MCAT Exam Dates 2026: Complete Guide 2026 (Official Test Dates, Deadlines, Score Release & Registration Tips)

MCAT Exam Dates 2026:

If you’re planning your medical school application timeline, your MCAT date selection is not just “pick a weekend.” For 2026, you need to align four things:

1. Official MCAT exam dates 2026 (when the exam is offered)

2. Scheduling deadlines (60/30/10-day rules for booking, rescheduling, canceling)

3. Score release dates (when your score is available for applications)

4. Registration opening window + seat availability (popular dates fill fast)

This complete guide uses official AAMC 2026 calendar data and organizes it in a clean, user-friendly way—plus gives you a practical strategy to choose the best date based on your target intake and preparation timeline.

MCAT 2026 at a glance (what AAMC officially confirms)

AAMC states the following key timing rules for the 2026 testing year:

• Standard start time: 8:00 a.m. (unless otherwise noted)

• Score release timing: scores are released by 5:00 p.m. ET on the scheduled release date

• Scheduling deadlines: all deadlines are 11:59 p.m. local test center time 

• 10-day deadline: last date to schedule, reschedule, or cancel, and also the last date to edit registration details (name, address, consents, etc.)

AAMC also notes MCAT testing is offered January through September in 2026 (no October–December testing). This is stated clearly in AAMC’s downloadable 2026 schedule PDF.

MCAT exam dates 2026 (official U.S. calendar with real deadlines + score releases)

Below is the complete U.S. 2026 MCAT calendar as published by AAMC, including the 60-day, 30-day, and 10-day scheduling deadlines and the official score release date for each exam date.

How to use this table: Want more flexibility? Pick a date where you’re still 60+ days out when you register. Need to avoid penalties? Don’t get trapped inside the 10-day window.

U.S. MCAT Test Dates 2026 (AAMC)

Test Date (2026)	60-Day Deadline	30-Day Deadline	10-Day Deadline	Score Release Date
Jan 9	Nov 10, 2025	Dec 10, 2025	Dec 30, 2025	Feb 10
Jan 10	Nov 11, 2025	Dec 11, 2025	Dec 31, 2025	Feb 10
Jan 15	Nov 16, 2025	Dec 16, 2025	Jan 5, 2026	Feb 17
Jan 23	Nov 24, 2025	Dec 24, 2025	Jan 13, 2026	Feb 24
Feb 13	Dec 15, 2025	Jan 14, 2026	Feb 3, 2026	Mar 17
Mar 7	Jan 6, 2026	Feb 5, 2026	Feb 25, 2026	Apr 7
Mar 20	Jan 19, 2026	Feb 18, 2026	Mar 10, 2026	Apr 21
Apr 10	Feb 9, 2026	Mar 11, 2026	Mar 31, 2026	May 12
Apr 11	Feb 10, 2026	Mar 12, 2026	Apr 1, 2026	May 12
Apr 24	Feb 23, 2026	Mar 25, 2026	Apr 14, 2026	May 27
Apr 25	Feb 24, 2026	Mar 26, 2026	Apr 15, 2026	May 27
May 2	Mar 3, 2026	Apr 2, 2026	Apr 22, 2026	Jun 2
May 8	Mar 9, 2026	Apr 8, 2026	Apr 28, 2026	Jun 9
May 9	Mar 10, 2026	Apr 9, 2026	Apr 29, 2026	Jun 9
May 14	Mar 15, 2026	Apr 14, 2026	May 4, 2026	Jun 16
May 22	Mar 23, 2026	Apr 22, 2026	May 12, 2026	Jun 23
May 30	Mar 31, 2026	Apr 30, 2026	May 20, 2026	Jun 30
Jun 12	Apr 13, 2026	May 13, 2026	Jun 2, 2026	Jul 14
Jun 13	Apr 14, 2026	May 14, 2026	Jun 3, 2026	Jul 14
Jun 26	Apr 27, 2026	May 27, 2026	Jun 16, 2026	Jul 28
Jun 27	Apr 28, 2026	May 28, 2026	Jun 17, 2026	Jul 28
Jul 11	May 12, 2026	Jun 11, 2026	Jul 1, 2026	Aug 11
Jul 24	May 25, 2026	Jun 24, 2026	Jul 14, 2026	Aug 25
Jul 31	Jun 1, 2026	Jul 1, 2026	Jul 21, 2026	Sep 2
Aug 15	Jun 16, 2026	Jul 16, 2026	Aug 5, 2026	Sep 15
Aug 21	Jun 22, 2026	Jul 22, 2026	Aug 11, 2026	Sep 22
Aug 22	Jun 23, 2026	Jul 23, 2026	Aug 12, 2026	Sep 22
Sep 3	Jul 5, 2026	Aug 4, 2026	Aug 24, 2026	Oct 6
Sep 4	Jul 6, 2026	Aug 5, 2026	Aug 25, 2026	Oct 6
Sep 11	Jul 13, 2026	Aug 12, 2026	Sep 1, 2026	Oct 13
Sep 12	Jul 14, 2026	Aug 13, 2026	Sep 2, 2026	Oct 13

Canada & International: MCAT exam dates 2026 outside the U.S.

AAMC provides separate calendars for:

• U.S. testing centers (table above)

• Canadian testing centers (Canada-specific dates and deadlines)

• U.S. territories & international test locations (a country-wise list of dates)

What’s the main difference?

AAMC notes that the international/territories calendar lists exam dates by country, and you should refer to the U.S. calendar for score release dates.

If you’re based in India or another international location, this matters because you might have fewer available dates in your city compared with U.S. centers—so booking early is even more important.

MCAT registration opening for 2026 (the dates seats started opening)

AAMC officially states that regional registration for all 2026 exams was held on:

• Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025

• Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025

• Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025(all at 12 p.m. ET)

AAMC also confirms that registration for January–September 2026 MCAT exam dates is open (via their registration page updates).

Scheduling deadlines (60/30/10-day): what they really mean

The AAMC calendar uses three deadline checkpoints tied to each test date:

• 60-day deadline: early planning window

• 30-day deadline: moderate flexibility window

• 10-day deadline: hard stop (last day to schedule/reschedule/cancel and last day to edit registration details)

Important detail: deadlines use your test center’s local time

AAMC states the deadlines are 11:59 p.m. local test center time. So if you’re testing outside the U.S., don’t follow ET for deadlines—follow your local test city time.

Fees that affect your date choice (registration, reschedule, cancel)

Dates are only half the story. If your prep timeline changes, your cost depends on how close you are to your test day.

AAMC’s official scheduling fees for 2026 include:

• Standard MCAT registration fee: $355 (USD)

• Fee Assistance Program registration fee: $145 (USD)

• International fee (outside U.S./Canada/U.S. territories): $130 (USD)

Reschedule & cancellation (Standard vs FAP) — official AAMC amounts

Timing before exam	Standard reschedule fee	Standard cancellation refund	FAP reschedule fee	FAP cancellation refund
60+ days	$55	$175	$25	$75
30–59 days	$110	$175	$45	$75
10–29 days	$210	$0	$85	$0

And AAMC clearly states: all changes must be at least 10 days before your exam date.

How to choose the best MCAT date in 2026 (strategy that actually works)

Choosing from the MCAT exam dates 2026 depends on your application cycle and how much time you need for preparation + score delivery.

1) If you want earlier scores (more flexibility for applications)

Pick January–April test dates. These give you results by February–May, based on the official score release schedule.

Good for: applicants who want time to retake if needed, or apply early in the cycle.

2) If you want a balanced prep timeline (most common)

Pick May–June test dates. You’ll get your score by June–July.

Good for: students finishing spring semesters who want a strong prep block.

3) If you’re taking MCAT late (tight timeline)

Pick July–September dates. Scores come in August–October.

Good for: late deciders—but you must be careful: late scores can limit how early you can submit complete applications, depending on your target schools and intake timeline.

Best “planning pairs”: test date + deadline safety buffer

Use this quick planning logic:

• If you choose May 30, 2026, your last date to reschedule/cancel is May 20, 2026 

• If you choose Aug 21, 2026, your last date to reschedule/cancel is Aug 11, 2026 

• If you choose Sep 12, 2026, your last date to reschedule/cancel is Sep 2, 2026 

Meaning: don’t book a date unless you’re confident you can be ready before the 10-day deadline—because after that, you’re locked.

Registration day tips (to actually get your preferred date)

AAMC’s own “Tips for Registration Opening Day 2026” page includes practical guidance that remains useful even after opening day, especially because seats can open and close:

• Have your AAMC login ready and avoid multiple accounts

• Keep your MCAT-accepted ID handy so your registration name matches exactly

• Choose alternate dates in case your first choice fills up

• Review scheduling fees before picking a date

• AAMC notes Fee Assistance Program review takes about 5 business days and you must be approved before registering to use benefits

FAQ: MCAT Exam Dates 2026

1) What are the official MCAT exam dates 2026 in the U.S.?

AAMC’s U.S. 2026 testing calendar runs from January 9, 2026 through September 12, 2026, with multiple test days each month and no test dates in October–December.

2) What time does the MCAT start in 2026?

AAMC states the standard start time is 8:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted for a specific day.

3) When are MCAT scores released for 2026 dates?

AAMC states scores are released by 5:00 p.m. ET on the scheduled score release date shown in the official calendar.

4) What is the 10-day deadline and why is it important?

AAMC explains the 10-day deadline is the last day to schedule, reschedule, or cancel an appointment and the last day to edit important registration details.

5) Are MCAT exam dates 2026 different in Canada and other countries?

Yes. AAMC publishes separate calendars for Canada and a country-wise list for international/U.S. territories locations. Score release dates follow the U.S. release schedule.

CTA: Book the right 2026 MCAT date using official AAMC links

Use the official AAMC pages below to verify live availability (test centers vary) and register confidently:

U.S. 2026 MCAT calendar (deadlines + score releases):
https://students-residents.aamc.org/register-mcat-exam/us-mcat-calendar-scheduling-deadlines-and-score-release-dates-0

Canadian 2026 MCAT calendar:
https://students-residents.aamc.org/register-mcat-exam/canadian-mcat-calendar-scheduling-deadlines-and-score-release-dates

U.S. Territories & International 2026 calendar (country-wise dates):
https://students-residents.aamc.org/register-mcat-exam/us-territories-and-international-mcat-testing-calendar

Register for the MCAT (MCAT Registration System entry page):
https://students-residents.aamc.org/register-mcat-exam/register-mcat-exam

MCAT scheduling fees (registration, reschedule, cancel):
https://students-residents.aamc.org/register-mcat-exam/mcat-scheduling-fees

Tips for Registration Opening Day (AAMC):
https://students-residents.aamc.org/register-mcat-exam/tips-registration-opening-day-2026