JEE Main 2026 Exam Dates Announced: Complete Session 1 & 2 Schedule & Key Highlights

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released the JEE Main 2026 exam calendar, confirming key dates for both the January and April sessions. According to the official notification published on the NTA portal (jeemain.nta.ac.in), the JEE Main 2026 will be conducted in two sessions. These are as follows:

• Session 1: January 21 - 30, 2026
• Session 2: April 2 - 9, 2026

Download the official JEE Main 2026 schedule!

JEE Main 2026: Key Aspects

Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 is one of India’s most important national-level entrance exams for students aiming to pursue undergraduate engineering, architecture, and planning courses. It is the gateway to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and many other top engineering colleges in India. JEE Main is also the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced, which leads to admission into the IITs.

Students Must Check:

• Top Engineering Colleges in Hyderabad
• Top Engineering Colleges in Pune

Here is a quick overview of the JEE Main 2026 exam details.

JEE Main 2026 Exam Calendar: Important Dates

The JEE Main 2026 exam calendar for both sessions is out on the official website. Aspirants must check the schedule to stay updated on all important events and deadlines. The exam will be conducted in two shifts.

• First Shift (3 hours): 9 AM - 12 Noon
• Second Shift (3 hours): 3 PM - 6 PM
• First Shift (3 hours 30 minutes): 9 AM - 12:30 PM
• Second Shift (3 hours 30 minutes): 3 PM - 6:30 PM

Below are the session-wise JEE Main 2026 exam dates.

JEE Main 2026 Session 1: Complete Schedule

Here is the complete timeline for JEE Main 2026 exam session 1, which is scheduled to be conducted between January 21 and 30, 2026.

JEE Main 2026 Session 2: Complete Schedule

Here is the tentative JEE Main 2026 exam calendar for session 2 which is going to be held in April 2026.

Also Check:JEE Main Previous Years Question Papers (2025-2021): Download Solution PDF with Answer keys

JEE Main 2026 Exam Dates Out: What Should be Your Next Step? Now, it’s the time for candidates to start preparing seriously. They must go through the JEE Main 2026 Syllabus and practice using JEE Main 2026 Past Question Papers to understand the exam pattern and improve their speed and accuracy.

JEE Main 2026 Exam Calendar: FAQs

Ques. When will JEE Main 2026 be conducted?

Ans. JEE Main 2026 will be held in two sessions.

• Session 1: 21 January to 30 January 2026
• Session 2: 2 April to 9 April 2026

Ques. When will the application process for JEE Main 2026 Session 2 begin?

Ans. The application process for JEE Main 2026 Session 2 is expected to start in February 2026. The exact dates will be announced by NTA on the official website.

Ques. Who should apply for JEE Main 2026 Session 2?

Ans. Session 2 is ideal for candidates who want to improve their scores, missed Session 1, or are appearing for the exam for the first time.

Ques. What is the exam duration of JEE Main 2026?

Ans. The exam duration of JEE Main 2026 is 3 hours for each individual paper. However, candidates appearing for both Paper 2A (B.Arch) and Paper 2B (B.Planning) together will get a total duration of 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Ques. Is there any difference between JEE Main 2026 Session 1 and Session 2 exam pattern?

Ans. No. The exam pattern, syllabus, and marking scheme remain the same for both sessions. Only the exam dates are different.