CAT 2026 Exam Centers List: How to Choose Preferred Test City
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Content Curator | Updated On - Aug 6, 2026
CAT 2026 will be held in 170 cities in India. Candidates will have the option to select preferences for exam cities where they would like to take the CAT 2026 exam and mention it in the online application form during the CAT 2026 registration process.
- Students are advised to choose CAT exam city nearest to their location.
- Students will be allotted CAT test cities based on their choices and availability of test centers.
- CAT 2026 exam centre will be mentioned on the CAT admit card issued to candidates.
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Key Summary
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List of CAT 2026 Test Cities
The CAT 2026 Exam Centers List includes approximately 170 test cities across India.
- Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat have the highest number of CAT 2026 test cities.
- Union Territories such as Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Ladakh, and Puducherry have one or a limited number of CAT examination centres.
- Major metropolitan cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Jaipur, and Lucknow are part of the CAT 2026 Exam Centers List.
The final CAT 2026 examination centre is allotted based on candidate preferences, seat availability, and administrative considerations.
| State / Union Territory | CAT 2026 Test Cities |
|---|---|
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Port Blair |
| Andhra Pradesh | Anantapur, Chittoor, Chirala, Guntur, Kadapa, Kakinada, Kurnool, Nellore, Ongole, Rajahmundry, Tirupati, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar-Naharlagun |
| Assam | Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Silchar, Tezpur |
| Bihar | Arrah, Aurangabad, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Purnea |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh-Mohali |
| Chhattisgarh | Bhilai Nagar, Bilaspur, Raipur |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | Silvassa |
| Delhi | New Delhi |
| Goa | Panaji-Madgaon |
| Gujarat | Ahmedabad, Anand, Gandhinagar, Mehsana, Rajkot, Surat, Vadodara, Vapi |
| Haryana | Ambala, Faridabad, Gurugram, Hisar, Kurukshetra |
| Himachal Pradesh | Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Shimla |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Jammu, Samba, Srinagar |
| Jharkhand | Bokaro Steel City, Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Ranchi |
| Karnataka | Belagavi (Belgaum), Bengaluru, Hubli-Dharwad, Kalaburagi (Gulbarga), Mangaluru (Mangalore), Mysuru (Mysore), Shivamogga (Shimoga), Udupi |
| Kerala | Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kannur, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Trivandrum |
| Ladakh | Leh |
| Lakshadweep | Kavaratti |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Sagar, Satna, Ujjain |
| Maharashtra | Ahmednagar, Akola, Amravati, Aurangabad (CS Nagar), Bhiwandi, Chandrapur, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Mumbai, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Navi Mumbai, Palghar-Boisar, Pune, Raigad, Sangli, Satara, Solapur, Thane, Vasai, Wardha |
| Manipur | Imphal |
| Meghalaya | Shillong |
| Mizoram | Aizawl |
| Nagaland | Kohima |
| Odisha | Balasore, Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Rourkela, Sambalpur |
| Puducherry | Puducherry |
| Punjab | Amritsar, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana-Phagwara, Patiala |
| Rajasthan | Ajmer, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Sikar, Udaipur |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai, Coimbatore, Kanchipuram, Madurai, Salem, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, Vellore |
| Telangana | Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Warangal |
| Tripura | Agartala |
| Uttar Pradesh | Agra, Aligarh, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Greater Noida, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mathura, Meerut, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Noida, Prayagraj, Varanasi |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun, Haldwani, Roorkee |
| West Bengal | Asansol-Durgapur, Bankura, Burdwan, Howrah, Kalyani-Hooghly, Kolkata, Siliguri |
Steps to Choose CAT 2026 Test City
Candidates should carefully select their preferred test cities while filling out the CAT application form. Choosing suitable preferences can improve the chances of getting a nearby examination centre.
- Step 1: Register on the CAT 2026 official website.
- Step 2: Fill out the CAT 2026 form completely.
- Step 3: Go to the section on Test City Preferences.
- Step 4: From the list of cities shown on the website, select the cities you wish to take the CAT 2026 exam.
- Step 5: Check all selected cities on the list thoroughly and confirm that they have been selected properly.
- Step 6: After submitting the form, candidates can save the confirmation page.
Guidelines for Choosing the CAT 2026 Test City
Candidates should choose their preferred CAT test cities after considering all practical factors such as travel convenience and accessibility.
- Select a test city close to the candidate's residence or current place of study.
Prefer cities with good roads, railways, or airports.
- Opt for all city preferences rather than relying on only one.
- Do not pick a city involving long-distance travel when there are cities quite near.
- If going to a different city, arrange for the accommodation and means of getting there well before the test.
- Remember that IIMs reserve the right to change or cancel any test city or examination centre if required.
Reporting and Gate Closing Time at CAT 2026 Test Centers
CAT 2026 reporting nd gate closing time will be mentioned on the CAT admit card 2026. Based on trends from past years, students will be required to report to the allotted test center 1.5 hours before the exam starts.
- For Slot 1 of the CAT 2026 exam, reporting time will be around 7:00 AM and gate closing time will be 8:15 AM.
- For Slot 2 of the CAT 2026 exam, reporting time will be around 11:00 AM and gate closing time will be 12:15 PM.
- For Slot 3 of the CAT 2026 exam, reporting time will be around 3:00 PM and gate closing time will be 4:15 AM.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Reporting Time |
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| Gate Closing Time |
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CAT 2026 Exam Day Guidelines
Candidates should carefully follow all instructions issued by the examination authorities on the day of the CAT examination.
- Candidates should report to their allotted CAT 2026 examination centre well before the reporting time mentioned on the admit card.
- Entry to the examination centre after the gate closing time may not be permitted.
- Carry a printed copy of the CAT 2026 Admit Card.
- Carry a valid original photo identity proof.
- Reach the examination centre before the reporting time.
- Follow all instructions properly given by the invigilators.
- Do not carry any prohibited items inside the examination centre.
- Before you enter the test hall, check whether you have been assigned the allotted examination room properly.
- Cooperate during identity verification and security checks.
FAQs
Ques. How many test centers will there be in the CAT 2026 Exam Centers List?
Ans. In 2026, the Common Admission Test will be taken at the various examination centers spread all over the country.
- The preliminary list of exam centers for CAT 2026 is anticipated to feature about 170 cities as venues for tests.
- Cities that qualify as test centers have to be located in any of India's states or the country's seven union territories.
Ques. How should I choose my nearest CAT 2026 test city?
Ans. It is recommended that applicants select the most suitable and conveniently accessible exam centres from where they can travel by public transport comfortably.
- Pick a city that you are currently living or studying in.
- You are also advised to prefer the cities you can easily reach with minimum travelling troubles.
Ques. Am I allowed to change my designated CAT 2026 test city after the application has been submitted?
Ans. Please keep in mind that once a candidate has submitted his/her city preference, it may not be able to be altered.
- If you think there is a chance or that you really do want that to happen, please first make a note of possible changes in your city preference on the application form.
- The candidates finally assigned to the exam Centre shall be one that is a combination of factors like availability and administrative.
Ques. Where will the allotted CAT 2026 test centre be mentioned?
Ans. The allotted examination centre is communicated after the application process.
- The complete test centre details will be available on the CAT 2026 Admit Card.
- Candidates should download the admit card before the examination.
Ques. What happens if I reach the CAT 2026 examination centre after the gate closing time?
Ans. Candidates should report before the gate closes on the examination day.
- Reach the examination centre according to the reporting time mentioned on the admit card.
- Any attempt to enter the examination centre after the gate is closed may not be permitted to join.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.