ACT, 2026–27 school year

ACT test dates 2026–27 exam schedule, every deadline and score release

7 US dates 7 international Deadlines 11:59 PM CT Updated Oct 12

ACT Test Dates 2026–27

National and international, deadlines and scores

US deadlines end 11:59 PM Central Time

United States, US territories & Puerto Rico

ACT US national test dates 2026–27 with deadlines and score release
Test date	Register by	Late registration	Photo & standby	Paper scores
2026
Sat Sep 19	Fri Aug 14	Tue Sep 1	Mon Sep 14	Tue Oct 6
Sat Oct 17	Fri Sep 11	Tue Sep 29	Mon Oct 12	Tue Oct 27
Sat Dec 12	Fri Nov 6	Sun Nov 29	Mon Dec 7	Tue Dec 22
2027
Sat Feb 27	Fri Jan 22	Tue Feb 9	Mon Feb 22	Tue Mar 16
Sat Apr 10	Fri Mar 5	Tue Mar 23	Mon Apr 5	Tue Apr 20
Sat Jun 12	Fri May 7	Tue May 25	Mon Jun 7	Wed Jun 23
Sat Jul 10 Now also in New York	Fri Jun 4	Tue Jun 22	Mon Jul 5	Tue Jul 20

Projected 2027–28: Sep 11, Oct 16, Dec 11, Feb 26, Apr 8, Jun 10, Jul 15 (subject to change)

International, computer-based

ACT international test dates 2026–27 with deadlines and score release
Test dates	Register by	Late fee required	Photo upload	Initial scores
2026
Sat Sep 5	Fri Aug 7	Fri Aug 21	Fri Aug 21	Thu Sep 10
Fri Oct 23–24	Fri Sep 25	Fri Oct 9	Fri Oct 9	Thu Oct 29
Fri Dec 11–12	Fri Nov 13	Fri Nov 27	Fri Nov 27	Thu Dec 17
2027
Fri Feb 12–13	Fri Jan 15	Fri Jan 29	Fri Jan 29	Thu Feb 18
Fri Apr 2–3	Fri Mar 5	Fri Mar 19	Fri Mar 19	Thu Apr 8
Fri Jun 11–12	Fri May 14	Fri May 28	Fri May 28	Thu Jun 17
Fri Jul 9–10	Fri Jun 11	Fri Jun 25	Fri Jun 25	Thu Jul 15

Test centers choose which days of a window they open. Non-Saturday testing is available for religious reasons. ACT says scores come about 2–4 weeks after a test.

Every US ACT date and deadline, in order

In the US, registration closes 36 days before each test (11:59 PM Central Time). Late registration, with a late fee, runs until 13–18 days before. Paper scores start coming out 10–17 days after the test.

Test day
Deadline
Late deadline
Scores

8 earlier dates

Aug 14 Register for the Sep 19 ACT
Sep 1 Late registration for Sep 19
Sep 11 Register for the Oct 17 ACT
Sep 14 Photo upload and standby deadline for Sep 19
Sep 19 ACT test day
Sep 29 Late registration for Oct 17
Oct 6 Scores for the Sep 19 ACT
Oct 12 Photo upload and standby deadline for Oct 17

2026
Oct 17 ACT test day

Google Calendar
Oct 27 Scores for the Oct 17 ACT Paper test, initial scores
Nov 6 Register for the Dec 12 ACT 11:59 PM CT; also the accommodations deadline
Nov 29 Late registration for Dec 12 11:59 PM CT; a late fee applies
Dec 7 Photo upload and standby deadline for Dec 12
Dec 12 ACT test day
Dec 22 Scores for the Dec 12 ACT Paper test, initial scores
2027
Jan 22 Register for the Feb 27 ACT 11:59 PM CT; also the accommodations deadline
Feb 9 Late registration for Feb 27 11:59 PM CT; a late fee applies
Feb 22 Photo upload and standby deadline for Feb 27
Feb 27 ACT test day
Mar 5 Register for the Apr 10 ACT 11:59 PM CT; also the accommodations deadline
Mar 16 Scores for the Feb 27 ACT Paper test, initial scores
Mar 23 Late registration for Apr 10 11:59 PM CT; a late fee applies
Apr 5 Photo upload and standby deadline for Apr 10
Apr 10 ACT test day
Apr 20 Scores for the Apr 10 ACT Paper test, initial scores
May 7 Register for the Jun 12 ACT 11:59 PM CT; also the accommodations deadline
May 25 Late registration for Jun 12 11:59 PM CT; a late fee applies
Jun 4 Register for the Jul 10 ACT 11:59 PM CT; also the accommodations deadline
Jun 7 Photo upload and standby deadline for Jun 12
Jun 12 ACT test day
Jun 22 Late registration for Jul 10 11:59 PM CT; a late fee applies
Jun 23 Scores for the Jun 12 ACT Paper test, initial scores
Jul 5 Photo upload and standby deadline for Jul 10
Jul 10 ACT test day July testing available for learners in New York starting in 2027; test centers added through spring 2027.
Jul 20 Scores for the Jul 10 ACT Paper test, initial scores

ACT international test dates 2026–27

Outside the US the ACT is taken on a computer, mostly over two-day windows, with up to two sessions a day depending on the location. Initial scores follow 5 days after a window closes. Add the international dates to your calendar.

Test day
Deadline
Late deadline
Scores

6 earlier dates

Aug 7 Register for the Sep 5 ACT
Aug 21 Late registration for Sep 5 (late fee required)
Sep 5 ACT international test day
Sep 10 Scores for the Sep 5 ACT
Sep 25 Register for the Oct 23–24 ACT
Oct 9 Late registration for Oct 23–24 (late fee required)

2026
Oct 23–24 ACT international test window Test centers choose which days they open

Google Calendar
Oct 29 Scores for the Oct 23–24 ACT Initial scores
Nov 13 Register for the Dec 11–12 ACT Regular deadline
Nov 27 Late registration for Dec 11–12 (late fee required) Also the photo upload deadline
Dec 11–12 ACT international test window Test centers choose which days they open
Dec 17 Scores for the Dec 11–12 ACT Initial scores
2027
Jan 15 Register for the Feb 12–13 ACT Regular deadline
Jan 29 Late registration for Feb 12–13 (late fee required) Also the photo upload deadline
Feb 12–13 ACT international test window Test centers choose which days they open
Feb 18 Scores for the Feb 12–13 ACT Initial scores
Mar 5 Register for the Apr 2–3 ACT Regular deadline
Mar 19 Late registration for Apr 2–3 (late fee required) Also the photo upload deadline
Apr 2–3 ACT international test window Test centers choose which days they open
Apr 8 Scores for the Apr 2–3 ACT Initial scores
May 14 Register for the Jun 11–12 ACT Regular deadline
May 28 Late registration for Jun 11–12 (late fee required) Also the photo upload deadline
Jun 11–12 ACT international test window Test centers choose which days they open
Jun 11 Register for the Jul 9–10 ACT Regular deadline
Jun 17 Scores for the Jun 11–12 ACT Initial scores
Jun 25 Late registration for Jul 9–10 (late fee required) Also the photo upload deadline
Jul 9–10 ACT international test window Test centers choose which days they open
Jul 15 Scores for the Jul 9–10 ACT Initial scores

Good to know

When is the next ACT?

In the US, Saturday, October 17, 2026. Register by Friday, September 11, or by Tuesday, September 29 with the late fee. Upload your photo (or ask for standby testing) by Monday, October 12.

What are the ACT test dates for 2026–27?

September 19, 2026, October 17, 2026, December 12, 2026, February 27, 2027, April 10, 2027, June 12, 2027 and July 10, 2027. These national dates apply in the United States, US territories and Puerto Rico.

Is there a July ACT in New York?

Yes, starting with the Saturday, July 10, 2027 test. ACT is adding test centers through spring 2027.

When do ACT scores come out?

ACT releases scores about 2 to 4 weeks after each test. The table gives the first day paper-test scores come out (10–17 days after the test in the US); ACT doesn't publish separate dates for online scores.

What if I need accommodations?

Request them by the regular registration deadline: ACT's registration page gives the same date for accommodations.

Sources

From ACT: National Test Dates Schedule 2026-2027, Registration and International CBT test dates 2026-2027, last checked October 12, 2026. PrintDates is not affiliated with or endorsed by ACT, Inc.

ACT test dates 2026–27: every date and deadline on one printable page — The printed page, as the PDF prints it. Save to Pinterest