By the Online Coaching 4u team

Last updated: 2 September 2026.

CAT 2026 registration, open since 3 August on iimcat.ac.in, closes on 15 September 2026 at 5:00 PM IST — leaving candidates a little under two weeks to complete and submit their application before the window shuts.

What's confirmed

According to the official CAT 2026 website run by IIM Indore, this year's conducting institute, registration opened on 3 August 2026 at 10:00 AM IST and closes on 15 September 2026 at 5:00 PM IST. Admit cards go live for download from 4 November 2026, and the exam itself is held on a single day, 29 November 2026, in three sessions across roughly 170 test cities nationwide. IIM Indore has also stated plainly on its site that iimcat.ac.in is the only official CAT website, warning candidates to be wary of any other site asking for personal details or payment.

What this means for aspirants

With the window down to about two weeks from today, anyone who hasn't registered should treat it as the immediate priority rather than something to fit in around admit-card or exam-day planning. CAT has not offered a late-fee grace period beyond its published deadline in recent cycles, so leaving the form to the final day carries real risk if the payment gateway is under heavy load, as it typically is close to closing time. It's also worth registering carefully rather than quickly: test-city preferences are locked in at the time of registration, not at the admit-card stage, so a rushed submission can mean travelling further than necessary on exam day.

Important pointers

Last updated: 2 September 2026. Source: iimcat.ac.in (official CAT 2026 website, IIM Indore).

Frequently asked questions

When does CAT 2026 registration close

CAT 2026 registration closes on 15 September 2026 at 5:00 PM IST on iimcat.ac.in, the official portal run by IIM Indore, this year's conducting institute; registration opened on 3 August 2026 at 10:00 AM IST.

When is the CAT 2026 admit card and exam date

The CAT 2026 admit card becomes available for download from 4 November 2026, and the exam is held on a single day, 29 November 2026, in three sessions across roughly 170 test cities nationwide.

Is there more than one official CAT website

No. IIM Indore states on its official portal that iimcat.ac.in is the only official CAT website and has asked candidates to be cautious of any other site requesting personal information or payment.