NIFT 2026 Schedule: Notification, Registration, Exam Date, Full Admission Schedule

NIFT 2026 Schedule: Notification, Registration, Exam Date, Full Admission Schedule

Sumeet SudarshanUpdated on 28 Aug 2025, 02:20 PM IST

National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) will notify the NIFT 2026 schedule on its official website - nift.ac.in. The NIFT 2026 registration will tentatively open in November 2025 on the official website - exams.nta.ac.in/NIFT. The NIFT 2026 dates include the registration window, exam date, interview/ studio test dates, and the counselling dates. The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the NIFT entrance exam on behalf of NIFT. Candidates must regularly visit the official website to keep track of the NIFT 2026 dates and other updates about the exam. Read on to get the complete NIFT exam 2026 schedule as per last year’s trends and other relevant details.

This Story also Contains

  1. NIFT 2026 Dates
  2. NIFT 2026 Registration Window
  3. NIFT 2026 Exam Date and Time
  4. NIFT 2026 Schedule for Stage 2 of NIFT Entrance Examination
  5. NIFT 2026 Counselling Schedule
NIFT 2026 Schedule: Notification, Registration, Exam Date, Full Admission Schedule
NIFT 2026 Schedule

The NIFT 2026 will comprise two components - the entrance exam, which consists of NIFT General Ability Test (GAT) and NIFT Creative Ability Test (CAT), and the NIFT situation test. Candidates have to appear for either one or both components of the exam, depending on which courses they have applied to. The NIFT admissions will be done for admitting candidates into B.Des, M.Des, B.FTech, M.FTech and MFM programmes.

NIFT 2026 Dates

The table below provides the NIFT 2026 timetable as per the trends seen in the dates from the previous session. The NIFT 2026 dates are tentative.

NIFT 2026 Important Dates

Particulars

Dates (tentative)

NIFT 2026 application form release date

November 2025

Last date to apply

January 2026

Application correction window

January 2026

NIFT 2026 admit card date

One week before the exam

NIFT 2026 exam date (GAT and CAT)

Second week of February 2026

NIFT 2026 answer key release date

One week after the exam

Answer key objection window

Shortly after the release of the answer key

NIFT 2026 result date

April 2026

NIFT 2026 Registration Window

NIFT will tentatively open the NIFT 2026 application form in November 2025. Candidates will be able to complete NIFT 2026 registrations online from the official NTA website - exams.nta.ac.in/NIFT. Candidates must make sure they fulfil the NIFT 2026 eligibility criteria before filling up the application form. After closing the registration window, the authorities will also open an application correction window.

NIFT 2026 Exam Date and Time

Candidates applying to various courses through NIFT have to appear for GAT, CAT, or both, depending on the courses for which they have submitted the NIFT 2026 application form. NTA will conduct the NIFT 2026 tentatively in the second week of February 2025. Given below are the tentative NIFT 2026 exam timings for GAT and CAT for the corresponding courses.

NIFT 2026 Exam Timings

Course

Exam Component

Time (tentative)

B.Des

GAT

9 am to 11 am

CAT

2:30 pm to 5:30 pm

B.FTech

GAT

9 am to 12 pm

B.Des and B.FTech

GAT

9 am to 12 pm

CAT

2:30 pm to 5:30 pm

M.Des

GAT

9 am to 11 am

CAT

2:30 pm to 5:30 pm

M.FTech

GAT

9 am to 12 pm

M.Des and M.FTech

GAT

9 am to 12 pm


CAT

2:30 pm to 5:30 pm

MFM


9 am to 12 pm

NIFT 2026 Schedule for Stage 2 of NIFT Entrance Examination

In addition to appearing for the NIFT entrance exam 2026, candidates who are shortlisted in the first stage also have to appear for a situation test, studio test, or a personal interview for different programmes. The NIFT 2026 result will be declared as per the candidate’s final score in both stages of the exam. Given below is the NIFT 2026 for stage 2 of NIFTEE 2026.

NIFT 2026 Stage 2 Schedule

Programme

Stage 2

Dates (tentative)

B.Des

Situation Test

June 2026

B.Des (Lateral Entry)

Studio Test + PI

B.Des (Artisan)

Skill Test + PI

B.FTech (Lateral Entry)

Technical Ability Test + PI

M.Des/ M.FTech/ MFM

PI

May/June 2026

NIFT 2026 Counselling Schedule

NIFT will notify the NIFT 2026 admission counselling schedule on its official website tentatively in June 2025. Candidates who qualify in the NIFT 2026 final result will be eligible to register for NIFT 2026 counselling. The candidates are also required to complete document verification. The NIFT 2026 allotment will be made based on the candidate's rank and the college choices they have filled. There will be multiple rounds of NIFT counselling 2026, followed by a spot round.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Who conducts the NIFT entrance exam?
A:

The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the NIFT entrance exam on behalf of the National Institute of Fashion Technology.

Q: When will NTA conduct the NIFT 2026 entrance exam
A:

NTA will conduct the NIFT 2026 entrance exam tentatively in the second week of February.

Q: What are the courses offered through NIFT 2026?
A:

Through NIFT 2026, candidates will be offered admissions into B.Des, M.Des, B.FTech, M.FTech, M.Des, and MFM.

Q: When will the NIFT 2026 application form open?
A:

NIFT will tentatively open the NIFT 2026 application form in November 2025.

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Questions related to NIFT Entrance Exam

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to NIFT Entrance Exam ?

Hello Neharika

These are the topics which are most important in the Current affairs section in respect to NIFT Entrance Exam:

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To know more about NIFT Entrance Exam: NIFT Entrance Exam by CAREERS360

Hope this answer helps! Thank You!!!


Hello,

According to the sources, the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) entrance exam for 2026 will be held in February 2026. Also, the registration period may open from November 2025.

I hope it will clear your query!!

Hello,
It’s completely understandable to feel disheartened after not getting a seat in the first and second rounds, especially when you’ve filled all the colleges and have your hopes set on a particular course like Fashion Communication . With an OBC rank of 1910 and CMR 7192, your chances can improve in the upcoming counselling rounds as more students withdraw or shift to other colleges.
So make sure to check the further rounds of counselling and don’t lose hope. Many students get seats in the 3rd, 4th, and mop-up rounds. You can also consider updating your preference list or keeping a wider range of courses and campuses open in case you're okay with related fields.
Keep checking the official NIFT website for updates on seat allotment and further counselling instructions.
Thank you

Dear Candidate ,
Yes , you are eligible for NIFT - UG 2026 . Based on your birthdate , you will be 19 years old as of August 1 , 2026 , which is well within the age limit .
NIFT requires applicants to be under 24 years of age on August 1 of the admission year , with a 5 year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD candidates .

Hello

The syllabus of NIFT 2026 will be released on October 2025 by Nift officials on their official website nift.ac.in . The syllabus comprises of topics General Ability Test (GAT) and Creative Ability Test (CAT). The syllabus is different for UG and PG programmes. The GAT syllabus consists of :

  • Communication ability and English comprehension
  • Quantitative ability
  • Analytical and Reasoning
  • Case study
  • General knowledge and current affairs

The CAT syllabus consists important topics like

  • Creative ability
  • Observation power
  • Discernment ability
  • Design ability
  • Colour combination ability

To download the complete syllabus kindly refer this

https://design.careers360.com/articles/nift-syllabus

Good luck !