Fee: ₹2,200 base, plus ₹200 per XLRI programme. If you missed this cycle, mark your calendar for XAT 2027 notification, expected around 10 July 2026.
Why it matters: XAT score unlocks XLRI Jamshedpur (HRM and BM), XIMB, GIM, IMT Ghaziabad, and 160+ XAT-associate institutes. Decision Making is the unique XAT section that CAT does not test — start practising it 90 days before D-day.
NMAT 2026: The 75-Day Window with Three Attempts
GMAC’s NMAT 2026 registration opens 1 August 2026 and runs through 18 October 2026. The exam window is 5 November to 19 December 2026, with candidates allowed up to three attempts in the cycle (best score considered). Pattern: 108 questions across Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, Logical Reasoning in 120 minutes, scaled 36-360, no negative marking.
Why it matters: NMAT is the gateway to NMIMS Mumbai (the flagship MBA programme), SPJIMR PGPM, ISB Certificate in Business Analytics, and select international B-schools. The three-attempts policy makes NMAT the most forgiving of the four — use the first attempt as a diagnostic.
SNAP 2026: Three Sessions in December
Symbiosis International (Deemed) University will release the SNAP 2026 notification in the first week of August 2026 at snaptest.org. Registration runs from August to mid-November 2026, and the exam is conducted in three sessions in December 2026, each one week apart. Best score is considered.
Why it matters: SNAP score is the only gateway to all 16 Symbiosis institutes including SIBM Pune, SCMHRD Pune, SIIB Pune, and SIBM Bengaluru. Aspirants can attempt up to two of the three SNAP sessions — use that to your advantage.
Strategy: How to Stack These Four Exams
- Anchor everything on CAT 2026 (29 November 2026). CAT prep covers 80%+ of NMAT and SNAP syllabus overlap.
- Add Decision Making for XAT 2027 from October 2026 onward — it is a unique high-weight section.
- Plan NMAT attempts: book the first slot in the first week of November (low pressure, diagnostic), the second in early December if needed.
- SNAP slot choice: pick the first two of three December sessions — leaves a buffer week.
- Application deadlines: enrol Day 1 of each notification window. Last-week registrations risk server crashes at iimcat.ac.in, xatonline.in, snaptest.org.
What CAT Gurukul Offers
Our 2026-27 MBA Entrance Combo covers CAT, NMAT, and SNAP under one programme — sectional mocks, weekly diagnostics, and personalised percentile tracking against IIM-A/B/C/L/I cutoff profiles. Call helpline 7033005444 for a free counselling slot or to enrol in the May 2026 to November 2026 intensive batch.
FAQ
When is CAT 2026?
CAT 2026 will be conducted by IIM Indore on Sunday, 29 November 2026. The official notification is expected in the last week of July 2026 at iimcat.ac.in.
Has XAT 2026 happened already?
Yes, XAT 2026 was conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur on 4 January 2026. The next XAT cycle (XAT 2027) notification is expected around 10 July 2026.
When does NMAT 2026 registration open?
NMAT 2026 registration is expected to open on 1 August 2026 and close on 18 October 2026. The exam window runs 5 November to 19 December 2026, with up to three attempts allowed per candidate.
When is SNAP 2026 notification released?
SNAP 2026 notification is expected in the first week of August 2026 at snaptest.org. The exam will be held in December 2026 across three sessions, each one week apart.
Can a single CAT preparation also cover NMAT and SNAP?
Yes, roughly 80% of the CAT 2026 syllabus overlaps with NMAT and SNAP. CAT’s sectional time-locking and harder QA/DILR levels mean a CAT-prepped aspirant is already over-qualified for NMAT and SNAP, but candidates should add Decision Making practice specifically for XAT 2027.
Test Your Calendar Recall
Quiz data empty after normalization.
Sources
- CAT 2026 official portal — IIM Indore
- XAT 2026 official portal — XLRI Jamshedpur
- SNAP 2026 official portal — Symbiosis International University
- NMAT by GMAC official portal
Call helpline 7033005444 for a free MBA counselling session covering CAT, XAT, NMAT, and SNAP strategy.
