The 2026-27 MBA entrance season is now fully on the calendar. CAT 2026 is locked for 29 November 2026 with notification expected 27 July, XAT 2027 registration opens 10 July 2026 for a 3 January 2027 exam, NMAT 2026 has already concluded (13-17 January 2026 window), CMAT 2026 closed on 25 January 2026, and SNAP 2026 will run in three December 2026 slots with notification due in August. If you are sitting down today to plan your B-school application stack, this is the calendar you need to print and pin.
This guide consolidates the verified dates for every major MBA entrance test that feeds the IIMs, XLRI, SPJIMR, MDI, FMS, JBIMS, NMIMS, SIBM and the SP Mandali system — sourced from the test conducting bodies themselves, not aggregator sites. We also map each exam to the colleges it unlocks and the prep-overlap shortcut that lets you ride one preparation cycle across multiple tests.
The Locked 2026-27 MBA Entrance Calendar
Here is the single-table view as of 27 May 2026. Dates marked “expected” are based on the latest signals from the conducting institute; dates marked “confirmed” are from a published notification.
- CAT 2026 — Exam: 29 November 2026 (confirmed). Notification: 27 July 2026 (expected). Registration: first week of August to third week of September. Conducting IIM: IIM Lucknow. Official site: iimcat.ac.in.
- XAT 2027 — Exam: 3 January 2027 (confirmed). Registration opens: 10 July 2026 (confirmed). Registration closes: first week of December 2026. Conducting institute: XLRI Jamshedpur. Official site: xatonline.in.
- SNAP 2026 — Exam: three slots in December 2026, typically one week apart. Notification: August 2026. Registration closes: last week of November 2026. Official site: snaptest.org.
- NMAT 2026 — Window: 13-17 January 2026 (concluded). Next cycle NMAT 2027 details will appear on mba.com/nmat in the first week of August 2026.
- CMAT 2026 — Exam: 25 January 2026 (concluded). CMAT 2027 expected: last week of January 2027 via NTA. Official site: cmat.nta.nic.in.
- MAT 2026 — AIMA conducts MAT four times a year (Feb, May, Sept, Dec). 2026-end cycle CBT and PBT dates appear monthly on mat.aima.in.
Which Exam Unlocks Which Colleges?
Knowing the dates is half the work — the other half is knowing which exam you actually need to sit for. Here is the cleanest college-to-exam map.
- CAT — All 21 IIMs, FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR Mumbai, IIT-DMS programmes, IIM Mumbai (formerly NITIE), JBIMS (partially via separate cut-off). The single highest-leverage test in the country.
- XAT — XLRI Jamshedpur, XIM Bhubaneswar, GIM Goa, Welingkar, K J Somaiya, and almost every XAMI member institute. The decision making section is unique to XAT and the only exam where this skill is tested.
- SNAP — Symbiosis universe: SIBM Pune, SCMHRD, SIIB, SIBM Bengaluru, SIBM Hyderabad, SIBM Nagpur and SIOM Nashik.
- NMAT — NMIMS Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Navi Mumbai; ISB Hyderabad/Mohali ECP; VIT Vellore MBA. NMAT is taken multiple times — your best score counts.
- CMAT — JBIMS Mumbai (the primary gateway), KJ Somaiya, Goa Institute of Management, and ~1000 AICTE-approved B-schools.
- MAT — Tier-2/3 private B-schools and a fallback option for late deciders.
The IIM Lucknow Connection — Why CAT 2026 Has Sharper Stakes
CAT 2026 will be conducted by IIM Lucknow, which is itself coming off a strong 2026 placement season (average INR 33.2 LPA, median INR 32.9 LPA, highest domestic CTC INR 1 crore, 559 students placed). When IIM-L is the conducting institute, the paper historically leans slightly toward DILR and QA — but never in a way that ambushes prepared candidates.
The IIM-A PGP Class of 2026 just closed at 100 per cent placement with BCG making 33 offers, McKinsey 21, and Bain 20 — meaning IIM batch profile filters will only tighten further. If you are targeting CAT 2026, you are competing for one of the most desirable batches in recent Indian b-school history. Plan your VARC, DILR and QA sectionals accordingly.
The Prep Overlap Shortcut — One Cycle, Five Exams
Here is the structural insight most aspirants miss. A disciplined CAT prep cycle covers roughly 85 per cent of the syllabus for XAT, SNAP, NMAT, and CMAT combined. You only need three targeted top-ups:
- XAT-specific: Decision Making (40 minutes, no other exam tests this) and the GK + Essay block. Plan 4-6 weeks of dedicated practice from October-November onwards.
- NMAT-specific: Speed. NMAT gives you a generous 2-hour window but the sectional cut-offs reward velocity. Practise full-length NMAT mocks separately.
- SNAP-specific: The exam is shorter (60 minutes, 60 questions), which means accuracy under time pressure matters more than depth.
If you are starting now in late May, you are in the ideal four-month window to build a CAT foundation, then layer the XAT / NMAT / SNAP top-ups across October and November.
What to Do This Week (Action Checklist)
For aspirants planning the 2026-27 MBA application cycle, here is what should happen in the next 7-10 days.
- Bookmark all six official sites — iimcat.ac.in, xatonline.in, snaptest.org, mba.com/nmat, cmat.nta.nic.in, mat.aima.in.
- Diagnose your sectional baselines — take one full-length CAT mock under timed conditions. Use the score to identify which of VARC/DILR/QA needs the most attention.
- Build a 26-week study calendar ending the week of 22 November 2026 (one week before CAT exam day for revision-only).
- Decide your XAT registration timeline — registration opens 10 July, so plan budgets and document scans by 5 July at the latest.
- Plan three rounds of full-length mocks — at least 12 CATs, 6 XATs, 4 NMATs, 2 SNAPs, 2 CMATs.
How CAT Gurukul Helps You Run This Calendar
CAT Gurukul’s CAT 2026 batch is mapped to exactly this calendar. The first four months build your CAT foundation (VARC, DILR, QA concept mastery), September through October handles full-length mock cycles and XAT decision-making prep, and November is pure revision plus mock-a-day intensity. The NMAT, SNAP and CMAT top-ups are bundled in. Counsellors are available on 7033005444 to discuss your starting baseline and build a personal plan.
Quick Calendar Quiz
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is CAT 2026 and which IIM is conducting it?
CAT 2026 will be conducted by IIM Lucknow on 29 November 2026. The notification is expected on 27 July 2026 and registration is expected to open in the first week of August 2026 on iimcat.ac.in and remain open till the third week of September 2026.
When does XAT 2027 registration open?
XAT 2027 registration is scheduled to open on 10 July 2026 on xatonline.in. The exam itself will be held on 3 January 2027. Registration is expected to remain open until the first week of December 2026.
Has NMAT 2026 already concluded?
Yes. NMAT by GMAC 2026 was held in the window 13-17 January 2026. The next cycle (NMAT 2027) details will be released on mba.com/nmat in the first week of August 2026.
Can I prepare for CAT, XAT, NMAT, SNAP and CMAT together?
Yes. A disciplined CAT preparation cycle covers approximately 85 per cent of the syllabus across these exams. You need targeted top-ups for XAT Decision Making, NMAT speed, and SNAP accuracy under shorter time. The single foundation of VARC, DILR and QA carries across all five.
What is the conducting body for CMAT 2026?
CMAT is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). CMAT 2026 was held on 25 January 2026 and the next cycle is expected in the last week of January 2027 via cmat.nta.nic.in.
Sources & Further Reading
- CAT Official Site — iimcat.ac.in
- XAT Official Site — xatonline.in
- SNAP Official Site — snaptest.org
- NMAT Official Site — nmat.org.in
- CMAT NTA — cmat.nta.nic.in
- MAT AIMA — mat.aima.in
- XLRI Jamshedpur — xlri.ac.in
- FMS Delhi — fms.edu
- SPJIMR — spjimr.org
- JBIMS — jbims.edu
Last updated: 27 May 2026 | CAT Gurukul Newsroom | Helpline: 7033005444
