Last Updated: April 22, 2026 | Source: cuet.nta.nic.in
The CUET 2026 exam date is one of the most searched pieces of information among lakhs of undergraduate aspirants across India. Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), the Common University Entrance Test (CUET UG) 2026 is officially scheduled to be held from May 11 to May 31, 2026, in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. Whether you are waiting for the subject-wise datesheet, city intimation slip, or admit card release date — this article covers every critical CUET 2026 exam date and deadline in one place.
CUET 2026 Exam Date: Quick Summary
| Event | Date / Status |
|---|---|
| Official Notification Released | January 3, 2026 ✅ |
| Registration Start Date | January 3, 2026 ✅ |
| Registration Last Date (Extended) | February 4, 2026 ✅ Closed |
| Fee Payment Deadline | February 7, 2026 ✅ Closed |
| Registration Reopened | February 23–26, 2026 ✅ Closed |
| Application Correction Window | February 9–11, 2026 ✅ Closed |
| Subject Correction Window | Opened & Closed (April 19, 2026) ✅ |
| Photo/ID Mismatch Correction | April 7–16, 2026 ✅ |
| Subject-wise Datesheet Release | 3rd week of April 2026 (Expected) 🔜 |
| City Intimation Slip | Last week of April 2026 (Expected) 🔜 |
| Admit Card Release | 1st week of May 2026 (Expected) 🔜 |
| CUET UG 2026 Exam Dates | May 11 – May 31, 2026 (Confirmed) |
| Provisional Answer Key | Within 48 hours post-exam (Expected) |
| Final Answer Key | 2nd week of June 2026 (Expected) |
| CUET UG 2026 Result | June / Early July 2026 (Expected) |
| Counselling Begins | Last week of July 2026 (Expected) |
CUET 2026 Exam Date: Official Announcement
The National Testing Agency officially announced the CUET UG 2026 exam dates through the Information Bulletin released on January 3, 2026. As per the official notification, the exam will be conducted from May 11 to May 31, 2026, covering all 37 subjects — including 13 language papers, 23 domain-specific subjects, and the General Aptitude Test (GAT).
The CUET UG 2026 exam is scheduled to be held between May 11 and May 31, 2026, for admission to undergraduate programs, and will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.
The exam window spans 21 days and runs across multiple shifts daily to accommodate the massive number of registered candidates. More than 14 lakh candidates have registered this year, with tests running across 306 exam cities in India and 15 cities abroad.
CUET 2026 Subject-wise Datesheet: When Will It Be Released?
One of the most awaited updates after the CUET 2026 registration closed is the subject-wise datesheet, which tells candidates the exact date and shift for each of their selected subjects.
NTA is expected to release the detailed CUET UG 2026 datesheet (subject-wise schedule) in the third week of April 2026 on the official website cuet.nta.nic.in.
There will be around 15–25 days of gap between the release of the CUET UG 2026 datesheet and the actual exam. It is highly expected that the subject-wise datesheet will be released in the 3rd week of April 2026.
What If the Datesheet Is Not Released Separately?
If NTA does not release the CUET UG 2026 schedule separately, candidates can check their exam date and slot timing for the selected subject on the intimation slips and admit card — similar to what happened in 2025.
What Does the Datesheet Contain?
The CUET UG 2026 subject-wise datesheet will include:
- Subject name and paper code
- Exam date for each subject
- Shift number and slot timing
- Reporting time at the exam centre
CUET 2026 Exam Shift Timings
The CUET UG 2026 exam will be held across multiple shifts and days in CBT mode. Based on previous years’ trends, the expected shift timings are:
| Shift | Timing |
|---|---|
| Shift 1 (Morning) | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Shift 2 (Afternoon) | 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM |
Each individual subject paper lasts for 60 minutes. NTA will conduct the CUET 2026 examination in 2 regular shifts, and students will be provided 60 minutes to attempt the CUET UG test.
Note: Exact shift timings and reporting time will be confirmed on the individual admit card. Candidates are advised to arrive at the exam centre at least 1 hour before their allotted shift time.
CUET 2026 City Intimation Slip Date
Before the admit card is issued, NTA releases the CUET City Intimation Slip — a preliminary document that informs registered candidates about the city where their exam centre has been allocated.
CUET UG 2026 advance city slips will be released tentatively in the last week of April 2026. NTA issues the city intimation slips approximately 10 days before the exam date.
City Slip vs. Admit Card — Key Differences
| Feature | City Intimation Slip | Admit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Released | ~10 days before exam | 2–3 days before exam |
| Contains Exam City | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Contains Centre Address | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Valid for Entry to Exam Hall | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (Mandatory) |
| Contains Shift/Slot Timing | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Important: The city intimation slip is for advance planning only. You must carry the printed admit card to enter the examination hall — the city slip alone will not be accepted..
CUET 2026 Admit Card Date
The CUET UG 2026 admit card (hall ticket) is one of the most critical documents for exam day. CUET UG 2026 admit cards will be issued 2–3 days before the exam date. With the CUET 2026 exam scheduled tentatively between May 11 and May 31, 2026, it is expected that the CUET hall ticket 2026 will be released tentatively by May 8, 2026.
The admit card will be available exclusively at cuet.nta.nic.in and must be downloaded using the candidate’s application number and password. No admit card will be sent by post or courier.
What the CUET 2026 Admit Card Contains
- Candidate’s name, application number & roll number
- Photograph and signature
- Subject name, paper code & exam medium
- Exam date, shift timing & reporting time
- Full exam centre address
- Exam day instructions and self-declaraton form
CUET 2026 Exam Date: Complete Timeline of Events So Far
Here is a chronological recap of all CUET UG 2026 events from notification to the present:
- January 3, 2026 — NTA released the official CUET UG 2026 notification and opened the application window.
- January 30 – February 4, 2026 — Registration deadline was extended (originally January 30) to February 4, and the fee payment deadline moved to February 7, 2026.
- February 9–11, 2026 — NTA opened the application correction window, allowing candidates to rectify select details in their submitted forms.
- February 23–26, 2026 — In response to requests from students, NTA reopened the registration window for a brief period to allow remaining candidates to apply.
- April 7–16, 2026 — A special correction window was opened for candidates with photo and ID proof mismatches, ensuring their admit cards could be issued without issues.
- April 19, 2026 — Subject correction window closed. No further subject changes permitted.
- 3rd week of April 2026 (Expected) — Subject-wise datesheet release.
- Last week of April 2026 (Expected) — City intimation slip release.
- 1st week of May 2026 (Expected) — Admit card release.
- May 11–31, 2026 — CUET UG 2026 examination.
CUET 2026 Exam Cities
The CUET exam will be conducted in over 300 cities across India and 24 cities abroad. Candidates had selected their preferred exam cities during the registration process. The final assigned centre will be mentioned on the admit card, and once assigned, the exam centre cannot be changed.
Some major exam cities include Delhi, Mumbai, Patna, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Bhopal, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Chandigarh, among many others across all states and union territories.
CUET 2026 Answer Key & Result Date
After the conclusion of all exam dates, NTA will follow this post-exam schedule:
Provisional Answer Key: After the completion of CUET UG 2026 exams, NTA will release the provisional answer key within 48 hours.
Objection Window: Candidates will have a 3–4 day window to challenge the provisional answer key by paying ₹200 per question challenged (online only).
Final Answer Key: Expected in the 2nd week of June 2026, after all valid objections are reviewed.
Result Declaration: Keeping trends from the previous years, the CUET UG 2026 results are likely to be released in late June or early July2026.
CUET 2026 Counselling Date
It is important to know that CUET UG does not have a centralized counselling process. Each participating university releases the CUET counselling form 2026 on their official websites. Based on CUET scores, candidates have to register for CUET counselling 2026 on the university’s official website and enter their course and college preferences.
For Delhi University (DU), candidates must register on theCSAS (Common Seat Allocation System) portal after results are declared. Other universities follow their own individual schedules.
Every college has a different date for CUET UG counselling. However, for different courses, it might start in early or mid-July 2026.
How to Check Your CUET 2026 Exam Date
Once the subject-wise datesheet or city intimation slip is released, here is how to access your individual exam schedule:
- Visit the official website: cuet.nta.nic.in
- Click on the “CUET UG 2026 Datesheet“ or “City Intimation Slip“ link on the homepage
- Log in using your Application Number and Password
- Your exam date, shift timing, and city details will be displayed
- Download and save the PDF for reference
- Cross-verify the same details when the admit card is released
Why the CUET 2026 Exam Date Matters for Your Preparation
Knowing the exact exam date helps you in multiple ways:
Plan Your Final Revision: Once you know which subjects fall on which dates, you can reverse-engineer your study schedule and allocate the most time to subjects appearing first.
Avoid Overlap Stress: Since you can select up to 5 subjects, there is a chance your papers span multiple days. Planning meals, travel, and rest between exam days becomes easier with the datesheet.
Book Travel & Accommodation Early: Especially for candidates whose exam cities are different from their hometowns — knowing the city intimation slip details early allows you to book transport and stay well in advance.
Avoid Last-Minute Admit Card Issues: Download the admit card as soon as it is available and verify all details carefully. Contact NTA immediately if any discrepancy is found, since there is very little time between the admit card release and the actual exam date.
Final Word
The CUET 2026 exam date window of May 11–31 is now confirmed, and with the subject-wise datesheet and city intimation slip expected very soon, it is the right time to intensify your preparation. Keep checking the official NTA website and bookmark cuet-nta.com to stay ahead of every update — from the datesheet release to the admit card, answer key, and final result.
Every day counts in the final stretch. Use the CUET 2026 exam date calendar wisely, plan your revision smartly, and walk into the exam hall with full confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
The CUET UG 2026 exam is scheduled to be conducted from May 11 to May 31, 2026, in CBT mode.
The subject-wise datesheet is expected to be released in the 3rd week of April 2026 at cuet.nta.nic.in.
The city intimation slip is expected in the last week of April 2026, approximately 10 days before the first exam date.
The CUET UG 2026 admit card is expected to be released in the 1st week of May 2026, about 2–3 days before each candidate's exam date.
CUET UG 2026 will be conducted in 2 shifts daily — morning (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM) and afternoon (3:00 PM – 6:00 PM). Each paper is 60 minutes long.
CUET UG 2026 will be held in over 300 cities in India and 24 cities abroad.
Results are expected in late June or early July 2026, following the final answer key release.
No. Different subjects are scheduled on different dates. The exact subject-wise schedule will be confirmed in the official datesheet.
No. Once registration is complete, the exam centre cannot be changed. The final allotted centre will be mentioned on the admit card.
All official updates are published at cuet.nta.nic.in. You can also stay updated through cuet-nta.com for the latest news and notifications.
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