The National Testing Agency (NTA) is set to begin the NIFT 2026 registration process soon for both UG and PG design programmes, including BDes, BFTech, MDes, MFM, and MFTech. The online application form will be available exclusively at the official website nift.ac.in, and along with it, the agency will announce the NIFT 2026 exam date and complete schedule. This entrance exam remains one of India’s top gateways for aspirants seeking admission to the prestigious National Institute of Fashion Technology campuses across the country.
NIFT 2026 Registration & Fees Overview
| Details | Information |
| Registration Mode | Online at nift.ac.in |
| Expected Registration Start Date | To be announced soon |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Application Fee (General Category) | ₹3,000 |
| SC/ST/Female Candidates Fee | ₹1,500 |
| Exam Structure | GAT + CAT (for BDes/MDes) |
NTA conducted the NIFT 2025 exam on February 9 across 82 test cities, and a similar schedule is expected for NIFT 2026 as well.
NIFT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the NIFT Entrance Exam 2026, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Must have passed Class 12 or be appearing for Class 12 in 2026.
- The maximum age limit is 24 years as of August 1 of the admission year for UG courses.
- No age limit applies for PG programmes.
These conditions ensure equal opportunity for both school leavers and graduates aiming to pursue fashion technology and design courses.
NIFT 2026 Seat Matrix (Major Campuses)
According to the latest seat availability, NIFT Delhi has the highest number of seats, followed by several other prominent campuses:
| NIFT Campus | Number of Seats |
| NIFT Delhi | 376 |
| NIFT Bengaluru | 304 |
| NIFT Kannur | 287 |
| NIFT Hyderabad | 266 |
| NIFT Patna | 244 |
These seats include both UG and PG degree programmes, covering design, fashion technology, and fashion management disciplines.
NIFT Exam Pattern 2026
Candidates qualifying in the NIFT 2026 exam will be eligible for admission into various design programmes. The entrance test consists of two major stages:
General Ability Test (GAT) – Pattern for NIFT 2026
The GAT is a written test designed to evaluate analytical skills, comprehension, and general aptitude.
| Section Name | Total Questions |
| Communication Ability & English Comprehension | 40 |
| Quantitative Ability | 20 |
| Analytical & Logical Ability | 15 |
| Current Affairs & General Knowledge | 25 |
| Total | 100 Questions |
The GAT is mandatory for BDes, MDes, BFTech, MFTech, and MFM programmes.
Creative Ability Test (CAT) – NIFT 2026
The CAT is conducted for BDes and MDes applicants and evaluates:
- Design intuition
- Creativity and concept development
- Observational and drawing skills
- Colour sense and illustration ability
Students must draw their answers, and evaluation is based on creativity, concept clarity, and presentation quality.
Courses Offered Through NIFT 2026
Students who qualify NIFT 2026 can apply for the following programmes:
- Bachelor of Design (BDes)
- Bachelor of Fashion Technology (BFTech)
- Master of Design (MDes)
- Master of Fashion Management (MFM)
- Master of Fashion Technology (MFTech)
These programmes open opportunities across fashion design, textiles, marketing, management, and technology specializations.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
| When will NIFT 2026 registration begin? |
| Registration is expected to begin soon; NTA will announce the date at nift.ac.in. |
| What is the NIFT 2026 application fee? |
| General category must pay ₹3,000; SC/ST and female candidates pay ₹1,500. |
| What is the age limit for NIFT 2026? |
| The upper age limit is 24 years for UG courses as of August 1 of the admission year. |
| What are the stages of the NIFT exam? |
| The exam consists of GAT and CAT for design courses. |
| How many seats does NIFT Delhi offer? |
| NIFT Delhi offers 376 seats for UG and PG programmes. |
| Can Class 12 appearing students apply for NIFT 2026? |
| Yes, Class 12 appearing students are eligible. |
| What is the difficulty level of CAT in NIFT? |
| CAT assesses creativity, drawing skills, and design intuition with hand-drawn responses. |
| Which courses are available through NIFT 2026? |
| BDes, BFTech, MDes, MFM, and MFTech programmes are offered. |
The upcoming NIFT 2026 registration marks an important opportunity for students aspiring to build careers in fashion design, technology, and management. Aspirants should stay alert for the official announcement on nift.ac.in, ensure they meet eligibility requirements, and prepare for both GAT and CAT based on the updated exam pattern. For accurate updates, regularly check NTA and NIFT official websites. Bookmark this page for timely alerts on registration dates, exam schedules, and admit card releases, for more details CLICK HERE
