CAT 2026 Notification: Release Date – Sunday, July 26: Check Key Details to Note; Download PDF

CAT notification is an advertisement for CAT exam that is released every year by convening IIM on the last Sunday of July announcing the exam dates. CAT Notification is published on CAT official website iimcat.ac.in, in the national newspapers and on MBAUniverse.com. 

CAT 2026 Notification: Key Information

CAT 2026 Notification will be released by IIM Indore on July 26, 2026 on the official CAT website iimcat.ac.in and as advertisements in major national newspapers. Based on the CAT 2025 Notification, here is what the CAT 2026 Notification will confirm:

• Exam Date: CAT 2026 exam date and the number of sessions. Based on previous years trends, the exam is expected on November 29, 2026 in three sessions.
• Registration Dates: Exact opening and closing dates for CAT 2026 registration. Based on CAT 2025, registration is expected to open August 1 and close in third week of September 2026.
• Registration Fees: Official fees for General/EWS/NC-OBC and SC/ST/PwD candidates. CAT 2025 fees were Rs 2,600 and Rs 1,300 respectively.
• Eligibility Criteria: Minimum academic qualifications required to apply. CAT 2025 required minimum 50% marks in graduation (45% for SC/ST/PwD).
• Exam Pattern: Number of sections, questions, duration, and marking scheme for CAT 2026.
• Test Cities: Number of exam cities and how many city preferences candidates can select. CAT 2025 offered approximately 170 cities with 5 preference options.
• Participating IIMs: Confirmed list of all IIMs and their MBA programmes accepting CAT 2026 scores.
• Official Website: The official website for CAT 2026 registration and information is iimcat.ac.in. Notification will confirm this. 

MBAUniverse.com will publish the CAT 2026 Notification PDF download link on last night of July 25 or early morning of July 26, 2026. 

CAT Notification will be published on MBAUniverse.com on July 26, 2026. For CAT Notification 2026 PDF Download, just click on link below and download the document. It can also be done from the following websites:

• CAT exam official website IIMCAT.ac.in
• Newspapers like The Hindu and Times of India  

After completing the CAT 2026 Notification PDF download, you should save it carefully and refer to it. It will help you to refer to the important details before beginning the CAT registration process. Till the 2026 CAT notification is released, you can download CAT 2025 notification PDF from the link below.

While CAT 2026 Notification is expected on July 26, 2026, aspirants can refer to the official CAT 2025 Notification published by IIM Kozhikode on July 27, 2025 to understand the format, key details, and what to expect. Check key details released in bullet points below. Also refer to image below. 

CAT 2025 Notification — Key Highlights

• Conducting IIM: IIM Kozhikode
• CAT 2025 Exam Date: November 30, 2025
• Registration Opens: August 1, 2025 (10:00 AM)
• Registration Closes: September 13, 2025 (5:00 PM)
• Admit Card Download: November 5–30, 2025
• Result Declaration: First week of January 2026 (Tentative)
• Registration Fees: Rs 2,600 (General/EWS/NC-OBC); Rs 1,300 (SC/ST/PwD)
• Test Cities: Approximately 170 cities; candidates choose 5 preferred cities
• Official Website: iimcat.ac.in

Note: The above details are from the official CAT 2025 Notification. CAT 2026 dates, fees, and eligibility will be confirmed only after the official CAT 2026 Notification is released on July 26, 2026. MBAUniverse.com will update this page immediately upon release.

CAT 2025 Notification 

If we look at the CAT exam notification release dates for previous CAT exams, we find that it is the last Sunday of July or first Sunday of August, when CAT exam notification is released every year. Check CAT exam notification release dates for previous years in the table below. 

The CAT 2026 Notification release on July 26, 2026 is an important milestone in for your CAT exam journey. Every action from this point is time-bound — missing any step has consequences. Here is exactly what to do after notification release.

Step 1 — Read the Notification Carefully (July 26)

Download the CAT 2026 Notification PDF from iimcat.ac.in or MBAUniverse.com on the day of release. Read it fully before doing anything else. Reconfirm the exam date, registration dates, eligibility criteria, fees, and participating IIMs. Do not rely on media summaries. Read the original document carefully.

Step 2 — Verify Your Eligibility (July 26–31)

Check CAT 2026 eligibility criteria carefully against your academic profile. The minimum requirement is 50% marks in graduation (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates). Final year students are also eligible. If you belong to NC-OBC or EWS category, ensure your certificate is valid — NC-OBC certificates must be issued on or after April 1, 2026. Read complete CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria.

Step 3 — Prepare Your Documents (July 26–31

Gather all documents required for CAT registration before the window opens. These include Class 10 and 12 marksheets, graduation certificate, passport size photograph with white background, scanned signature, and category certificate if applicable. Having documents ready in advance prevents last-minute errors during form filling. Check CAT registration required documents list. 

Step 4 — Create a Dedicated Email ID (Any date before July) 

Create a new, dedicated email account exclusively for the CAT 2026 registration and IIM selection process. Use this email only for all CAT-related communication like registration confirmation, admit card, results, and IIM interview calls. Saver user name and password carefully. 

Step 5 — Register Early (August 1 onwards) 

CAT 2026 registration opens on August 1, 2026. Do not wait until the last date to register. Register early as test city allotment is based on availability and early registrants have a better chance of securing their preferred city. Read the step-by-step CAT 2026 Registration Guide.

Step 6 — Fill Application Form Carefully (August 1 onwards) 

Fill the CAT 2026 application form with extreme care. Name, date of birth, academic marks, and category once submitted cannot be changed. Remember only photograph, signature, and test city can be corrected in the short correction window (expected September 24–27). Read the complete CAT 2026 Application Form Guide before filling the form.

Step 7 — Intensify CAT Preparation (August onwards)

With the notification out and registration underway, treat every day from August 1 as vital for your CAT preparation. By August, you should be moving from concept building to mock tests and sectional practice. Check complete CAT 2026 Preparation Guide. Take free CAT Mock Tests on MBAUniverse.com to benchmark your preparation level.

In summary, CAT Notification provides CAT exam schedule, eligibility criteria, registration process, exam centers and other important details. CAT 2026 notification release is expected on Sunday, July 26, 2026. Check complete information on CAT exam notification and how to download CAT notification in above article.