CAT 2026 Admit Card: Release Date, Download Steps and Exam-Day Checklist
The CAT 2026 admit card is the one document that decides whether you get through the exam centre gate on November 29. Here is when it arrives, how to download it, what to check the moment you open it, and what to carry so nothing goes wrong on the day.
- CAT 2026 Admit Card Release Date and Download Window
- How to Download Your CAT 2026 Admit Card
- What to Check on Your CAT 2026 Admit Card
- What to Carry With Your Admit Card on Exam Day
- If Your Admit Card Has an Error or Won’t Download
- What to Do Before the Admit Card Is Released
- Frequently Asked Questions
CAT 2026 Admit Card Release Date and Download Window
IIM Indore is conducting CAT this year, and the official schedule puts the CAT 2026 admit card release on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. The link stays active until the exam day itself, so you have a download window of roughly three and a half weeks.
That window is generous, but do not treat it as an invitation to wait. The first few days after release are when you find out whether your photo, signature, city and slot came through correctly, and a problem found on November 5 is far easier to fix than one found on November 28.
Table 1: Key dates around the admit card
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Admit card release | Wednesday, November 4, 2026 |
| Last day to download | Sunday, November 29, 2026 (exam day) |
| CAT 2026 exam date | Sunday, November 29, 2026 |
| Conducting institute | IIM Indore |
| Mode and sessions | Computer-based test, three sessions in one day |
| Where to download | iimcat.ac.in |
How to Download Your CAT 2026 Admit Card
Downloading the CAT 2026 admit card is a login-and-click job. Only candidates who completed registration and paid the fee will see it.
- Open the official CAT website, iimcat.ac.in, and go to the candidate login.
- Sign in with the User ID and password you created during registration.
- Open the admit card option on your candidate dashboard.
- Download the PDF and save a copy on your phone and your laptop.
- Print it on clean A4 paper, ideally the same week, so there is time to reprint if something looks off.
Keep your login details handy before November 4. If you have forgotten the password, use the reset option on the login page now rather than on release day, when the portal is at its busiest.
What to Check on Your CAT 2026 Admit Card
Do not just download the CAT 2026 admit card and file it away. Sit down for five minutes and read it line by line, because the details printed on it are what the centre staff will match against you and your ID.
- Name: exactly as on your photo ID. A spelling or initials mismatch is the most common avoidable headache.
- Photograph and signature: clearly visible and actually yours. If the photo looks blurry, first open the PDF in a proper PDF reader, since browser previews often render images poorly.
- Exam date and session: CAT is held in three sessions on November 29, and your slot is printed on the admit card. For how the sessions are timed, see our guide on CAT 2026 exam timing.
- Reporting time: this is earlier than the test start, so plan your travel around it and not the paper’s start time.
- Test centre name and address: look it up on a map today and, if you can, visit the route once before exam week.
- Category and other details: they should match what you entered in the application.
Key takeaway
Your slot and centre can differ from what you expected while filling the form, so treat the CAT 2026 admit card as the only source of truth for your session, centre and reporting time.
What to Carry With Your Admit Card on Exam Day
The checklist for the day is short, but every item on it is non-negotiable. Pack it the night before and put it in one folder.
- A clear printed copy of your CAT 2026 admit card on A4 paper. A photo on your phone is not a substitute.
- One original, valid photo ID whose name matches the admit card.
- A recent passport-size photograph, if the admit card instructions ask you to paste or carry one.
- Any additional document your admit card asks for, such as a declaration form, a name-change proof, or disability-related papers where applicable.
Phones, smartwatches and personal calculators are not allowed inside the test area. CAT gives you an on-screen calculator instead, and it is worth practising with it before the exam. Our explainer on the CAT exam calculator covers exactly how it behaves.
Do not rely on a digital copy
Plan on carrying a printed admit card and an original ID. If the instructions printed on your CAT 2026 admit card ask for anything extra, follow them exactly, because they override any general checklist, including this one.
If Your CAT 2026 Admit Card Has an Error or Won’t Download
Problems are usually small and fixable, as long as you find them early. Here is how to handle the common ones.
The portal is slow or the link will not open
Release day brings heavy traffic. Wait a few hours, try again at an off-peak time such as late night or early morning, and avoid refreshing repeatedly. Remember you have until November 29, so one bad hour is not a crisis.
A detail on the admit card is wrong
If your name, photo, category or centre is incorrect, report it to the CAT helpdesk through the contact details on iimcat.ac.in straight away, with a screenshot and your CAT ID. Do not wait until exam week, and do not assume the centre will sort it out on the day.
The photo looks blurry
Download the file again, open it in a desktop PDF viewer, and print one test copy. If it is still unclear after printing, raise it with the helpdesk before the exam.
What to Do Before the Admit Card Is Released
The weeks before the CAT 2026 admit card drops are the most productive stretch you have left, so use them for preparation rather than waiting around.
- Create a folder with your ID, passport photos and a note of your CAT login details.
- Keep taking full-length mocks at the same time of day as your likely slot, and review each one properly.
- Rehearse the exam-day routine once: travel time, food, and a calm last hour before the test.
- Check the official CAT website regularly for notices about the mock test and any schedule updates.
If you want a structured plan for the remaining weeks, our CAT 2 months preparation plan breaks the final stretch into two clear phases, and the Sangharsh CAT crash course is built for exactly this period. Once the CAT 2026 admit card is in your hands, your only job is to stay sharp and arrive on time.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the CAT 2026 admit card be released?
The CAT 2026 admit card will be available from November 4, 2026 on iimcat.ac.in.
What is the last date to download the CAT 2026 admit card?
The admit card remains available until the exam day, November 29, 2026. Download it much earlier so you can fix any issue in time.
What login details do I need?
You need the User ID and password created during CAT registration. Reset the password before release day if you have forgotten it.
Can I show the admit card on my phone at the centre?
Plan on a printed copy. Carry a clear A4 printout and an original photo ID, and follow whatever the instructions on your admit card say.
Which ID should I carry with the admit card?
Carry an original, valid photo ID with a name that matches your admit card. Check the list of accepted IDs in the official instructions.
What if there is a mistake on my CAT 2026 admit card?
Contact the CAT helpdesk using the details on iimcat.ac.in as soon as you spot it, and share your CAT ID with a screenshot of the error.
