MBA Exam Timeline 2026-27 — What’s Already Open & What’s Still Expected
The MBA exam timeline 2026-27 is already in motion: some entrance exams have registration windows closing while others haven’t even been notified yet, and mixing up which is which is one of the easiest ways to miss a deadline. Here’s the verified MBA exam timeline 2026-27, checked directly against each exam’s own current status, from the Quantifiers team.
1. MBA Exam Timeline 2026-27 — Already Open, Register Now
Table 1 — MBA Exam Timeline 2026-27: Registrations Already Open
| Exam | Registration Opened | Registration Closes | Exam Date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAT 2026 | 3rd August 2026 | 15th September 2026 | 29th November 2026 |
| XAT 2027 | 15th July 2026 | 6th December 2026 | 3rd January 2027 |
| NMAT 2026 | 20th August 2026 | 10th October 2026 | 2nd Nov – 20th Dec 2026 (window) |
| SNAP 2026 | 21st August 2026 | 25th November 2026 | 13th, 19th & 26th December 2026 |
2. MBA Exam Timeline 2026-27 — Not Yet Open, Still Expected
Table 2 — MBA Exam Timeline 2026-27: Still Awaiting Notification
| Exam | Registration Expected | Exam Expected |
|---|---|---|
| CMAT 2027 | October 2026 | 24th January 2027 (tentative) |
| MAH MBA CET 2027 | January 2027 | April 2027 (tentative) |
💡 IIFT No Longer Runs a Separate Entrance Exam
If you’re used to tracking IIFT as its own test, that’s changed — IIFT now admits through CAT itself, with its own separate application form filed after CAT registration, not a standalone entrance exam. Track it alongside your CAT 2026 timeline, not as a sixth exam on this list.
3. CAT 2026 — Full Status
- Status: Open. Registration has been live since 3rd August 2026 and closes 15th September 2026.
- Conducting institute: IIM Indore.
- Exam date: 29th November 2026, across three sessions.
- Fee: ₹2,700 (General/EWS/NC-OBC), ₹1,350 (SC/ST/PwBD).
4. XAT 2027 — Full Status
- Status: Open. Registration opened 15th July 2026 and runs until 6th December 2026 — the longest window of any major exam this cycle.
- Conducting body: XLRI Jamshedpur.
- Exam date: 3rd January 2027, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
- Fee: ₹2,300 base, plus ₹200 for each additional XLRI programme selected.
5. NMAT 2026 — Full Status
- Status: Open. Registration opened 20th August 2026 and closes 10th October 2026.
- Conducting body: GMAC.
- Exam window: 2nd November – 20th December 2026, with candidates booking their own slot separately after registering.
- Fee: ₹3,540 per attempt (up to 3 attempts, best score counted).
6. SNAP 2026 — Full Status
- Status: Open. Registration opened 21st August 2026 and closes 25th November 2026.
- Conducting body: Symbiosis International (Deemed University).
- Exam dates: 13th, 19th, and 26th December 2026 — up to three attempts, best score counted.
- Fee: ₹2,550 per test attempt, plus ₹1,000 per Symbiosis programme applied to.
⚠ SNAP’s Pattern and Fee Have Both Changed From Recent Cycles
If you’re working off an older SNAP guide, double-check it against the current cycle — the test fee has risen from ₹2,250 to ₹2,550 per attempt, and structural changes to the exam pattern have also been reported this year. Confirm current details directly at snaptest.org before finalising your prep plan around an outdated structure.
7. CMAT 2027 — Expected Status
- Status: Not yet open. No official notification has been released as of this writing.
- Conducting body: National Testing Agency (NTA).
- Registration expected: October 2026.
- Exam expected: 24th January 2027 (tentative, based on last cycle’s date).
8. MAH MBA CET 2027 — Expected Status
- Status: Not yet open. The MAH MBA CET 2026 cycle (for the current AY 2026–27 intake) has already concluded — this is the next cycle, for AY 2027–28 admissions.
- Conducting body: Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell.
- Registration expected: January 2027.
- Exam expected: April 2027 (tentative).
9. MBA Exam Timeline 2026-27 — Your Action Plan From Here
With four exams already live and two still ahead, here’s how to actually act on this MBA exam timeline 2026-27 rather than just reading it:
- If you’re targeting CAT, XAT, NMAT, or SNAP, register now if you haven’t already — none of these windows are far from closing, and NMAT’s closes first, on 10th October.
- If you’re targeting CMAT or MAH MBA CET, there’s genuinely nothing to register for yet — use this time to prepare rather than searching for a registration link that doesn’t exist.
- Bookmark each exam’s own official site rather than a single aggregator, since exact dates can still shift before each exam’s own admit card stage.
- Re-check this timeline in early October, when CMAT’s notification is expected — that’s the next major status change on this list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which MBA entrance exams have already opened registration?
Per the current MBA exam timeline 2026-27, CAT 2026, XAT 2027, NMAT 2026, and SNAP 2026 are all currently open for registration as of late August 2026.
Has CMAT 2027 registration started?
No. CMAT 2027 registration is expected to open in October 2026 — it has not started as of this writing, despite some outdated pages suggesting otherwise.
Which exam closes first on the MBA exam timeline 2026-27?
Among the exams currently open, CAT 2026 closes first, on 15th September 2026, followed by NMAT 2026 on 10th October 2026.
Does IIFT still have its own separate entrance exam?
No. IIFT now admits through CAT scores, with its own separate application form filed after CAT registration, rather than a standalone entrance test.
When will MAH MBA CET 2027 registration open?
Registration is expected in January 2027, with the exam itself tentatively expected in April 2027 — this is the cycle for AY 2027–28 admissions, distinct from the already-concluded MAH MBA CET 2026 cycle.
