ACCA Exam Dates 2026: Schedule & Deadlines

ACCA Exam Dates 2026: Complete Schedule, Deadlines & Registration Guide

Every exam season, the same question comes up in student WhatsApp groups: "When exactly are the ACCA exam dates for 2026, and what's the last day I can register?" After years of helping students navigate ACCA's quarterly cycle, one pattern is clear – knowing the exam calendar early and booking strategically can mean the difference between rushing your prep and walking into the exam confident.

This guide covers the full ACCA exam dates for 2026 (March, June, September, December), registration deadlines, results release dates, and practical tips for booking, postponing, or cancelling your exams without losing money.

Key ACCA Exam Dates for 2026 – At a Glance

ACCA runs four exam sessions per year: March, June, September, and December. Each session has fixed exam dates, registration deadlines, and result release dates.

🔔 All deadlines are at 23:59 UK time.

Want to pass in one go, Read our expert tips on how to pass your ACCA Exams

ACCA Exam Timetable 2026 – Paper-by-Paper Dates

ACCA exam dates vary by paper level. Here's how the 2026 calendar breaks down.

Applied Knowledge (BT, MA, FA, LW) – On-Demand CBEs

The four Applied Knowledge papers are available on-demand throughout the year at authorized computer-based exam centres. You book these directly via MyACCA and can sit them almost any business day, subject to centre availability.

• Business & Technology (BT)
• Management Accounting (MA)
• Financial Accounting (FA)
• Corporate & Business Law (LW)

💡 Tip from experience: Students often rush these "easier" papers and make avoidable mistakes. Even though they're on-demand, treat them like scheduled exams – book a date 6–8 weeks out and study properly.

All exams are Computer based (CBE). 

Applied Skills Level – ACCA Exam Dates 2026

Applied Skills papers (PM, TX, FR, AA, FM) run on fixed dates within each quarterly window.

ACCA Books: Your Passport to Acing the Exams and Outsmarting the Competition

What students ask most: "Can I sit multiple papers in one session?" Yes – if the dates don't clash. For example, you could sit AA (March 2) and TX (March 3) in the same window, but not PM and FR (both March 4/5).

Refer to this blog to find out the acca skills level exam fee.

Strategic Professional Level – ACCA Exam Dates 2026

Strategic Professional papers follow the same quarterly cycle with slightly different date patterns.

Refer to this blog for the acca professional papers exam fee.

From the coaching desk: Most candidates find SBL and SBR the hardest papers to time – both run on similar dates, so if you're doing Essentials, you'll need to split them across two sessions unless you're exceptionally confident.

ACCA Diploma in IFRS (DipIFR) – Exam Dates 2026

DipIFR runs twice a year with two date options per session.

• June 2026: June 4 or June 5, 2026
• December 2026: December 4 or December 5, 2026

You choose one date when booking. Most students pick the earlier date to get results sooner, but if you're still wrapping up revision, the second date gives you an extra 24 hours.

ACCA Exam Registration Deadlines 2026

ACCA exam registration opens roughly 3 months before each session and closes about 4–5 weeks before the first exam date.

Why the deadline matters: Miss it, and you're waiting another 3 months. ACCA used to offer "late entry" for an extra fee, but in recent cycles that window has been tightened or removed entirely for some regions, so don't count on it.

How to Register for ACCA Exams (Step-by-Step)

1. Log into MyACCA (your student portal).
2. Navigate to "Exam Entry" and select your session (March, June, September, or December 2026).
3. Choose your paper(s) – you can book multiple if dates don't clash.
4. Select your exam centre or remote invigilation option (if available in your region).
5. Pay the exam fee via credit/debit card or other accepted methods.
6. Download your confirmation receipt and exam docket once processed.

Common mistake: Students register but forget to download the docket, then panic when they can't find their exam centre details the week before. Save your docket as soon as you register.

ACCA Results Release Dates 2026

ACCA results are published at 00:00 UK time (midnight) on fixed Mondays, roughly 6 weeks after the last exam date in each session.

How to Check Your ACCA Results

1. Log into MyACCA at or after midnight UK time on results day.
2. Go to the "Exam Results" section.
3. View your score and grade (pass/fail).
4. If you opted in, you'll also receive an SMS and/or email notification.

Pro tip: Results servers get hammered at midnight UK time. If MyACCA is slow or timing out, wait 15–30 minutes and try again rather than refreshing endlessly.

For detailed insights, Eduyush provides an in-depth analysis of ACCA pass rates, including trends and patterns across subjects and years.. You can read up our blog on pass rates to look at subject and year wise patterns.

Postponing or Cancelling Your ACCA Exam – What You Need to Know

Life happens – illness, work conflicts, under-preparation. Here's what you can and cannot do.

Before the Standard Entry Deadline

If you need to change plans before the standard deadline (e.g., before February 2 for March 2026):

• Log into MyACCA and cancel your exam.
• ACCA will credit the exam fee to your MyACCA account.
• Use that credit to book a future session (no cash refund, but full value retained).

After the Standard Entry Deadline

Once the deadline passes, cancellations are not allowed under normal circumstances. However:

• Illness or exceptional circumstances: If you fall seriously ill or face a documented emergency (family bereavement, hospitalization, etc.), you can:
  • Email students@accaglobal.com immediately.
  • Attach medical certificates or supporting documents.
  • Request a case-by-case review by the ACCA Examining Board.
• Outcome: If approved, ACCA may allow a resit without penalty or issue a credit. Approval is not automatic and depends on the evidence you provide.

What doesn't work: Vague claims like "I wasn't ready" or "I had too much work" without documentation are routinely rejected.

Practical Tips for Planning Around ACCA Exam Dates

After watching hundreds of students cycle through ACCA sessions, a few patterns emerge.

1. Book Early, Even If You're Not 100% Sure

Registering in the first week or two after booking opens gives you:

• Wider choice of exam centres and dates (important for DipIFR and some regional centres).
• Psychological commitment that improves study discipline.
• More time to prepare or cancel if plans genuinely change (as long as you're before the deadline).

2. Avoid Back-to-Back Tough Papers

Students who book SBR (March 5) and AFM (March 6) or AAA (June 1) and FR (June 4) in the same session often regret it. Both are intensive, case-heavy exams. If you can, split demanding combinations across sessions.

3. Use the Exam Calendar to Reverse-Engineer Your Study Plan

If June 2026 exams run June 1–5, and the standard deadline is May 4:

• Your serious study phase should start by early March (8–10 weeks before exams).
• The decision point on whether to register should be around mid-April (when you can honestly assess your readiness).
• If you wait until May 1 to start studying, you're already too late for a confident first attempt.

4. Check Pass Rates and Timing

Some students deliberately avoid December sessions for certain papers because historically those sittings have been slightly tougher or had lower pass rates (possibly due to rushed holiday-season prep). While ACCA maintains standard-setting across all sessions, anecdotal patterns do exist. For subject- and session-specific pass rate trends, our detailed ACCA pass rate analysis breaks down what's typical and what's an outlier.

Frequently Asked Questions: ACCA Exam Dates 2026

What time do ACCA exams start in India?

ACCA exam start times vary by centre and paper, but most sessions begin between 9:00 AM and 1:30 PM local time. Your exact start time is shown on your exam docket, which you download from MyACCA after registration.

How many times can I sit an ACCA exam per year?

You can attempt each ACCA paper up to four times per year (once per quarterly session: March, June, September, December). There is no lifetime limit on attempts, but repeated failures trigger additional study requirements in some cases.

Can I sit the same ACCA paper twice in one year?

Yes – if you fail in March 2026, you can resit in June, September, or December 2026. You just re-register and pay the exam fee again for each attempt.

What happens if I miss my ACCA exam?

If you simply don't show up (no valid reason), you forfeit the exam fee and are marked as absent. That attempt counts as a "fail" in your exam history, and you must re-register and pay again for the next session. If you have a valid reason (e.g., medical emergency), follow the special circumstances process outlined above.

Is remote invigilation available for ACCA exams in 2026?

Remote invigilation (online proctored exams) was expanded during COVID but has been scaled back for most markets. Availability depends on your country and paper level. Check the MyACCA exam booking page for your region to see if remote options are listed for your chosen session.

Related Resources: Everything You Need for ACCA Success

ACCA Subjects Guide

Explore the full ACCA syllabus, paper-by-paper breakdowns, and study strategies for Applied Knowledge, Applied Skills, and Strategic Professional levels.

Read the ACCA subjects guide →

ACCA Course Fees Breakdown

Complete cost analysis including registration fees, exam fees, annual subscription, and coaching costs, plus tips to reduce expenses.

Check ACCA fees →

ACCA Diploma in IFRS (DipIFR)

Learn about eligibility, exam structure, career benefits, and how to register for the ACCA Diploma in IFRS to strengthen your financial reporting expertise.

Explore DipIFR →

Written by the Eduyush team, who have guided hundreds of ACCA students through exam planning, registration, and results since 2015. For questions on ACCA exam dates, registration support, or study materials, WhatsApp us at +91 96433 08079 or via our contact page.