GMAT Exam Dates

The GMAT doesn’t have fixed national test dates. You can take the exam throughout the year, and the date you finally get depends on the slots available when you book. 

That gives you quite a bit of flexibility. You can choose between a test-centre appointment and the online GMAT, check dates that fit your plan, and book once you find a suitable slot. 

• Test Centre: Dates depend on the centre you choose, its working days, and the seats still available.  
• Online GMAT: Appointments are available throughout the year, with 24/7 scheduling available in many regions. 

You can usually check GMAT appointments up to 6 months in advance, and the available dates and time slots are shown directly on mba.com. 

In the sections below, we’ll look at GMAT test-centre and online exam dates for 2026, how to check and book a date, and what to know if you need to change it later. 

GMAT Test Centre Dates 2026 

There is no fixed schedule or dates for the GMAT exam at the test centres. The exam is available throughout the year but the dates can differ depending on the the city, the centre, and the seats still open there. 

Here are some test centres in India where you can get your GMAT exam scheduled:  

City Name	GMAT Test Centre	Upcoming GMAT Exam Dates 2026
New Delhi	Pearson Professional Centers – New Delhi	September: 1–30  October: 1–31  November: 1–30  December: 1–31
Bengaluru	Pearson Professional Centers – Bangalore	September: 1–30  October: 1–31  November: 1–30  December: 1–31
Mumbai	Pearson Professional Centers – Mumbai	September: 1–30  October: 1–31  November: 1–30  December: 1–31
Chennai	Pearson Professional Centers – Chennai	September: 1–30  October: 1–31  November: 1–30  December: 1–31
Hyderabad	Pearson Professional Centers – Hyderabad	September: 1–30  October: 1–31  November: 1–30  December: 1–31
Kolkata	Xenitis Technolab Pvt Ltd	September: 1–30  October: 1–31  November: 1–30  December: 1–31
Pune	GATS	September: 1–30  October: 1–31  November: 1–30  December: 1–31
Ahmedabad	A1 Professional Assessment Center	September: 1–30  October: 1–31  November: 1–30  December: 1–31
Chandigarh	Jetking – Chandigarh	September: 1–30  October: 1–31  November: 1–30  December: 1–31
Kochi	Rajagiri College of Social Sciences	September: 1–30  October: 1–31  November: 1–30  December: 1–31
Ranchi	Infinity Academy	September: 1–30  October: 1–31  November: 1–30  December: 1–31

One thing to keep in mind: these date ranges don’t mean that every test centre will have an open seat on every single day. The actual dates and timings depend on what’s available when you check on mba.com. 

Know the complete GMAT Exam Pattern 

GMAT Online Exam Dates 2026 

The online GMAT is more flexible when it comes to dates. You don’t have to wait for a fixed exam day to be announced.  

Online appointments are available throughout the year, and GMAC says slots are offered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in many regions.  

So, if you’re planning to take the GMAT online in 2026, you can choose from the dates and timings available when you check. There’s no separate month-wise calendar for the online test. 

Here’s what you should know: 

GMAT Online Exam Details	2026 Information
Exam availability	Throughout the year
Days	7 days a week
Appointment timing	24 hours a day in many regions
Booking window	Usually up to 6 months ahead
Where dates are shown	mba.com
Minimum gap between two GMAT attempts	16 calendar days
Maximum attempts	5 in a rolling 12-month period
Online + test-centre attempts	Both count towards the same attempt limit

You can usually look for an online appointment up to 6 months ahead, so you don’t really have to wait until your target month comes close. If you already know roughly when you want to take the exam, you can start checking much earlier. 

Read More:
GMAT Exam Fees	GMAT Eligibility	GMAT Syllabus	GMAT Preparation

How to Check and Book a GMAT Exam Date? 

You don’t really need to figure out the dates separately. Once you log in to mba.com, you can see what’s actually open and then choose from there. For a test-centre exam, the options change by city and centre, while online slots are shown separately.  

Here’s the process: 

1. Sign in to mba.com: Use your existing account, or create one if you haven’t registered before.  
2. Go to GMAT registration: Select the option to register for the GMAT.  
3. Choose the test mode: Pick either Test Center or Online. The dates you see after this will depend on what you choose. 
4. Look for dates: If you’re taking the test at a centre, enter your city, state, country, or postal code. mba.com will then show the centres near you and the appointments they have open. 
5. Choose the day and time: Go through the options and pick what suits you. If one centre doesn’t have the day you want, you can check another nearby centre too.  
6. Check everything once and pay: Before you confirm, look at the date, time, and test mode again. Then complete the payment to book the appointment.  

It is suggested to keep one or two backup dates in mind. If the first slot you wanted is gone, you won’t have to start planning all over again. 

Did You Know?  upGrad can help eligible students get a GMAT/GRE waiver for selected university programs. This means you may be able to apply without taking the GMAT, depending on the program and your eligibility.

How to Reschedule or Cancel Your GMAT Exam Date? 

Sometimes the date you booked just doesn’t work anymore. That’s fine. You can change or cancel a GMAT appointment through your mba.com account, whether you’re taking the exam at a test centre or online.  

Just don’t leave it too late. GMAC says the fee depends on how close you are to the exam, and changes made nearer the test date usually cost more. The exact amount can also vary by country and test mode.  

How to Reschedule Your GMAT Exam Date? 

If you want another date, you don’t need to cancel everything and register again. 

• Sign in to your mba.com account.  
• Find your upcoming GMAT appointment.  
• Select Reschedule.  
• Pick another available date and time.  
• Pay the applicable rescheduling fee and confirm the change.  

The new date still depends on what’s available when you check, so it helps to have one or two backup options in mind.  

How to Cancel Your GMAT Exam Date? 

Cancellation works from the same account. Find your scheduled appointment, choose Cancel, and follow the steps shown there. 

A few rules are worth knowing: 

• If you cancel or reschedule more than 24 hours before the exam, it’s allowed, but the fee or refund will depend on when you make the change.  
• If there are less than 24 hours left, you can’t cancel or move the appointment.  
• If you change a test-centre appointment by phone, there’s an extra USD 10 service fee.  
• If you miss the exam, you’ll be marked as a no-show and you lose the exam fee.  
• After a missed appointment, you can book again after 24 hours, but you’ll have to pay the exam fee again.  
• In some verified emergencies, such as a serious medical issue, military duty, or bereavement, GMAC may allow a free reschedule or full refund after reviewing the documents. 

GMAC may consider emergencies such as a serious medical issue, military duty, or bereavement, but you’ll need supporting documents and approval isn’t automatic.  

16-Day Rule for GMAT Exam Dates 

This one matters if you’re thinking about another attempt. 

You need to leave at least 16 calendar days between two GMAT appointments. The rule stays the same whether you take the exam online, at a test centre, or switch from one mode to the other.  

For example, if you take the GMAT on October 5, the earliest you can take it again is October 21. 

There’s an attempt limit too: 

• Minimum gap: 16 calendar days  
• Maximum attempts: 5 in a rolling 12-month period  
• Online + test-centre attempts: Count together  
• Cancelled appointment before the exam: Does not count as an attempt  
• Missed appointment: Does not count towards the 5-attempt limit  

So if you’re keeping a second attempt as a backup, don’t choose your first GMAT date too close to your MBA application deadline. You’ll need those 16 days before you can sit for the exam again. 

Conclusion 

GMAT exam dates are pretty flexible compared to exams that follow a fixed yearly calendar. You can take the test throughout the year, either at a test centre or online, but the exact date you get will depend on the slots available when you book. 

It’s better to plan a little early. Check your MBA application deadlines first, keep a few backup dates in mind, and remember the 16-day gap if you think you may want to take the GMAT again. 

Once you have an idea in mind, checking mba.com early can make things easier, especially if you want a particular test centre or timing. 

If you need help planning your GMAT timeline or choosing when to take the exam, you can also book a free 1:1 session with upGrad experts and discuss your study and application plans.