JEE Main Important Dates 2026: Complete Schedule, Timeline & What to Do Next

Introduction

Every year, thousands of JEE aspirants lose precious marks — not because they didn’t study hard enough, but because they missed a deadline. A registration window closes. An admit card download link expires. A form correction portal shuts overnight.

The JEE Main 2026 journey spans nearly 10 months, from registration in October 2025 to JoSAA seat allotment in July 2026. That’s a long race with many critical checkpoints. And every checkpoint missed means stress, appeals, and — in the worst case — sitting out a year.

This guide gives you a definitive, phase-by-phase breakdown of every JEE Main important date in 2026: Session 1, Session 2, JEE Advanced, and JoSAA counselling. More importantly, it tells you exactly what to do at each stage — so you’re never caught off-guard.

JEE Main 2026 Complete Timeline at a Glance

The timeline visual above shows the four major phases of the JEE 2026 journey. Here’s a quick-reference table before we go into detail:

Note: All dates are based on official NTA announcements and patterns from 2024–2025. Some dates — especially for JEE Advanced and JoSAA — are tentative and will be confirmed after Session 2 results are declared. Always verify at the official NTA JEE Main portal.

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Session 1 Important Dates

Session 1 is the first crack at JEE Main 2026. It’s scheduled in January, and the preparation for it — including registration — starts as early as October 2025. Here’s how each phase works:

Registration: October 31 – November 27, 2025

The Session 1 registration window is open from October 31 to November 27, 2025. This is your entry ticket to the exam — nothing happens until you register.

During registration, you’ll need to fill in personal and academic details, upload documents (photograph and signature in the specified format), choose your preferred exam language and city, and pay the application fee online.

What to do: Keep scanned copies of your photograph (passport size, white background, 10–200 KB) and signature (4–30 KB) ready before you begin. Have your Class 10 and 12 mark sheets handy. Don’t wait for the last few days — NTA servers typically slow down near deadlines.

Form Correction: December 1–2, 2025

Made a mistake in your form? The form correction window — just two days, December 1 and 2 — gives you one chance to fix specific fields like your name spelling, category, exam city preference, or paper selection (Paper 1 for B.E./B.Tech, Paper 2 for B.Arch/B.Planning).

What to do: Review your submitted form thoroughly before December 1. Note that you cannot change your mobile number or email once submitted, so make sure those are accurate during registration itself. Fee paid during correction is non-refundable.

City Intimation Slip: January 8, 2026

The city intimation slip is released on January 8, 2026. This document tells you which city your exam centre will be in — though the specific address is revealed only on the admit card.

What to do: Download and save the city intimation slip immediately. If you’re from another city, use this date to book travel and accommodation early — exam cities fill up quickly around JEE dates.

Admit Card: January 17 & 24, 2026

The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 admit card is released in two batches: January 17 and January 24, depending on your exam date. The admit card is the only document you’re allowed to carry to the exam hall.

What to do: Download your admit card as soon as it’s available. Print multiple copies (colour preferred). Verify all details — your name, roll number, photo, signature, exam centre. Carry a valid photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, or driving licence) along with the admit card on exam day.

Exam Dates: January 21–29, 2026

JEE Main 2026 Session 1 is conducted across January 21 to 29. The exam runs in two shifts daily (see shift timings section below). Since NTA randomises dates across candidates, your specific date will be printed on your admit card.

What to do: In the days leading up to the exam, stop studying new topics. Focus on revision, formula sheets, and light mock tests. Reach the exam centre at least 60 minutes before your shift starts — late entry is not permitted.

Provisional Answer Key: January 30, 2026

NTA releases the provisional answer key on January 30, 2026 — just a day after the exam window closes. Candidates can challenge answers they believe are incorrect by paying a fee per question challenged.

What to do: Cross-check your attempted answers against the provisional key. If you spot a potential error, challenge it with proper reasoning and source references (NCERT textbooks, standard references). Challenges are accepted only within the official window — usually 2–3 days.

Result: February 16, 2026

Session 1 results are expected on February 16, 2026. NTA releases individual scorecards with raw scores, percentile scores, and All India Rank (AIR).

What to do: Download and save your scorecard. If your percentile is strong, you may choose to skip Session 2. If you’re not satisfied, Session 2 registration is already open by this point (from February 1), so you can attempt again — and NTA will count the better of your two scores.

Session 2 Important Dates

Session 2 gives every aspirant a second shot at JEE Main 2026 — and for many students, it’s the score that matters more. Here’s the complete timeline:

Registration: February 1 – March 13, 2026

Session 2 registration opens on February 1, 2026 — the same day Session 1 is still running. It closes on March 13. Even if you appeared in Session 1, you must register separately for Session 2.

What to do: Don’t wait for Session 1 results to register for Session 2. Register early to avoid technical issues. Use the time between sessions to analyse your Session 1 performance — identify weak chapters and dedicate focused revision before April.

Form Correction: February 7–28, 2026

Session 2 has a much longer form correction window: February 7 to February 28. This is a significant advantage — you have nearly three weeks to fix errors, unlike Session 1’s two-day window.

What to do: Verify all details during the initial registration itself. Use the correction window only if genuinely needed, not as a substitute for careful registration.

City Intimation Slip: March 21, 2026

The city intimation slip for Session 2 is released on March 21, 2026.

What to do: Same as Session 1 — use this date to sort out logistics if you’re travelling to another city. Book accommodation in advance.

Admit Card: March 29, 2026

The Session 2 admit card is available from March 29, 2026.

What to do: Download immediately, print multiple copies, and verify all information. Have your photo ID ready for exam day.

Exam Dates: April 2–9, 2026

Session 2 exams run from April 2 to April 9, 2026, in two shifts each day.

What to do: In the week before, avoid starting new topics. Practice full-length mock tests under timed conditions. Sleep well — a well-rested mind outperforms a cramming one every time.

Provisional Answer Key: April 10, 2026

The Session 2 provisional answer key drops on April 10, 2026 — one day after the exam closes.

What to do: Review carefully, especially for borderline answers. File challenges promptly within the objection window.

Result: April 20, 2026

Session 2 results are expected on April 20, 2026. After this, NTA publishes the combined final merit list — using the best of the two session scores — and announces the cutoff for JEE Advanced qualification.

What to do: Download your scorecard. Check your JEE Advanced eligibility (top 2.5 lakh ranks qualify). If you’ve cleared the cutoff, immediately begin tracking JEE Advanced registration dates.

JEE Advanced 2026 Important Dates

JEE Advanced is the gateway to the IITs — and it opens only to those who clear JEE Main’s qualifying cutoff.

Eligibility Announced: After Session 2 Result

JEE Advanced 2026 eligibility is announced after the Session 2 result on April 20. Only the top 2.5 lakh candidates (tentative) from JEE Main 2026 qualify to appear. Additionally, candidates must have passed Class 12 in 2025 or 2026 (or be appearing in 2026), and must not have previously qualified or appeared for JEE Advanced more than twice.

Registration: April 23, 2026

JEE Advanced 2026 registration opens on April 23, 2026 — just three days after JEE Main Session 2 results. The window is short, typically lasting about one week.

What to do: Check your eligibility the moment Session 2 results are out. Keep your JEE Main roll number, scorecard, and Class 12 certificate details handy. Pay the registration fee within the window — late registration is not allowed under any circumstances.

Exam Date: May 17, 2026

JEE Advanced 2026 is scheduled for May 17, 2026. It consists of two papers — Paper 1 (9 AM–12 PM) and Paper 2 (2:30 PM–5:30 PM) — both on the same day. Attending both papers is compulsory.

What to do: Shift your preparation strategy the moment you register. JEE Advanced has a different pattern from JEE Main — it tests deeper problem-solving, not just formula application. Focus on previous year JEE Advanced papers (2014–2025), work on multi-concept problems, and do not ignore Chemistry — it’s where most students lose marks.

Result: June 2026 (Tentative)

JEE Advanced 2026 results are expected in June 2026. The exact date is announced by the organising IIT after the exam.

JoSAA Counselling 2026 Dates

JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) handles admissions to IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs). It is the final step of the JEE journey.

Registration Starts: June 2, 2026 (Tentative)

JoSAA counselling registration is expected to begin on June 2, 2026, shortly after JEE Advanced results. Both JEE Main-qualified candidates (for NITs/IIITs/GFTIs) and JEE Advanced-qualified candidates (for IITs) participate in the same JoSAA process.

What to do: Prepare your college and branch preference list well before registration opens. Research NIT and IIT cutoffs from 2023, 2024, and 2025 using JoSAA’s official opening and closing rank data. Fill choices carefully — you can update them during the registration window, but locking in a poor preference order is one of the costliest mistakes aspirants make.

Six Rounds: June – July 2026

JoSAA conducts six rounds of seat allotment between June and July 2026. Each round involves choice filling, provisional allotment, document verification, and fee payment.

What to do: After each round, decide whether to accept your seat, float (retain it and try for a better option), or slide (move within the same institute). Missing fee payment after seat allotment leads to cancellation — set reminders for every deadline.

Exam Shift Timings

JEE Main 2026 is conducted in two shifts per day. Knowing your shift timing in advance helps you plan your day, manage commute time, and stay mentally prepared.

Shift 1: 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon

Reporting time: 7:30 AM. Entry gate closes: 8:30 AM. The morning shift is preferred by many students who feel fresher in the first half of the day. If you’re a morning person, a Shift 1 slot works in your favour.

Shift 2: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Reporting time: 1:30 PM. Entry gate closes: 2:30 PM. The afternoon shift gives you a few extra hours in the morning to revise, eat a proper lunch, and settle your nerves. Avoid heavy meals right before the exam — they can cause drowsiness.

Note: Your specific shift is pre-assigned by NTA and printed on your admit card. You cannot change or choose your shift.

What to Do on Each Important Date

Knowing the dates is only half the battle. Here’s your action checklist for each phase of the JEE Main 2026 important dates calendar:

Registration Phase Actions

During the registration window (both sessions), your priorities are:

• Keep documents ready before sitting down to fill the form — photograph, signature, Aadhaar, mark sheets
• Use a stable internet connection; avoid last-minute submissions on the deadline day
• Double-check category, nationality, and paper selection before payment — these fields cannot be changed after the correction window
• Save the application number and password in a secure place (and write it down — don’t rely only on your email)
• Set a phone reminder for the form correction window dates — these are easy to miss

Pre-Exam Phase Actions

In the two weeks before your exam date:

• Download the city intimation slip and admit card the day they are released — don’t wait
• Do a mock commute to your exam centre one day before (especially if it’s in a new city)
• Prepare a physical exam kit: admit card (printed), valid photo ID, pen, transparent water bottle, and allowed stationery
• Stop attempting new topics from Day 3 before the exam — revision only
• Sleep a minimum of 7 hours the night before

Post-Exam Phase Actions

After each session’s exam:

• Do not obsessively match answers online immediately after the exam — it creates anxiety without accuracy
• When the provisional answer key releases, review calmly and note questions you wish to challenge
• File challenges with proper references — NTA accepts only sourced objections
• While waiting for results, continue studying if you plan to attempt the next session or JEE Advanced
• When results release, download and save your scorecard in multiple places (cloud + local)

Session 1 vs Session 2: Timeline Comparison

Wondering how the two sessions compare? Here’s a side-by-side look:

Key differences to note: Session 2 has a significantly longer form correction window (21 days vs 2 days). Session 2 results come much closer to JEE Advanced registration, giving you less recovery time. Session 1 results arrive with enough time to pivot your strategy before Session 2.

How to Set Up Reminders for Key Dates

The single most effective thing you can do after reading this blog is to add every critical date to your calendar right now. Here’s how:

Google Calendar / Apple Calendar: Create a recurring “JEE 2026” calendar and add each date as a separate event. Set two reminders — one a week before (to prepare documents or actions needed) and one the day before (as a final alert).

Phone Alarms: For the most critical dates — registration closing, form correction, admit card download, and result dates — set phone alarms in addition to calendar reminders.

Downloadable .ics Calendar File: An .ics file lets you import all JEE Main 2026 important dates into any calendar app in one click. You can create one by listing all events in a plain text file with .ics extension following the iCalendar standard, or use a free tool like Google Calendar’s import feature or apps like ICSMaker.

WhatsApp / Telegram Reminders: Create a personal WhatsApp note or Telegram Saved Messages thread with all dates listed. This ensures you have an offline-accessible reference.

Study group shared calendar: If you’re part of a JEE study group, share a Google Calendar with all key JEE Main 2026 exam dates. Everyone benefits, and someone will always remind the group.

Past Year Date Patterns: 2024 and 2025 vs 2026

Understanding how NTA has scheduled JEE Main in previous years helps you anticipate 2026 dates that haven’t been officially confirmed yet.

What the pattern tells us: NTA has been gradually shifting Session 2 results earlier from April 25 in 2024 to April 17 in 2025. The 2026 date of April 20 continues this trend. JEE Advanced is also being held progressively earlier, allowing more time for JoSAA counselling. This is good news for students: more time between results and seat allotment means more time to make informed decisions.

How Career Plan B Helps

Navigating the JEE journey is not just about knowing the dates — it’s about making the right decisions at each stage. 

Career Plan B offers personalised career counselling to help you evaluate whether JEE Main aligns with your strengths, interests, and long-term goals. 

Through Psycheintel career assessment tests, students can identify their aptitude and make informed choices between engineering, alternative undergraduate programmes, or parallel preparation paths. 

If you’re unsure about colleges, streams, or what to do if your JEE score isn’t what you hoped for, Career Plan B’s academic profile guidance and career roadmapping services ensure you always have a clear, confident next step.

For Latest Information

FAQs: JEE Main Dates 2026

Q1. Can I appear in both Session 1 and Session 2 of JEE Main 2026? 

Yes. Any candidate who is eligible for JEE Main 2026 can appear in both sessions. NTA will use the best of your two scores for the final merit list. You must register separately for each session.

Q2. What if I miss the JEE Main 2026 registration deadline? 

NTA does not accept late registrations under any circumstances. There is no provision for late fee or late submission. If you miss the Session 1 window, you can still register for Session 2 (which opens February 1, 2026).

Q3. How many attempts are allowed in JEE Main 2026? 

As of the latest NTA guidelines, candidates can attempt JEE Main three times in consecutive years. Session 1 and Session 2 of the same year count as a single attempt. For example, if you appear in both sessions of JEE Main 2026, it counts as one attempt.

Q4. Is the JEE Main 2026 exam date the same for all candidates? 

No. NTA randomly assigns exam dates across the Session 1 and Session 2 windows. Your specific date is printed on your admit card. All candidates receive equivalent question papers calibrated for difficulty, and scores are normalised using percentile scoring.

Q5. When will the JEE Advanced 2026 cutoff (qualifying percentile) be announced?

The qualifying cutoff — the minimum JEE Main percentile required to apply for JEE Advanced 2026 — is announced along with the Session 2 result on April 20, 2026. Historically, the cutoff for General category has been around 88–93 percentile, though this varies year to year.

Q6. What documents are required on the day of the JEE Main 2026 exam? 

You must carry a printed copy of your admit card and one valid original photo ID (Aadhaar card, passport, voter ID, PAN card, or driving licence). Digital copies on your phone are not accepted. The photo on your ID must match the one on your admit card.

Conclusion

The JEE Main 2026 journey is a long one but every milestone on the way is manageable when you plan ahead. Session 1 exams run from January 21–29, results arrive by February 16, and you get a second shot with Session 2 from April 2–9, with results on April 20. JEE Advanced follows on May 17, and JoSAA counselling wraps up the journey in July.

The students who score well aren’t always the ones who studied the most — they’re the ones who managed their time and information the best. Missing a registration date or an admit card download doesn’t just cause inconvenience; it can derail an entire year of effort.

Your action plan right now: Open your phone’s calendar, add every date from the table in this blog, and set two reminders for each one. It takes 10 minutes today and could save you from a crisis months from now.

Good luck with your JEE Main 2026 preparation. The dates are set — now make every day between them count.