2026 ACT Test Dates and Deadlines

You might have your ACT test date thought out… but do you know when the deadlines for that date are? There are several things to keep track of, and with all that’s on your plate with school, your extracurriculars, and your test prep, it’s easy to lose sight of the details. 

But don’t worry– we’ve got you covered. Here, we’ll break down all the dates and deadlines so that you don’t have to think too hard about it. The good news is that ACT dates and deadlines are extremely predictable, and all the information is already out there for 2026. We’ve just made it easier to access.

Understanding the Three Types of ACT Deadlines

Every ACT test date has a regular deadline, a late deadline (with extra fees and fewer seats), and a final cutoff tied to photo upload and standby testing. 

The regular deadline is the easiest option. You register, you pay the standard fee, and you are far more likely to get a nearby test center.

The late registration deadline comes with additional fees, and if you’re trying to get into a popular location, you might not get a seat. If you wait this long, your options can shrink fast.

The third deadline is the one you’re least likely to know about. It’s really a double deadline. If you registered by the regular or late deadline, you still have to upload your photo by this date. But if you didn’t register, you can still try to get in on standby by uploading your photo and requesting standby testing. Standby testing means that you may or may not be able to test; if there’s a seat left, then you’ll get in, but there’s no guarantee. So get your registration in on time!

ACT also reminds students that national registration deadlines typically land at midnight Central Time, which matters if you are registering from a different time zone.

The 2026 ACT Test Dates And Their Deadlines

Test Date	Regular Registration Deadline	Late Registration Deadline	Photo Upload/Standby Deadline
February 14, 2026	January 9, 2026	January 23, 2026	February 6, 2026
April 11, 2026	March 6, 2026	March 24, 2026	April 3, 2026
June 13, 2026	May 8, 2026	May 29, 2026	June 5, 2026
July 11, 2026	June 5, 2026	June 24, 2026	July 3, 2026
September 19, 2026	August 14, 2026	September 1, 2026	September 14, 2026
October 17, 2026	September 11, 2026	September 29, 2026	October 12, 2026
December 12, 2026	November 6, 2026	November 29, 2026	December 7, 2026

By the time you’re reading this, the February 14 date has already passed– but the others will still be open. Please note that these are national test dates. District testing, which is ACT testing done during the school day, is set by individual school districts and is not subject to these dates and deadlines. If your school offers district testing, they will be your source of information. 

A Note About New York

If you’re planning to take the ACT in the state of New York, do note that no New York test centers are available in July. If you need to take the July test, you’ll have to do it in New Jersey or another nearby state. 

ACT Accommodations Deadlines

If you need accommodations, the rule is simple: start early, because approvals can take time and the submission deadlines are tied to each test event– and the deadlines are shifting, starting with the June 2026 test. For the April test, the accommodations request submission deadline is the late registration deadline. But starting with June 2026, the accommodations request submission deadline becomes the regular registration deadline.

ACT also notes that, starting with the June 2026 national test date, the special testing window shifts to a shorter nine-day window (that still includes two weekends). Special testing means that your approved accommodations cannot be provided at a national test center– the most common one is multiple-day testing and other changes to timing. If you’re part of this group, you’ll work with your school official to solidify your arrangements. 

ACT Fee Waiver Deadlines

If cost is a barrier, do not wait until the week you plan to register!  ACT’s fee waiver program works through your school: your school counselor determines eligibility and provides you a waiver code/serial number to use during registration. This means that it can take some time, so get your waiver request in early. Counselor turnaround isn’t instant, and you don’t want to be forced into late registration just because you’re waiting on a code.

If you are eligible for a waiver, you can receive two of them. And these waivers are  considered “used” once you register, even if you don’t ultimately test on that date. So make sure that you pick a date you can make so that you don’t lose the waiver! 

International ACT Test Dates for 2026

But what if you’re not taking the ACT in the US? In that case, here’s the ACT test dates for international test centers!

International Test Date	Regular Registration Deadline	Late Registration Deadline	Photo Upload/Standby Deadline
February 6-7, 2026	January 9, 2026	January 23, 2026	Jan 23, 2026
April 10-11, 2026	March 13, 2026	March 27, 2026	March 27, 2026
June 12-13, 2026	May 15, 2026	May 29, 2026	May 29, 2026
July 10-11, 2026	June 5, 2026	June 26, 2026	June 26, 2026

Please note that the test dates for tests after the July exam date have not yet been announced. 

International logistics can vary by country and test center, so it’s smart to register earlier than you think you need to, especially if you’re coordinating travel, school calendars, or a limited number of test seats.

How To Choose an ACT Date

For most students, the right ACT date is the one that works best with their extracurricular activities schedule. But if you’ve got some freedom, the right test date is a balancing act between when you need to submit your scores and when you have time to prep– and if you want to get a retest date in there or not. 

If you’re a junior, any test date will work. You aren’t submitting college applications this year. But if you want to be strategic, the September and October dates are great. They’ll give you multiple fall and winter retest options– and you can spend the summer prepping before things get serious.

If you’re reading this and are currently a sophomore, don’t stress yourself out with a spring test date. The summer between your sophomore and junior year is the perfect time to start test prep; practice tests will give you a great baseline for what your real score might look like, and you can take the test any time in the future. 

ACT Prep Timelines: What Makes Sense?

ACT prep works best when you treat it like a project with a real runway, not a last-minute scramble. For most students, it makes sense to start thinking about your test date a few months out so you have room to register early, choose a convenient test center, and leave space for a retest if you want one. 

In terms of studying, eight weeks is a practical minimum for meaningful improvement because it gives you time to take a diagnostic, pinpoint the question types that are costing you points, and build the pacing habits that matter just as much as content knowledge. If you have a busy schedule or you are aiming for a bigger score jump, a longer timeline can be even better, since it lets you practice consistently without burning out. The goal is not to do “a lot” of ACT work, but to do the right work in the right order: learn the rules and patterns, drill your weak spots, and then practice under realistic timing so your progress holds on test day.

If you’re ready to get serious about ACT test prep, Prep Expert® has 6-week and 8-week courses for all ACT test dates. Come browse our catalog to find the one that works for you!